Do you always have data left at the end of your monthly plan? There's an invention for that.
David Poxon, a software engineer and PhD student at the Queensland University of Technology, has invented a device that enables homes to sell their leftover data on a separate Wi-Fi network.
He's calling it "Uber for telcos".
Poxon's start-up company, Velvet, provides a device dubbed a "hotshot" that will sit on top of existing routers and owners can decide how much data to share that month.
The device, he said, is a play on the phrase "Wi-Fi hot spot", and is shipped retail from overseas. Then Poxon and his sole staff member install the Velvet operating system, which sells for $60 a unit.
Velvet is gearing up to ship its first units by the end of September, and Poxon hopes to have 500 units up and running by the end of the year.
"We had more interest than we could have hoped for, or expected. We're enjoying some excellent growth, despite the fact we haven't had any investment outside of QUT's BlueBox fund," he said.
Naming rights
So why is the company called Velvet? Because for Poxon, it's all about making things smooth for users.
"The idea came to me when I was travelling and I noticed how difficult it was to find a strong Wi-Fi signal or change your SIM card to that of the country you were in," he said.
"It's a friction-heavy experience and I wanted to create something that is frictionless."
Poxon said he believes consumers will appreciate the access to data without complex, long and binding contracts.
Nitty gritty details
While the "Uber for telcos" might be a clever solution for users, is it legal? And what do the large communications companies make of it?
According to Poxon, the legality depends on the contract individual users have signed with their internet providers.
Despite this, some contracts also specify that technical support may not be available to those who provide networks to others using the existing service.
Another concern is that contracts may specify that modem owners are responsible for security on their own networks.
Poxon said security has been a primary focus.
"When Velvet shares your Wi-Fi it creates a new network, and that network allows your home network to be safe and secure," he said.
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