TSI and PCTEL announce EAP-SIM authentication interoperability.

TSI Telecommunication Services Inc., a global communications technology company, has announced the launch of EAP-SIM (Extensible Authentication Protocol--Subscriber Identity Module) authentication capabilities that support PCTEL's (Nasdaq:PCTI) Segue Roaming Client. The Segue Roaming Client provides secure connectivity for mobile access to hotspots. TSI's EAP-SIM authentication service bridges technical incompatibility between Wi-Fi networks and GSM networks, creating a seamless Wi-Fi experience for subscribers.

TSI's EAP-SIM authentication service provides the interface for passing user credentials between the RADIUS-based Wi-Fi network and the SIM-based GSM operator's network. RADIUS is the authentication, authorization and accounting protocol used in Wi-Fi networks, which is incompatible with the database used by GSM operators to identify subscribers, features and services. EAP-SIM authentication is the latest addition to TSI's Wi-Fi services, which currently includes billing record conversion (RADIUS to TAP 3.10), as well as clearing and settlement services.

Several wireless operators worldwide have licensed PCTEL's Segue Roaming Client that intelligently connects subscribers to available Wi-Fi and cellular data networks. A 2.5G module supports connection to GPRS, EDGE, PHS and CDMA2000 1X packet data networks. The Segue Roaming Client features security standards such as WPA and a complete suite of 802.1x authentication modules, such as TLS and TTLS. With the addition of support for TSI's EAP-SIM authentication, The Segue Roaming Client now supports connectivity to Wi-Fi hotspots for existing GSM subscribers.