Eye-Fi adds Geo X2 card, support for web hotspots
updated 11:45 am EDT, Tue April 27, 2010
Eye-Fi gets automatic sign on for Boingo and more
Eye-Fi today added both a new card and a major expansion of its support for hotspot cards. The 4GB Geo X2 combines the geolocation support of the original Geo with the Class 6 (6MBps) transfer speeds, 802.11n Wi-Fi and "endless" memory of other X2 cards. It's targeted primarily at Mac users using Aperture 3 or iPhoto '09 and will be available only through Apple stores in May for $70.
All users with X2 cards will have access to a much wider range of hotspots through a new deal with Devicescape. Eye-Fi's yearly Hotspot Access subscription service will now navigate through hotspot splash screens and will let users add sign-ins from Boingo as well as European carriers such as BT, Orange, SFR, T-Mobile and Vodafone, automatically putting them on the network without having to use a browser. The same will also work for school hotspots or any others that would normally force the user to go through a welcome page.
The updated feature should go live by the end of May, with pricing depending on the card. Those who buy and sign up for Hotspot Access before May 31 can pay $15 for a year's worth of access where it would normally cost $30. The Explorer X2 and Pro X2 cards already have a year's worth of access factored into their prices.
