iPass and the Tata Group already have a long-standing partnership through which iPass has access to Tata WiFi hotspots in India.
Global mobile connectivity specialist iPass, announced a partnership with Tata Communications whereby Tata will harness iPass’ global WiFi access and related features and functions through the SmartConnect Software Development Kit (SDK).The iPass SmartConnect SDK enables enterprises, operators and solution vendors to incorporate iPass global mobile connectivity into their mobile applications or any device.iPass and the Tata Group already have a long-standing partnership through which iPass has access to Tata WiFi hotspots in India.With the announcement of iPass SmartConnect in November 2015, Tata Communications contacted iPass in order to understand more about iPass SmartConnect and the SDK, in the interest of providing additional value to Tata's customers. They did a trial of the product and were pleased with the results, which then led to their desire to leverage the SDK for their new application. "Tata Communications and iPass are logical partners. Tata Communications is one of the world's largest communications companies, having relationships with over 2,000 global mobile network operators (MNOs) who buy infrastructure and various communications services from them," iPass CEO Gary Griffiths told eWEEK. "iPass has the world's largest WiFi network but, just as important, we have the technology to enable a consistent, secure, smart connection across more than 120 countries."Griffiths explained that by using the iPass SDK, Tata engineers were able to integrate iPass technology and capabilities in the Tata applications platform, which allows Tata to extend this added value to their MNO customers, who in turn will offer the services to their end-user customers.The partnership with iPass will provide Tata Communications’ mobile network operator and app service provider customers with a secure way to access the iPass WiFi network, with more than 53 million hotspots in more than 120 countries."We consider this partnership a cornerstone of our expansion plans. First, this partnership is validation of iPass’ technology and global network, in that one of the world’s major communications companies has embraced iPass SmartConnect," Griffiths said. "Second, it is endorsement of the iPass SDK: the time between the first meeting with Tata to the contract agreement was less than four months - time that included the integration of the technology."He explained that considering typical large enterprise sales cycles, this was extremely fast, especially given the time taken to integrate technology."The need to be connected and stay connected is an essential part of our daily lives. The continued demand for more and more data requires a marriage between WiFi and cellular," Griffiths said. "Therefore WiFi will continue to grow in terms of accessibility through rapid expansion that will improve the density of coverage in highly trafficked urban areas, as well as opening new rural regions to Internet connectivity."
- eWeek