Experience in using blitz apps to automate Wi-Fi connectivity
With iOS 14, mobile developers have a handy App Clips tool. At their core, these are teasers of mobile applications that allow you to evaluate the service without having to download it to your device.
We decided to test App Clips as part of our work, and made sure that they open up a lot of new opportunities. For example, in the Quickin application, we have implemented:
- saving access settings to closed local networks with one touch;
- registration of users in the Beacon-Connect system without installing additional applications;
- provision of service business cards through blitz applications.
Quickin application development history
In previous posts, we talked about the main benefits of integrating our Beacon-Connect development with chatbots and mobile applications. The Quickin application is a logical continuation of this idea, which is a browser of disparate services.
The origins of the idea
It all started by looking for a simplified custom Beacon-Connect path. If you have already read this
then you know that all our initial cases were implemented using two QR codes. The first QR code connected the user to a closed Wi-Fi network, and the second led to the pages of signing up for a chatbot or installing a mobile application. But experience has shown that this path turned out to be difficult for users to understand and not so effective.
We did not give up and started looking for ideas to create the most convenient user path for registration in the system. The main question in this task was: how our SDK will be able to achieve automatic connection to the network without unnecessary user actions with a single touch.
To make the implemented user connection path more visual, we filmed a video case for you.
As you can see, registration of the queue number in the MFC can occur directly on the user’s smartphone. To do this, you just need to go to the chatbot and save the Wi-Fi connection settings via the blitz application or remote save.
And if the solution that we used for Android saving the passpoint web profile and delivering the Wi-Fi network configuration to the device via a web window is not know-how, then we have not seen an analogue of this task on iOS.
Of course, some companies have already tried to solve it earlier. For example, the guys from MaximaTelecom in this article proposed a cumbersome implementation in 5 (!) Steps, including entering a screen unlock password to connect a profile, etc. But we were not satisfied with the number of steps in this and similar methods, as well as their design.
How we taught iOS to connect to closed Wi-Fi networks Beacon-Connect in 1 touch
Having accidentally familiarized ourselves with the functionality of blitz apps, we realized that they are even more user-friendly than classic mobile apps. After all, they allow you to use services and get benefits in the moment without unnecessary actions and installation on the phone.
This prompted us to create our own Quickin application integrated with the Beacon-Connect SDK, and blitz business card applications for connecting users to Wi-Fi.
We did a research and found a way to transfer additional values to the blitz application, which connect the device and the application. This allowed us to add Wi-Fi network data to iOS with minimal effort of the user – all he had to do was scan one QR code and approve the blitz application’s request to connect to the network that appeared on the screen.
As in the case of integrating the Beacon-Connect SDK with a mobile application, a once confirmed action opens an automatic connection to Wi-Fi each time it appears in the network zone.
We continued to develop this idea and supplemented the blitz application with the ability to connect chatbots of companies to implement options for their loyalty programs by creating a network presence event. You can read more about creating web presence events and their relevance in our first article.
Accordingly, this add-on also provides the ability to remotely connect the user through the binding of network data to the chatbot identifier. Thus, not only a special QR code or NFC tag can potentially provide the user with automatic access to free Wi-Fi and discounts at their favorite cinema theaters. It can also be implemented remotely via SMS, e-mail or chatbot message when it appears in the location, the phone will automatically ping on the network and activate the loyalty program or other functions.
Features of blitz applications that we have highlighted for ourselves
Since our project is designed to connect disparate services to a single window, we are happy to use blitz applications as business cards of services. Thus, one application provides the ability to develop an unlimited number of blitz applications. The functionality and content of the blitz games may differ; it can be created individually for each client without burdening the main application. As for me, this is very convenient.
And the function of automatically deleting an application after 30 days from the moment of the last interaction with it will appeal to users more than developers. Thanks to her, the system independently takes care that unnecessary applications and their data are not stored on users’ devices.
This aspect is spelled out by iOS methods and, by the way, is provided by our SDK when deleting a profile in the Quickin blitz application, the Wi-Fi identifier is deleted and the user is no longer visible to the network. Accordingly, even the most cautious users or industry professionals can rest assured that there is no spyware or potential spam from Quickin.
Outcomes
Blitz apps have not yet been fully evaluated by mobile service developers, but we are confident that they are the future. confident that the future belongs to them.
If you want to teach your app or blitz app to connect to closed Wi-Fi networks, then we will be happy to share our experience. Please contact.
