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SmartConnect – Is it that smart?


smartconnect

SmartConnect (SC) was added to Nokia E72 as part of the last firmware update (031.023). The purpose of this application it to allow easy and fast connection to the internet. let’s see if it does the job like it should…

I would expect this kind of application to support following features:
1. definition of connections groups (Both 3G and WiFi)
2. Auto switching between connections according to priorities
3. Auto connection to WiFi hot spots with portal

The E72 supports destinations as I mentioned in one of my previous posts. Destination is group of connections. So this issue is not a problem.

Second issue is really important feature, most of us have limited 3G connection and prefer to have connection over free wifi when possible. Unfortuantly this version of SC does not support it :(
Auto connection to hotspost with portal is nice to have feature, SC claims to support it using WISPr protocol. I didn’t try it so I can’t say if it works but as far as I know this protocol won’t support all cases. for example some of the hotspots  have just welcome screen that needs to be confirm, I don’t think that WISPr supports it.

Not sure why Nokia decided to add this application to the phone, They should have provide application that provides a real value to it’s users. What do you think?

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This entry was posted on May 1, 2010, 5:36 am and is filed under Applications, Updates. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

  • M

    I dont get it

    Doesnt the built-in destinations already supports all this?

    I mean I got wifi on top of my internet destination so it tries the wifi first, then it tries 3g. What does SC add?

    Why should I use it?

    • MyNokiaE72

      This is the point, I don’t think you should use it :)

  • Patrick Rice

    Of you don’t know what SmartConnect adds, I’m not sure it’s even fair or appropriate you so much as even POST your Blog Entry/Article…

    The SOLE (but important) reason for the ‘backwards step’ inclusion of SmartConnect, is to provide psuedo-destination like support, for any and all applications that don’t actually support the “Destinations” implementation.

    Let me explain by way of a really simple example…

    Nokia Messaging (for the E72 anyway, as other versions now have “Destinations” support)….

    Nokia Messaging does not support “Destinations”. So as a result, you cannot have Nokia Messaging use your home wi-fi, or a family member’s wi-fi connection, when in range of it, but automatically default to Cellular, when out and about.

    This is because Nokia Messaging, like many other applications, wants you to choose an old fashioned, specific Access Point individually, rather than being able to choose a Destinations Group.

    So you have to choose a SPECIFIC Wi-Fi connection, OR a specific Cellular Connection, for Nokia Messaging to use.

    BUT…

    By adding SmartConnect – you can get around this. Because SamrtConnect works differently…

    Whilst it lets you create a group, and add to it all the Wi-fi and Cellular Connections you wish, in whatever order, when you are finished however, it works different to Destinations, by adding this group you just created, as an actual INDIVIDUAL Access Point in the phone – so that ALL applications can then access it.

    So if you create a Group using SmartConnect, to mirror what you have already done using Destinations, and then in the group you put all your wi-fi connections first, and then your carrier connections last, then when you are done and save it, this ‘Group’ now appears in the NORMAL Access Points list in the phone, for you to choose as if it was a normal Access Point in ANY application you like.

    So you could then go into Nokia Messaging, and tell it to use this new ‘Access Point” for it’s connection method. And then doing so, it would use wi-fi where available, and cellular if not.

    So posting this entire blog/article, without even knowing what SmartConnect is about/for, makes the article null and void in my opinion.

    SmartConnect may SEEM to do the same as Destinations. But that is not true.

    With SmartConnect, once you have created and saved a Group, this Group then actually appears as a TRADITIONAL individual Access Point, so that ANY application can select it, even those that don’t let you use “Destinations”

    And thus THIS is why they have quite sensibly, chosen to add SmartConnect to the new E72 Firmware.

    As it covers a GAP that currently exists, for those applications that only let you choose standard Access Points, rather than Support “Destinations”.

    So your whole article, and the follow up comments, are null and void mate.

    I hope this helps clarify things for you therefore though.

    • MyNokiaE72

      First of all this is a personal blog about Nokia E72, It means that the posts are written from my point of view. I’m sure that some of the people like my posts some of the time and others don’t , that’s OK :) anyone is entitled to have his it’s own opinion (And you wrote yours in very detailed manner :) )

      As for the technical issues, I didn’t write a manual how to use the application. From my point of view, if something that suppose to make my life easier is complicate to use/ configure it doesn’t do the trick.
      If you’ll read both birdstep’s manual and help file it describes the ease of use. but after testing it for a few days I came to the conclusion that having the need to manage both network destinations and SmartConnect groups is too confusing and not really useful. Besides it caused my application to disconnect all the time.
      Nokia could do the same as SC and add the network destinations as normal connection so all applications can use it. instead they decided to do it the easy way and pay some money for third party application…

      More users are more the welcome to comment on this post….

