Unstrung reports that Smith Micro and Swedish Mobile IP vendor, ipUnplugged today announced a joint program to offer seamless, transparent, and secure roaming between Wi-Fi and cellular networks.
Smith Micro’s cellular and Wi-Fi connectivity software teamed with ipUnplugged’s Roaming Gateway and Roaming Client (right), to enable users to roam securely and seamlessly from one network to another and between Wi-Fi and cellular networks.
Verizon uses Smith Micro’s software to enable Verizon roaming. Smith’s software provides roaming via QuickLink Mobile for Pocket PC, Palm and Windows.
The combination lets users move from one hot spot to another without interrupting the user’s session; QuickLink Mobile Wi-Fi provides roaming between public and private LANs, WANs, and cellular networks, including Wi-Fi connection. Users can retain their session IP address as they move from one connectivity source to another and it provides encrypted communication regardless of the access point or network card in use.
VPNs based on IPSec technology is an example of an application that requires Mobile IP to work in a mobile environment. The two technologies have been integrated into ipUnplugged’s Mobile VPN solution.
| Remote Access VPNs | Remote access VPNs, based on IPSec technology, are very sensitive to IP-address changes. ipUnplugged’s Mobile IP solution is compatible with all the major VPN solutions on the market. |
| Microsoft Office and Windows | If a user edits a file on a server while changing networks, the file will be blocked on the server and cause problems for the user. |
| Database applications | Any client server application based on ODBC drivers or similar will fail if the user changes IP-address while working. |
| Voice over IP | Voice applications, which are becoming more and more popular on wireless networks, are typical examples of session driven applications. Without Mobile IP, the user has to restart the conversation every time he moves between networks or subnets. |
As part of the agreement, the two companies have also pledged to support each other’s marketing efforts in Europe, Asia, and the United States. ipUnplugged, based in Stockholm, has strong customer relationships on its side of the Atlantic, while Smith Micro has developed key OEM accounts in the U.S.
According to WiFi Planet, hot spot provider Fatport has struck a deal to purchase 2.5 GPRS wholesale from a Canadian carrier, and plans to package that bandwidth into an all-you-can-use, single price offering of combined Wi-Fi and GPRS. Different Canadian cellular providers allow consumers to connect to “hot-spots. Others will follow. PCTel’s Segway is a key enabler with a client that runs on different phones, pdas and laptops.
Birdstep and Cisco have a Mobile IP client. The standards-based, client software complies with the relevant IETF RFC standards for Mobile IP. It’s available for download at Birdstep’s web site.
Daily Wireless has more on Public Service Communications Tools, Transitioning from CDPD to GPRS, Nextel and Radioframe, Birdstep Billing Packages and Branding.
Police and emergency users may migrate from cellular-based, 800 MHz analog CDPD networking to digital cellular networks based on GPRS or 1XRTT.
They are unlikely to work when the power goes down.
