iPhone WiFi

[itsabouttime]

Steve Jobs said that the iPhone will automatically switch to WiFi when available. I'm a little un-educated when it comes to WiFi, and I'm wondering how the iPhone will decide which signal to connect to when there are multiple WiFi signals available. Does it choose the strongest one, will we have any control as to which one to connect to? I have WiFi at my home for my wife's Laptop and we are able to see all WiFi signals in the immediate area and it's possible to jump on any of them provided it's not locked out.
I would be interested in hearing from the rest of you about this.
Any thoughts? :2cool:

[wjp09]

I believe you may have to first "register" each hotspot. Its possible that there may be a Would you like to connect X ? Question. It will be interesting to see where this goes.

[iHuman]

This may be a silly question, but isn't WiFi faster than 3G? I live in NYC and there are "hotspots" everywhere, including every city park and from most buildings. I can see why in other places people are needing 3g.

[superninjahype]

I think the WiFi in the iPhone is just like the airport in all of the macbooks, so it finds the strongest one and connects to it, unless it is password protected. And as far as 3G versus WiFi, it depends alot on how you are using the internet, if you are on the road using google maps you cant get to a hotspot than that 3G is virtually your GPS. but as far as New York City and getting to a hotspot, it depends on how fast of internet that hotspot has because it they are only paying for 1.3mbps internet or something than 3G would still be faster at 1.8 mbps.

[iHuman]

I think the WiFi in the iPhone is just like the airport in all of the macbooks, so it finds the strongest one and connects to it, unless it is password protected. And as far as 3G versus WiFi, it depends alot on how you are using the internet, if you are on the road using google maps you cant get to a hotspot than that 3G is virtually your GPS. but as far as New York City and getting to a hotspot, it depends on how fast of internet that hotspot has because it they are only paying for 1.3mbps internet or something than 3G would still be faster at 1.8 mbps.


Thanks for clearing that up for me.

[Cantwait4iPhone]

I believe you may have to first "register" each hotspot. Its possible that there may be a Would you like to connect X ? Question. It will be interesting to see where this goes.

This might be true, but I thought Steve noted that there would be no setup required. I originally thought this would mean that it would be all automatic, but I am not exactly sure. Maybe you will set up a home network and other than that, it will all be automatic. What are the details on the networking? I do not know much other than that WiFi is supported. Can anyone clear this up for me?


Thanks.

[wjp09]

Maybe a popup would come up sort of like with laptops or pcs when a wireless network is found.

[wot_fan]

This might be true, but I thought Steve noted that there would be no setup required. I originally thought this would mean that it would be all automatic, but I am not exactly sure. Maybe you will set up a home network and other than that, it will all be automatic. What are the details on the networking? I do not know much other than that WiFi is supported. Can anyone clear this up for me?


Thanks.A lot of networks are secured. Basically that means you have to know a key/password to use them. With my MacBook Pro I have to enter the key/password the first time I use a new network. The next time I want to use that network the MBP remembers the key/password for me. I am sure that is how the iPhone will work as well.

Steve's comment about wifi being automatic was in reference to switching from EDGE to wifi and back. If there is a wifi network available, the iPhone will use it and if not it will use EDGE.

[Cantwait4iPhone]

A lot of networks are secured. Basically that means you have to know a key/password to use them. With my MacBook Pro I have to enter the key/password the first time I use a new network. The next time I want to use that network the MBP remembers the key/password for me. I am sure that is how the iPhone will work as well.

Steve's comment about wifi being automatic was in reference to switching from EDGE to wifi and back. If there is a wifi network available, the iPhone will use it and if not it will use EDGE.


Ahh, thanks for clarifying that. Wjp, maybe that will be true. I am sure there will be some kind of notification or popup.

Thanks guys.

[ebrunn]

Prolly only will get a popup when you are present to a secured wifi connection. If their are open hotspots open, it will prolly connect to them automatically.

[Cantwait4iPhone]

Prolly only will get a popup when you are present to a secured wifi connection. If their are open hotspots open, it will prolly connect to them automatically.

Yeah, hopefully. This would make it easier and less annoying :D


There are many WiFi spots in some areas so those popups would get annoying :laugh2:

[ColsTiger]

I just want to make sure it works with my wifi network at home and at work. If it can work in those two places, I shouldn't have any troubles at all with data usage.

