SAN FRANCISCO, CA--(Marketwire - Jun 27, 2012) - GOOGLE I/O -- Open Garden, the mobile Internet innovator, today released a Jelly Bean-only feature for its flagship Android application for the Nexus 7 Tablet and other Android enabled devices. Available in the Google Play Store, Open Garden enhancements for Jelly Bean deliver Wi-Fi Direct support, making the application more powerful and creating yet another way for Open-Garden-enabled devices to find each other. Open Garden is one of the first companies to integrate with Google's new Jelly Bean feature.
Open Garden allows people to securely share wireless data connections between friends, family and other Open Garden users. With Open Garden installed, smartphones, tablets, and computers crowdsource connectivity, seamlessly connect and create a mesh network that delivers Internet access.
Say Hello to Wi-Fi Direct:
Wi-Fi Direct is faster and has a longer range than Bluetooth. Open Garden on Android lets Android phones or tablets use Wi-Fi Direct and regular Wi-Fi at once, something that is not possible with Ice Cream Sandwich. Open Garden recently released a version of the application that enables any phone using Ice Cream Sandwich to provide full Internet connectivity to Android and all applications through the Open Garden mesh.
"Wi-Fi Direct opens more opportunities for people to connect to the Internet with their Android devices," said Micha Benoliel, co-founder and CEO. "Open Garden is also helping carriers deliver better data coverage, relieve congestion on their networks and offload 3G and 4G Android phone traffic to Wi-Fi when possible."
"Open Garden with Wi-Fi Direct enables connection sharing at full 4G speeds, something Google I/O attendees and everyone else should enjoy," said Stanislav Shalunov, co-founder and CTO.
"Open Garden has been selected to participate in the Android Developer Sandbox as part of Google I/O 2012. They created a disruptive application and we want to give attendees the opportunity to interact with interesting technology first-hand," said Billy Rutledge, Android Developer Relations.
Availability and Cost:
Anyone can download Open Garden for free at www.opengarden.com. Connecting over Wi-Fi Direct is free for the duration of the Google I/O event, and will require activation through an in-app purchase later this summer. The new Wi-Fi Direct feature is the first premium offering released by Open Garden, and the first monetization initiative of the application.
About Open Garden
Open Garden is a San Francisco-based startup dedicated to bringing Internet everywhere: to every device, every person, and every location. Open Garden connects nearby smartphones, computers, and tablets into a mesh network on Android, Windows, and Mac devices. Founded in 2011 by Skype and BitTorrent alumni, Open Garden released its main application during TechCrunch Disrupt NYC 2012 on May 23, 2012, won the Most Innovative Startup award at the conference, and has shot past 100,000 users in less than a month without marketing.
Key words: Wi-Fi, Tethering, Internet, Wireless, Android, Web, Broadband, Google I/O, Jelly Bean, Hotspot, Google Play, Nexus 7
Contact Information:
Press Contact:
Heidi Groshelle
415.800.4421
press@opengarden.com
