Comcast has branded the cloud-based, smart-home network resolution it first launched in January as “xFi” and has, as of at present, made it accessible to the 10 million clients who’ve XB3 gateways for no further cost.
Using the service, dad and mom can direct the network to disable the Wi-Fi entry of their youngsters at particular instances, or put the entire home “to mattress,” in the event that they so select.
Customers may monitor who’s utilizing their network at any given time and the way a lot information is getting used, troubleshoot their network and monitor particular linked units. Users entry and management the Xfinity xFi service through iOS and Android cell apps, however it will also be managed and configured with Comcast’s voice-remote know-how.
The service additionally has optimization options that assist clients place their gateway and any related Wi-Fi extenders to most attain inside a domicile. Comcast stated it has invested in Plume, a maker of auto-connecting, Bluetooth-enabled extenders.
“Wi-Fi at present is just like the check-engine gentle to my 1978 Ford,” stated Eric Schaefer, senior VP and GM of communications, information and mobility for Comcast, in an interview with FierceCable. “The gentle doesn’t inform you what’s unsuitable.”
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Schaefer stated the app was designed with buyer “ache factors” reported to name facilities—50% of these calls are solved by xFi, he defined.
“Everything is connecting through Wi-Fi in our homes now,” Schaefer added. “Less than 9% of units now have something linked to an Ethernet port. There are 9.5 units, on common, linked to Wi-Fi in U.S. homes, and that quantity can be nearer to 50 within the subsequent 36 months … And what we’re listening to from our clients is, they really feel like they don’t have any management.”
In his demo, Schaefer put the parental controls entrance in middle. Parents can create person profiles and allow settings for particular person customers throughout units. That signifies that Johnny can’t simply transfer to his laptop computer at 11:30 p.m. to proceed his group chat if he finds Wi-Fi entry on his iPad has out of the blue shut down. Parents may display screen rated content material on the web for his or her youngsters.
With the cell web additionally so available, is the flexibility for folks to prohibit the home Wi-Fi network actually such a bonus?
Based on Comcast’s analysis, Schaefer stated, most youngsters underneath 15 don’t have wi-fi LTE units
Comcast hopes the service will have an effect related to the X1 video platform on buyer Wi-Fi expertise. Having returned to buyer development in pay-TV, Comcast credited the expertise delivered by X1 know-how for drastically decreasing video churn charges.
Schaefer described the setup course of for the xFi “as less like cable and more like Alexa.”
