New iPhone Application Fuels Internet Addiction by Finding Nearby Wi-Fi Hotspots

Tags: iPhone 3G, Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL)

Quick Link: HEXUS.net/qargr

Add to My Vault: x

LONDON, 16th March 2009; UK-based start-ups Total Hotspots and Rummble have joined forces to create a new iPhone application which allows you to easily search for Wi-Fi hotspots based on your current location, anywhere in the world. Using Rummble's ‘trust profile’ algorithm, it allows users to quickly add, rate, review, tag and photograph hotspots before sharing feedback with others. Using these integrated social features, it gives users a personalised rating for each location, based upon comments from users, their social network and the wider community.

From today, iPhone users can use the application to search the Total Hotspots database to view precise details, locations, and pricing for over 170,000 hotspots around the world – to find the best available. Within seconds, people can view a complete list of hotspots and filter the results based on user feedback. Additional search filters include letting users sort by free connections, sourcing those located within a cafe or looking solely at a preferred service provider.

“We wanted to make our extensive hotspots database accessible to iPhone users, helping them to source connections while mobile, from anywhere in the world. By working with Rummble, we were able to tap into its existing location based service platform and roll-out an application that delivers exactly what we were after, far quicker than if we were to develop the application ourselves” said Alex Housley, CEO of Total Hotspots.

Andrew Scott, CEO/Founder of Rummble adds; “The Total Hotspots app is the first official use of the Rummble API, which will be made publicly available very soon. It’s been a fantastic test case, and has proven to us the potential of what we can help to create. The added functionality of the app seems to have hit home with users, as the ability to engage with a community and record what’s been found is extremely valuable.”

The app, which up until now has been available in beta, exceeded early expectations to become the fourth most downloaded utility application in the Apple AppStore within 48 hours of first becoming available.

Any information recorded via the application is accessible from both the Total Hotspots and Rummble web sites, which users can log on to with a single account before sharing with friends in other social networks.
You can search for ‘Total Hotspots’ in the Apple AppStore and download the application today for just £2.99.