Connectify

Connectify
Private
Industry Computer software
Founded 1 October 2009 (2009-10-01)
Founder Alex Gizis
Headquarters Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US, U.S.
Area served
 Worldwide
Products
  • Connectify Hotspot, Speedify
Website www.connectify.me

Connectify is a software company that develops networking software for consumers, professionals and companies.[1][2][3] Connectify Hotspot[4][5] is a virtual router software for Microsoft Windows.[6] and Speedify[7] is a mobile VPN service[8] with channel bonding capabilities.[9]

History

Connectify launched their first product, Connectify Hotspot, in October 2009.[10] It can enable a Windows PC to serve as a router over Ethernet or Wi-Fi. Along with a Windows 7, 8 or 10 certified Wi-Fi device it can act as a wireless access point. This enables users to share files, printers, and Internet connections between multiple computing devices without the need for a separate physical access point or router.

Connectify spent the next two years improving the product, first making it free and ad-supported. In 2011, Connectify switched to a freemium commercial model which included premium features for paying customers. These features included extended support of 3G/4G mobile devices, fully customizable SSIDs and premium customer support.

In 2011, Connectify received funding[11] from In-Q-Tel to begin developing a more powerful and secure remote networking platform and a connection-aggregation application. Connectify used this funding to develop the foundation of the application, and then in 2012 turned to the crowdfunding site Kickstarter[12][13] to raise additional funding [14][15] to develop Connectify Dispatch. Dispatch was a load balancer which could combine any number of Ethernet, Wi-Fi or mobile Internet connections.

In 2014, Connectify launched Speedify, a channel bonding application for PCs running Microsoft Windows and macOS.[16] In January 2016, Speedify for Mobile was launched at CES,[17][18] adding support for iOS and Android. In December 2016, Speedify added encryption on all supported platforms, turning it into a mobile virtual private network.[19]

Products

Connectify Hotspot

Connectify Hotspot is a virtual router software application available for PCs running Windows 7 or a later version. It was launched in 2009 by Connectify and it has 3 main functions:

  • Wi-Fi hotspot - users can share the Internet connection from their PC through a Wi-Fi adapter.[20] The free version of Connectify Hotspot only allows sharing of wired or Wi-Fi Internet via Wi-Fi. The paid versions allow users to share any type of Internet connection, including 4G / LTE. through Wi-Fi or Ethernet.[21]
  • Wired router - users can share a computer's Wi-Fi connection via Ethernet. This functionality is only available in the paid versions of Connectify Hotspot.
  • Wi-Fi repeater - users can extend the range of a Wi-Fi network and bridge other devices on that network directly. This functionality is only available in the paid versions of Connectify Hotspot.

Starting with version 2017, Connectify Hotspot also incorporates a universal ad blocker for clients connecting to the Wi-Fi or Ethernet network it creates.[22] This feature is available for free.

Speedify

Speedify is a mobile VPN service available for devices running Windows, macOS, Android and iOS. Speedify 1.0 was first launched in June 2014[23] as a channel bonding service.

Speedify can combine multiple Internet connections given its link aggregation capabilities. In theory, this should offer faster Internet connection speeds and failover protection.

Starting 2016, as a VPN service, Speedify's privacy policy states they do not log what users do or what sites they visit through the Speedify service.[24]

Speedify can be used for free for the first 5 GB each month[25]; there are monthly and yearly subscription plans available.

Speedify for Teams

"Speedify for Teams" is Connectify's business product. It is basically a multi-seat Speedify mobile VPN license with added centralized account management capabilities.

References

  1. ↑ "Connectify in Crunch Base". Crunch Base. Crunch Base. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
  2. ↑ Parrish, Kevin (11 April 2014). "Connectify Switchboard: Channel Bonding for the Enterprise". Tom's IT Pro. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
  3. ↑ "Broadpath – Strategic Communications » Speedify Solves Frustrating "Dead Wi-Fi Hotspot Problem" by Intelligently Combining Wi-Fi and Mobile Data Connections for Faster, More Reliable Connectivity". broadpathpr.com. Retrieved 2017-10-05.
  4. ↑ Norris, Jim (19 February 2013). "Review: Connectify Hotspot turns your laptop into a hotspot". PC World. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
  5. ↑ "Create a super fast wifi hotspot". Instructables. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
  6. ↑ "Connectify Released A Much Improved Version That Turns Your Windows 7 Laptop into A WiFi Hotspot". Next of Windows. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
  7. ↑ "Speedify VPN review". TechRadar. Retrieved 2017-10-05.
  8. ↑ "What Is a Mobile VPN and How Is It Different from a VPN? - Speedify". Speedify. 2017-09-30. Retrieved 2017-10-05.
  9. ↑ "Connectify commercializes Speedify channel bonding service | FierceWireless". www.fiercewireless.com. Retrieved 2017-10-05.
  10. ↑ Vilches, Jose (22 December 2009). "Wi-Fi sharing utility Connectify 1.0 launches, remains free". TechSpot. TechSpot, Inc. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
  11. ↑ DiStefano, Joseph (28 September 2011). "CIA's investment firm backs Philly's Connectify". Philly.com. Interstate General Media, LLC.
  12. ↑ Parker, Tammy (12 August 2012). "Connectify aggregates Wi-Fi, 3G and 4G into a fat pipe". FierceWirelessTech. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
  13. ↑ Rubin, Ross (25 May 2013). "Yanked From The Cloud: Why Connectify Unplugged Its Switchboard Campaign". TechCrunch. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
  14. ↑ Gannes, Liz (10 September 2012). "Why Choose One? Connectify Blends VC and Crowdfunding in Kickstarter Campaign" (PDF). AllThingsD. Wall Street Journal.
  15. ↑ Parker, Tammy (15 May 2013). "Connectify returns to Kickstarter to enable channel bonding in the cloud". FierceWirelessTech. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
  16. ↑ Connectify. "Slow Internet is the Worst: Speedify Lets You Combine Internet Connections for Faster Speed". www.prnewswire.com. Retrieved 2017-10-05.
  17. ↑ Shivakumar, Felicia. "Speedify at CES 2016". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2017-10-05.
  18. ↑ Moore, Ryan. "Speedify Mobile combines Wi-Fi, Mobile and Bluetooth technology to provide more reliable access to the internet ~ Android Coliseum". Android Coliseum. Retrieved 2017-10-05.
  19. ↑ "Introducing Speedify 5.0 - Speedify". Speedify. 2016-12-28. Retrieved 2017-10-05.
  20. ↑ "How to Turn Your Windows Laptop into a Wi-Fi Hotspot - Connectify". Connectify. 2017-02-23. Retrieved 2017-10-09.
  21. ↑ "Features of Connectify Hotspot - Connectify". Connectify. Retrieved 2017-10-09.
  22. ↑ "Introducing Connectify Hotspot 2017! - Connectify". Connectify. 2017-01-13. Retrieved 2017-10-09.
  23. ↑ "Introducing Speedify, the Solution to Slow Internet - Speedify". Speedify. 2014-06-09. Retrieved 2017-10-09.
  24. ↑ "Privacy Policy - Speedify". Speedify. Retrieved 2017-10-09.
  25. ↑ "Download | Speedify - Speed up everything you do online". Speedify. Retrieved 2018-09-27.
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