Comcast rolls out home Wi-Fi management system
Comcast recently unveiled a new Wi-Fi management system to its 10 million users nationwide, designed to allow customers to easily manage the growing number of devices and users on home Wi-Fi networks.
The Xfinity xFi experience allows customers to manage the Wi-Fi network through a digital dashboard. The customers can set up a home Wi-Fi network, find passwords, see what devices are connected, troubleshoot issues, set parental controls and pause Wi-Fi access on their home network during dinner or bedtime.
Comcast, which has its Midwest headquarters in Schaumburg, is making the experience available at no extra cost to customers with compatible equipment.
Company officials point out that the growth of internet-connected devices - from video streaming services to smart theormstats and security systems - are fueling the need to create an easier way to manage home Wi-Fi networks . Comcast estimates Americans will have an average of 50 Wi-Fi connected devices in their homes by 2020.
“The adoption and use of connected devices has grown dramatically and Comcast has created a solution that makes it easy to control and manage them,” said Eric Schaefer, senior vice president of internet and communications services for Comcast Cable. “It's a platform that will allow us to bring future innovations to our customers, address common pain points and vastly improve the way millions of people interact with their home Wi-Fi network.”
Customers can visit www.xfinity.com/myxfi to get started, or download the xFi app for iOS and Android at the AppleApp Store or Google Play.
Comcast expects the number of xFi-ready homes to increase to about 15 million by the end of 2017.
As part of the xFi launch, Comcast renamed its most popular wireless gateway device to the xFi Wireless Gateway. The company will also introduce a new xFi Advanced Gateway to customers on its fastest speed tiers, which will be capable of delivering gigabit speeds over Wi-Fi and supporting Xfinity Voice, home security and automation applications.
The company plans to launch no-configuration, adaptive xFi pods that can extend Wi-Fi coverage to remote areas of the home. The pods are being developed through an investment Comcast made in Plume, a developer of distributor of Wi-Fi software and systems.