Open Garden Continues Its Efforts to Improve Internet Connectivity with Release of Android App WiFi Opener

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 11, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Open Garden, the San Francisco-based startup dedicated to improving Internet connectivity, has just released a new Android app called WiFi Opener. By installing WiFi Opener, a user can choose to share the password of a WiFi network, enabling automatic connectivity for the app's community of users when they're in range.

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WiFi Opener is especially useful in places where the network is meant to be publicly accessible but is still protected by a password, such as a coffeeshop's network where the password is posted on the wall or conferences where it is often hard to find out how to access the local network.

"With WiFi Opener, users can connect to protected WiFi networks shared by other app users," said Micha Benoliel, co-founder and CEO of Open Garden. Once connected to a WiFi network, this connectivity can also be seamlessly shared with your tablet, Windows or Mac computer running Open Garden's mesh networking application – no configuration necessary.

Open Garden is a proud member of the Open Wireless Movement, but acknowledges concerns over the security of open networks. "WiFi Opener enables networks that need to be widely accessible, like conferences, provide more security than an open network without making it harder to connect," said Stanislav Shalunov, co-founder and CTO of Open Garden.

The user experience works like this:

1. Download and install WiFi Opener from the Play store.
2. Run the app to scan for protected wi-fi networks in range, and log the passwords to share with the community of WiFi Opener users.
3. WiFi Opener will run in the background, automatically connecting you to the networks whose passwords have been stored by yourself or other WiFi Opener users.

With the release of WiFi Opener, Open Garden moves one step closer toward fulfilling the larger vision of ubiquitous Internet access.

About Open Garden
Open Garden is a San Francisco-based startup dedicated to bringing Internet to every device, every person, and every location by sharing and crowdsourcing connectivity. Open Garden seamlessly interconnects nearby smartphones, computers, and tablets to form a mesh network. The benefits? Faster Internet access, stronger coverage and free mobile broadband. Open Garden was awarded Most Innovative Startup when it was debuted at TechCrunch Disrupt NYC 2012. Since then, over 2.7 million people have installed an Open Garden app, available on Android, Windows, and Mac. Find out more at https://opengarden.com.

About the Open Wireless Movement
The Open Wireless Movement is a coalition of Internet freedom advocates, companies, organizations, and technologists working to develop new wireless technologies and to inspire a movement of Internet openness. We are teaching the world about the many benefits of open wireless while maintaining security, protecting privacy, and preserving quality of access. Find out more at https://openwireless.org.

Download here: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.opengarden.wifiopener

Press Contact:
Jenny Ryan - P. +1 415 800 4421 - Email

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SOURCE Open Garden