Roke's SmartSwitch Could Deliver Simplified WiFi and Reduce Bill Shock for Olympic Visitors

ROMSEY, England, January 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Roke Manor Research Ltd (Roke), a Chemring Group company, will be demonstrating SmartSwitch at this year's Mobile World Congress. SmartSwitch is the first app that allows mobile networks to actively promote free WiFi and eliminates 'bill shock' when travelling internationally.

SmartSwitch could be used by network operators during the Olympics to reduce network congestion and avoid user frustration. As millions of visitors descend upon the Olympic venues, their smartphones will face a barrage of WiFi signals from multiple sources. As the strongest signal takes connection priority, frustrated users will be forced onto WiFi login pages for which they may not have an account, rather than have immediate use of data services. Roaming overseas visitors may also face 'bill shock' if they mistakenly join WiFi/cellular data services that are chargeable, rather than free local WiFi services.

SmartSwitch allows network operators to send real-time policies that can simplify and automate the network selection process. The policies can be configured to offer the best user experience by automatically enabling and authenticating WiFi, as well as real-time interactive messaging to keep the user informed. As SmartSwitch is application, location and time aware (to name a few contexts), this also gives operators the ability to reduce congestion in known problem coverage areas. The dynamic management of WiFi connectivity also delivers users with improved battery life.

Ben Toner, Business Sector Consultant at Roke, said: "SmartSwitch is unique in allowing the mobile networks to keep their customers updated with the real-time cost of data, as well as simplifying the WiFi connection process. As users move around, so do their data needs, but through a technique of 'policy to the handset' roaming data networks can be simplified.

"Real time and interactive messages from the core network billing system encourage users to manage the data plan and network at the moment it matters. This is a unique capability that allows network operators to offer new data plans and dynamic WiFi offload, whilst better monetising data services and keeping device users happy," concluded Toner.

SmartSwitch will be demonstrated at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, 27 February - 1 March, 2012.

Note to editors:

For more information please visit http://www.roke.co.uk/mobile-devices/smartswitch.html

About Roke http://www.roke.co.uk

Roke, based in Romsey, Hampshire, is the principal electronics research and development centre of Chemring Group Plc. Founded in 1956, Roke is one of the UK's leading suppliers of innovative solutions and contract R&D, pioneering developments in electronic sensors, networks and communications technology. It employs 450 staff and has over 430 patents to its name.

Roke has over 50 years of communications experience, providing customers with technology consultancy through to product development. Its communications expertise is focused on wireless technologies and it has actively participated in 3G standardisation, including LTE. For many years Roke has undertaken radio access network (RAN) and core network (CN) specification, architecture and design, together with the implementation and customisation of wireless physical and link layers for both the commercial mobile communications and defence markets.

About Chemring http://www.chemring.co.uk

• Chemring is a market leading manufacturing business supplying high technology electronics and energetic products to over 80 countries around the world.
• Chemring has a diverse portfolio of products that predominantly protect military people and platforms, providing insurance against a constantly changing threat. These range from countermeasures to protect aircraft, to ground penetrating radar to protect troops and vehicles from improvised explosive devices.
• Chemring operates in high margin, niche markets with short product development timescales. With strong barriers to entry the business has the agility to rapidly adapt to the urgent needs of our customers. The highly fragmented nature of many of its markets gives Chemring excellent opportunities to win further market share through manufacturing efficiencies and targeted acquisitions.
• Chemring's balanced geographic profile and diverse global markets positions it well to withstand economic downturn in any of its major markets. This gives confidence to be able to successfully navigate current defence cuts experienced in the US and Europe. Chemring continues to grow its presence in the Middle East and Asia and expects non-NATO revenues to reach 40% of the Group over the next two to three years.