A direct connection between smartphones often result in faster transfer speeds for faster data transfer speeds or gaming. But how secure is this method of connection?
App developers dream of a world in which mobile devices are aware of each other’s presence and are able to communicate directly with each other. At the moment, a WLAN router is necessary for data connections between smartphones or tablets. Although Bluetooth does facilitate point-to-point communication, the connection is slow, and the operation requires an active confirmation that encompasses the entry of a PIN code. This is an irritating hurdle for infotainment apps such as museum or shopping guides. Several companies – especially Apple with its iBeacons – want to fundamentally change the way mobile devices communicate. Futuristic new technologies such as Google’s Nearby or Wi-Fi Aware bank on a direct and, above all, permanent connection between end devices. The advantages of such a system? No more searches for hot spots, no troublesome login procedures and no load on the volume tariff.
No Login Stress, No Extra Cost
With such network connections, it would be easy to hold gaming parties with other users on a train or airplane as it is to play a round of police and thief at home with your neighbour. The retail sector will be able to take advantage of this too, as shops could send special offers to the smartphones of passers-by. However, such ‘always on’ connections require a certain amount of data protection and security – In the near future, an ad-blocker for the digital advertisements of billboards will become necessary.
As is so often the case, Apple is currently in the lead with its iBeacons. Since the technology only allows one-directional connections between the iBeacon transmitter and the end device, it is ideal for mobile payments, e-tickets or marketing details. It is not suitable for transmitting data between devices. Since iBeacons is simply an adapted Bluetooth-LE profile (beacons), it works in a very economical manner and uses a standard 128-bit AES encryption system.
iBeacons can also determine the distance to the user. The iBeacons are capable of measuring three distance types: ‘Immediate’ (centimetre-range), ‘Near’ (< 10 metres) and ‘Far’ (>10 metres). On top of that, an app can find out whether a user is approaching, lingering or leaving. In the USA, Apple is using the iBeacons in various test scenarios. We do not yet know when the technology will be available to us. However, iBeacons will be supported by all devices running iOS 7, and from Android 4.3 onwards.
Google Nearby Uses Bluetooth and WiFi
With Nearby, Google plans to set up a direct connection between mobile devices, but the system appears to be significantly more complex than Apple’s system: Unlike the iBeacons system, every device can set up a connection with all the other participating devices in an ad hoc manner (mesh networks). Depending on the data rate requirement and the distance, Nearby uses either WiFi or Bluetooth LE for data communication.
The devices simultaneously communicate through audio signals, which cannot be heard by the human ear. This unusual function facilitates a type of sonar system, whereby the devices determine their precise positions and distances vis-à-vis each other. Since Nearby also supports beacons, the beacon transmitters envisioned by Apple can also be used in addition to smartphones.
Google is currently providing the developers with programme interfaces for two different modes: Nearby Messages facilitates local group chats or the joint usage of Office documents. On the other hand, Nearby Connections sets up real-time data connections. Some practical applications include local multi-player gaming, video streaming and virtual whiteboards. Nearby is supported from Android 2.3 onwards, and it can also be used on iOS devices with the help of Google Play Services (from version 7.8 onwards). You don’t even have to have a Google account to use it. Nearby can already be used in Chromecast’s guest mode, and it can also be used with Google Play Games and the Chromecast add-on Google Tone.
In principle, the two connection concepts of the Wi-Fi Alliance (Aware and Direct) want the same thing as Google Nearby, but only use WiFi for communication. Aware is a technology that automatically detects and locates other participants. This does not require GPS, hot spots or mobile connections. Unlike regular WLAN networks, Aware gets better and faster when the number of connected participants increases. Since permanent WLAN networking exhausts the smartphone’s battery, Aware uses brief signals – which are called ‘heartbeats’ – to maintain the connection cluster. According to the WiFi Alliance, this should subject the battery to a very small load. From a technological point of view, Wi-Fi Direct shares many similarities with Aware. However, it only serves to facilitate the direct transfer of data between two devices, which is more comparable to Apple’s AirDrop.
The Wi-Fi Alliance itself does not offer any applications for Aware and Direct. Instead, it relies on app developers, who are supposed to independently implement their ideas using the mesh network. One possible application could involve locating contacts in the vicinity: For example, if you’re in a concert hall, the app would indicate the presence of your friends. Thanks to the location feature, it could even guide you to them.
The same principle could apply to scenarios involving movie theatres, Christmas markets and factory halls. Wi-Fi Aware could even take root within the much-hyped ‘internet of Things’. Particularly in the smart home domain, there is a need for a widely-used and intelligent standard that permits ad hoc networking.
Wi-Fi Aware and Direct are currently supported by the latest WLAN chips manufactured by Intel, Broadcom, Marvell and Realtek. Even older chips can be partially upgraded through firmware updates, but these updates have to be provided separately by the smartphone and tablet manufacturers.
Quick Data Transfer With TransferJet
At the recently-concluded IFA, Toshiba announced the Transferjet adapters, which facilitate the exchange of data between Windows PCs and Android or iOS devices. Like NFC, Transferjet is a near-field technology, and can cover distances of up to five centimetres. Unlike NFC, it can reach a maximum data rate of 375 MBit/s (average), which means that it can even be used to transfer large PDF files, photographs and HD videos. At the moment, the adapters are connected to the devices through a USB or Lightning port. However, if the Transferjet Alliance (of which Sony is a member) has its way, the standard will eventually be directly integrated into smartphones.
Although Microsoft’s Wi-Fi Sense does not offer the facility of direct communication, it allows you to automatically log into hot spots and private WLAN networks without having to go through a login procedure. The feature can be used in all devices featuring Windows Phone 8.1 and Windows 10.
Wi-Fi Sense functions through the exchanging of saved WLAN access data with all the contacts from the address book. The principle makes it clear that a high coverage is dependent upon the number of participants, which is why Wi-Fi Sense can expand the circle of contacts on Skype and Facebook. The objective is a central database that covers as many WLAN accesses as possible. Although Microsoft saves the login data in an encrypted form and does not show the users any passwords, criticism continues to be directed at the securityrelated aspects of this feature.