[archer6]

A lot of networks are secured. Basically that means you have to know a key/password to use them. With my MacBook Pro I have to enter the key/password the first time I use a new network. The next time I want to use that network the MBP remembers the key/password for me. I am sure that is how the iPhone will work as well.

Steve's comment about wifi being automatic was in reference to switching from EDGE to wifi and back. If there is a wifi network available, the iPhone will use it and if not it will use EDGE.

The post above is 100% correct.

I would like to ad the following details, since I use WiFi everywhere, everyday. I travel for business and a laptop is my main computer.

It could be said that there are "three" categories of WiFi Access:

1) Unsecured access in a "Hot-Spot" that is free.

2) Unsecured access in a hot-spot that you pay for.

Think: Starbucks which uses T-Mobile as their service provider. I use T-Mobile when meeting clients at Starbucks weekly. They also serve many hotels, bookstores, airports etc.

3) Secured access in a hot-spot that requires a password to gain access.

These are typically the kind that the government & corporations use.

In each of the scenarios above it's customary to see a pop up box appear that shows you the network or networks (as there are often more than just one in range) you have available to you. At this point you choose which wireless network you wish to connect to and proceed accordingly.

In my particular case all the networks I use with the exception of Starbucks are Secured access points, requiring a password or authentication code.

I have a secured network at my home, office, satellite office, etc.

Hope this helps answer your questions.

Cheers...

[dino_russ]

Prolly only will get a popup when you are present to a secured wifi connection. If their are open hotspots open, it will prolly connect to them automatically.

Hope it works that way. I know alot of friends who use the airport/wireless in there mac/pc laptops to log in on road to these open hotspots. Plan to do the same, getting a new Macbook for now to to that, but would love size and portability of iPhone down road when It gets more memory (want at least 60 GB like my video iPod).

[archer6]

Regarding how it connects, if you only use _one_ wireless network, then it automatically connects without requiring your input, after your first initial setup.

However if you are in range of more than one wireless network, such as when traveling or simply in an area where more that one are present, then a dialog box pops up to allow you the opportunity of choosing which one you wish to connect to. If this location is one that you usually use the majority of the time then you can set your network of choice as the default and it will not launch a pop up window the next time you are there.

Cheers....

[joe]

Regarding how it connects, if you only use _one_ wireless network, then it automatically connects without requiring your input, after your first initial setup.

However if you are in range of more than one wireless network, such as when traveling or simply in an area where more that one are present, then a dialog box pops up to allow you the opportunity of choosing which one you wish to connect to. If this location is one that you usually use the majority of the time then you can set your network of choice as the default and it will not launch a pop up window the next time you are there.

Additionally, if you move to a different wireless network that you have already approved it will automatically switch to it without a popup.

[Spin This!]

If you want an example of how wifi is going to work, just look at your airport preferences....

[html]

It will likely connect to the stongest, open hotspot.

[ahactor]

I just want to make sure it works with my wifi network at home and at work. If it can work in those two places, I shouldn't have any troubles at all with data usage.
Well, it can supports 802.11b/g Wi-Fi. So, if you have a 802.11g Router or a 802.11b Router then it should be able to connect.

I have a device that allows me to use MSN by connecting to the internet via Wi-fi, and that is programmed to take the strongest un-protected signal available, so I assume that is what will probably happen on the iPhone.

[BoxKrait]

If it's anything like the current iBooks it will have some security settings about being able to connect to secure or unsecure networks.

Other than that it should connect and switch seemlessly from network to network. That is.. if you walk from one place to another that has multiple Wi-Fi networks.. Like.. a dorm building, or airport.

[Cantwait4iPhone]

If it's anything like the current iBooks it will have some security settings about being able to connect to secure or unsecure networks.

Other than that it should connect and switch seemlessly from network to network. That is.. if you walk from one place to another that has multiple Wi-Fi networks.. Like.. a dorm building, or airport.

Yeah, that was what I was thinking. I think they mentioned something about it automatically switching, and I am guessing and hoping this will happen at all times unless the user needs to be prompted for security reasons.