  • Patrick Rice

    Mate – you are so wrong on every level, but I respect that this is your blog, and indeed you can write whatever you wish, just as you said to me in a Tweet.

    Let me start by saying that Nokia didn’t do anything the easy way by paying Birdstep for a quick fix. If you did your research, or read up, you’d know that the “Destinations” feature of all FP2 handsets, is actually derived directly from SmartConnect in the very first place – Nokia actually worked with and paid Birdstep to develop it for core OS inclusion in FP2.

    So “Destinations” is actually a direct ‘descendant’ of SmartConnect right from the start.

    The problem here is that Application Developers are SUPPOSED to code their FP2 compatible applications to support the protocols of Symbian FP2, namely “Destinations”.

    Alas, too many don’t, and Nokia can’t really criticise, as a key culprit themselves, with Nokia Messaging.

    So to HELP us (which is why it really really riles me, to hear you berating what they are TRYING to do here), they took the ever so SENSIBLE step, of also including SmartConnect, so that the gap is now closed.

    You talk about opinions, and being entitled to them, which is all well and good.

    But I never offered an OPINION…

    I made a FACTUAL observation of where your post was wrong, pointing out what SmartConnect is for, and why it is also included, and why above all this is a GOOD thing.

    Apologies and all that, that you are having difficulties with it, for sure mate.

    But pretty much the rest of the world is using it FINE, and it’s now providing a handy solution for THOUSANDS of people, where before there was a gap.

    So to berate the product is indeed your ‘opinion’ and right.

    But is factually wrong when you are ignoring what I am saying completely, about WHAT the product exists for.

    That’s not an opinion when you do that – that’s being ignorant to what people are trying to do with their valuable time, and help explain to you why a certain product exists, and why it is there to HELP us.

    So again, I didn’t offer an opinion. I made a full factual correction as to what SmartConnect is actually for.

    You’ve just chose to ignore what I was saying, and I’m sorry I took the valuable time to try and help.

    For the rest of the world, it is a very useful and valuable addition, that gives us extra functionality we never used to have, and all Kudos to Nokia for including it.

    I appreciate what you say about not having a manual included for it, but nor does at least half the value added free apps on my phone such as Advanced Call Manager, etc etc, and yet I don’t berate them for this – I just appreciate I am getting something for FREE that others have to pay for.

    And I am no specialist/expert Symbian user, but I was able to work out how to use SmartConnect in no time at all, and haven’t even read a manual about it to this day mate.

    The problem here is a perception one. Because you are starting off in the wrong direction right from the start, in terms of what you seem to think SmartConnect should be or is for, then it means you are NEVER going to hit your intended destination, having took the wrong path right at the beginning.

    So my post was to TRY and explain to you your wholly wrong perceptions about what SmartConnect is for.

    I hope I have now eventually done so, but if not, I certainly won’t be wasting any more of my valuable time trying to HELP again just now.

    I appreciate and respect you for not deleting my comments though.

    Good luck, and good wishes,

    Shadamehr.

    And one final thing – if my post appears frosty or rude, my apologies in advance, but I’ve just returned from drinks after work, and the local time here, to put into perspective, is 03:26am

  • Gal

    SmartConnect is the software that I was missing from the begining. That’s why I am going to make an upgrade right away.

  • blkvzgo

    Strange that you are able to use this app at all. It didn’t work on my phone, and I’ve heard on many others as well on the Nokia forums. In fact, when I tried to delete the access point that it created, an access point with no name stayed in its place, and after that I was unable to change the default connection on my phone. Had to reinstall the firmware, thankfully it was done for free under guarantee. Later I bought Psiloc Connect. Cost me around 10 euros, but it does the job.

  • 4stupid

    My phone firmware v31.023 does not include the software. However, for those come with the firmware, a patch from software provider is required.

    I can download a copy of the software from its web site and ruin it. However, it is too bad that if I have an access point connected, which is in the list of created “Smart Group”, it is too smart to use the access point instead of per the priority of the list. Therefore, I have to create a copy the access point in another name put it in the list to function for wifi access point firstly.

  • Reader in Lancs, UK

    Well, the point of SmartConnect is indeed to implement a similar feature to FP2′s “destinations” for software that does not support them. Case in point, the built-in Nokia Messaging application that only allows connections via specific access points.

    SmartConnect worked fine while the phone was running firmware V022.007. As soon as I updated to V031.023, the version of SmartConnect included in the firmware no longer worked. It will indeed use the WLAN connection if it is already established by another application (internet VoIP telephone, for example) but will not establish the connection itself.

    As such, SmartConnect has become totally useless, unfortunately.

  • fix
  • Reader in Lancs, UK

    Yep. Found that after I’d posted (always the way…) and was going to post it just now.

    It *does* work with that patch.

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