New Shaw Exo WiFi Finder App!

This past week we successfuly published a new app for iPhone and iPod Touch to support the Shaw Exo WiFi network. The app, available from download from http://shaw.ca/wifi/app/, allows users to find WiFi zones that Shaw has deployed across Calgary, Vancouver, Edmonton, and Winnipeg (and growing).

It is a relatively simple app that uses a data feed with location information to display locations in either map or list view. It allows users to see location details, get directions, and share where they are via email, text, or post to Facebook and Twitter. What's cool about it is that it works both online and offline (with limited functionalities) allowing users to find a connection when they need it most.

This is the first of a number of platforms we intend to cover, and the team is hard at work completing versions for iPad, Android, WP7, and Blackberry.

There was a large number of stakeholders involved with the development of the product, and it took a lot of effort to stay focused and hit our launch date. Throughout the process, we discovered some key functionality issues that sent us back to review usability and reformulate some of the screens, mainly search in map view. Because we use Google maps, search uses two data sources; our locations database and Google data services. Performing a query across both isn't difficult, but discerning which one to query based on search parameters can be quite a challenge.

Ultimately we decided to stick with expected behaviors, which meant removing search by name from the map view. We expected most users would be searching for an address rather than a business name when trying to find connectivity. The use cases were:

- Is there WiFi near me (map view, location services)
- Will there be WiFi where I am going (map view, address query)

Alternatively, users can search by location name in the list view, which again is more intuitive than enabling an address search in that view.

So far, reviews for the app have been very positive, other than some anxious customers eager to get their hands on the iPad version. To those we say, relax... the iPad version is coming very soon.