Looking to ease the sign-in process for its growing wireless broadband network, Time Warner Cable has launched a “My WiFi” portal that lets customers preregister all of their family’s WiFi-enabled devices so that they automatically connect whenever they’re within range of a TWC-operated hotspot.
TWC said the new pre-registration tool eliminates the need for customers to sign-in with their credentials manually while they’re on the go.
There’s no limit to the number of devices customers can register, but only three devices can connect simultaneously using the same TWC ID, a TWC spokeswoman said via email. Devices will remain authenticated to the TWC WiFi network for one year before requiring customers to renew their logins.
The new portal also features other tools, including usage reports that estimate how much money customers have potentially saved by using the TWC WiFi network and sidestepping cellular data plans, which are typically capped and saddled with overage fees. TWC customers can select from four cellular rates, with the default setting being $10 per gigabyte.
“We’re continually looking for ways to make TWC WiFi even better for our Internet customers,” said Rob Cerbone, VP of Mobile Products for Time Warner Cable, in a statement. “My WiFi allows our customers to easily connect to any one of TWC’s nearly 35,000 WiFi Hotspots around the country without needing credentials.”
TWC recently brought cellular-like, seamless handoff capabilities to its WiFi network with the addition of Hotspot 2.0 technology to most of its WiFi footprint covering parts of Southern California; New York City; Austin, Texas; Charlotte, N.C.; Kansas City; Myrtle Beach, S.C.; and Hawaii.
TWC and other members of the MSO-backed “Cable WiFi” roaming alliance (Comcast, Cablevision Systems, Bright House Networks, and Cox Communciations) have deployed more than 250,000 WiFi hotspots.