[robbys]

I'm hoping that in this scenario: 'You are out of range of the EDGE network and cannot get a cell signal' that the iPhone will still allow you to use Wi-Fi to access the internet. Does anyone think that if you aren't able to even get a signal to make calls, that you won't be able to use the wi-fi feature? This probably wouldn't happen very often, but at our house on the lake which is in a remote location, GSM is not available. Roaming is a possiblity, but not for high speed data.

[wot_fan]

I'm hoping that in this scenario: 'You are out of range of the EDGE network and cannot get a cell signal' that the iPhone will still allow you to use Wi-Fi to access the internet. Does anyone think that if you aren't able to even get a signal to make calls, that you won't be able to use the wi-fi feature? This probably wouldn't happen very often, but at our house on the lake which is in a remote location, GSM is not available. Roaming is a possiblity, but not for high speed data.
I see no reason why you would not be able to use wifi when GSM is unavailable. I would think they are completely independent. There are times when GSM must be turned off (in hospitals and in flight for example) and it only makes sense to allow wifi to work in these situations.

[Bootlessjam]

Since the iPhone is running OS X, it will probably act like OS X, ie; not bug you with everything little thing that happens like windows does.

The WiFi (or Airport) in the iPhone will do what you expect it to do; connect to the strongest available connection. If it can't connect to any, it'll use EDGE. If it finds a secure connection, it'll ask you for the password and remember it.

[ahactor]

Well, I am not getting service form EDGE. TOO EXPENSIVE! Haha, and when I spoke to a representative from Cingular, they told me that they could block my phone from using EDGE, but that it would still be able to use Wi-Fi, let's hope that's true! =]

[ColsTiger]

You might be required to have some sort of data plan to get the iPhone, so you might as well use EDGE when you don't have wifi access.

[Hondamaker]

I'm sure Apple has this covered, seeing as you may have several connections to choose from, so the phone would connect to the strongest, most relevent signal.

[wjp09]

My current plan with cingular only allows me to use 1mb of internet a month. Im not really sure how much that turns out to be because I rarely use it.

[ColsTiger]

My current plan with cingular only allows me to use 1mb of internet a month. Im not really sure how much that turns out to be because I rarely use it.

I don't currently have a data plan with Cingular other than an old text message plan (100 messages for $2.99), so they charge me $.01/Kb for data transfers. I do know that EDGE is not as bad as I thought it would be. It's certainly much faster than GPRS.

[wot_fan]

My current plan with cingular only allows me to use 1mb of internet a month. Im not really sure how much that turns out to be because I rarely use it.If you plan on surfing via EDGE, you can use that 1MB visiting a single page. One email with some pictures attached will use up your allotment as well. I learned the hard way that you don't want to exceed the limit of your data plan. It can get really expensive really quick :gasp:.

If you plan on surfing or receiving emails with attachments, IMHO an unlimited data plan is the only way to go. I just hope it is reasonably priced.

[archer6]

If you plan on surfing or receiving emails with attachments, IMHO an unlimited data plan is the only way to go. I just hope it is reasonably priced.

I could not agree more. If the iPhone performs as it should (and I truly hope it does) then the experience will be so compelling and enjoyable, one will certainly want to have an unlimited data plan.

Cheers....:smile:

[ColsTiger]

I could not agree more. If the iPhone performs as it should (and I truly hope it does) then the experience will be so compelling and enjoyable, one will certainly want to have an unlimited data plan.

Cheers....:smile:

Even if that enjoyment costs $40 additional bucks/month.

[jpmihalk]

Even if that enjoyment costs $40 additional bucks/month.I'm already paying for an unlimited PDA plan with my Blackjack, so no worries... :)

[ColsTiger]

I'm already paying for an unlimited PDA plan with my Blackjack, so no worries... :)

Absolutely. For me though it will be a $37/month increase because I only pay $2.99/month for 100 text messages currently.

[loopi_lu]

why does it say on some networks "unable to join network" even if it is a network that is not locked? my house network does that aswell!

[Lincoln]

Like said above, some hotspots require logging in.

Also, while the iPhone does always emit Wi-Fi scanning rays, the connection time may depend on how much traffic the particular hotspot is getting, or how far away from you it is.