Apple wants to simplify adding multiple devices to train, plane, or hotel Wi-Fi

AppleInsider

A new report claims that Apple is working on how to have its devices share Wi-Fi login details on commercial or captive networks.

An example of logging in to a captive Wi-Fi hotspot on iPhone

Since iOS 11 and macOS High Sierra in 2017, Apple has made it so that devices can share passwords. It's also possible for two separate users to share passwords this way, with one iPhone prompting the user to send the details to the other.

However, this concept has never worked on commercial or captive networks.

Now, according to Bloomberg, Apple is working to extend the facility even onto this type of network, the kind used by trains, hotels, and other commercial establishments. These are commonly called Wi-Fi hotspots, or subscription Wi-Fi networks.

While there is no indication of when Apple may add this feature, the idea is that a user will get access for all of their devices, just by signing in on one.

As with the current non-captive or commercial Wi-Fi networks, once a user has filled out their details on their iPhone and been granted access, their iPad can join that network without having to re-enter anything.

The current system also allows two separate users to share passwords this way, with one iPhone prompting the user to send the details to the other. It's not clear whether Apple intends this with the captive system.

It's also not known how this would work in establishments that have a two-device policy, such as hotels. Those tend to simply deny access to a third or subsequent device associated with the user's login, and would presumably continue to do so.

However, some establishments allow users to swap between devices, so long as only two are connected at once. It's not known how or whether Apple's system could facilitate this.

Plus, as convenient as this password sharing already is, it has not been without security issues.



Read on AppleInsider

chrislaarman

0) Thank you. :-)  I may add:

1) I remember a hotel where one'd need a different log-in for every device, so this sharing of credentials wouldn't work there. (I'm sure I tried.)

2) Work-around: I'm not sure if I had brought my mifi (mobile wifi access point) on occasions I stayed there. I do think so, as I remember having a room outside wifi coverage on one occasion.

I currently have two mifi devices, both now obsolete: a Huawei E5786 and a Netgear AirCard 810s. The Netgear only takes a cellular Internet connection, the Huawei also takes wifi to connect to the Internet.

The current Nighthawk M6 devices by Netgear seem to support both ways too.

mredofcourse

ProTip: If you're in a situation where there's a captive network with device restrictions, you can share your internet connection that your Mac has with another device.  On your Mac, go to Settings -> General -> Sharing -> Internet Sharing and then select the network you want to share and click on the circled-i to select how you want to share it.

So for example, if you have a device limit on a captive WiFi network, use your Mac as the device, turn on Internet Sharing, and connect your iPhone via USB and boom, both devices can access the Internet.  

Unfortunately, you can't connect via WiFi and share via WiFi... although, you could take a device that can act as a WiFi access point and plug that into your Mac, through USB or Ethernet adapter.