Devicescape
| Private | |
| Industry | Mobile, Software |
| Founded | June 2001 (as Instant802 Networks) |
| Headquarters | San Francisco, California |
Key people |
David Fraser, CEO John Gordon, CTO |
| Products | Mobile Software |
| Website | www.devicescape.com www.popwifi.com |
Devicescape develops software for wireless networking, based on the IEEE 802.11 Wi-Fi standard and other network protocols. Founded in 2001 as Instant802 Networks, the company was renamed in January 2005. Devicescape is a venture backed private company.
Devicescape provides embedded software for wireless client devices, and a range of services which assist devices in connecting to Wi-Fi networks.
Corporate history
Instant802 Networks was founded in the end of 2000 by Eduardo de-Castro and Roy Petruschka, in San-Francisco. Simon Barber had joined as a third founder a few months after company incorporation. In 2004 the company began development of packaged software products, including security for emerging devices and complete access point packages. The software was used in devices ranging from LCD projectors, televisions and digital video recorders to PDAs and SOHO access points. In addition the company created a monitoring software product for wireless LANs that has been used by NTT BroadbandPlatform.
Dave Fraser had joined as CEO in 2004, and in 2005 the company was renamed Devicescape Software. It continued to develop additional client security products. In 2006, Devicescape exited the access point business, selling its Wireless Infrastructure Platform technology and customer base to Broadcom.
In 2007, Devicescape introduced Devicescape Connect a client-server system which allowed embedded devices to automatically authenticate against any number of public Wi-Fi networks. At this point the company released a variety of consumer applications for PCs and smartphones under the Devicescape and then Easy Wi-Fi brands. In 2009, Devicescape consolidated its consumer offerings on easywifi.com and launched the Easy WiFi Network.
In 2010, Devicescape noted the rapid emergence of free public Wi-Fi and began utilizing their automated authentication technology in order to assemble a virtual Wi-Fi network. The company applied server-based analysis to curate Wi-Fi networks discovered by the various client applications in use so that networks could be assessed for the quality, location, sharing status and other factors. The company referred to this as a "Curated Virtual Network" or CVN and positioned this as a mechanism for offloading traffic from cellular networks. Late in 2010, MetroPCS (now T-Mobile) became the first major announced customer for the CVN. Devicescape announced growth of their CVN from 300,000 access points to over 20 million between 2010 and 2014.
From 2011 through 2014, Devicescape announced several additional US mobile operator customers, including US Cellular and Cricket, as well as some Wi-Fi centric operators such as Republic Wireless. In 2012, Devicescape expanded the CVN into Europe and subsequently announced Virgin Media (UK) in 2014.
In March 2016, Devicescape announced Liberty Global as their first major customer in Europe.
Products and services
Devicescape licenses software and operates its services for service providers, device makers, and application makers. Devicescape provides the following:
- Devicescape Curator Client (automated hotspot authentication and provisioning system)
- Devicescape Network (curated virtual hotspot network)
- SoftGPS (location service over Wi-Fi)
- Devicescape Security (supplicant with Wi-Fi Protected Setup and CCX)
The company also provides mobile applications directly to consumers through the Apple App Store and Google Play.