Comcast is giving parents more control over their WiFi networks, including how their kids are using devices in the home.
The company is calling Xfinity xFi, “a new way to personalize, manage and control the home Wi-Fi experience.” The service, which will be immediately available to 10 million Comcast customers, allows users to:
- Set up their home Wi-Fi
- Find or change their password
- Set parental controls
- Pause Wi-Fi access during dinnertime, timeouts or bedtime
- See what devices are connected — and easily add, remove and nickname devices
- Troubleshoot and receive alerts on demand
- Voice control
- Built-in firewall and smart data usage reports
The service can be accessed on a phone, a web browser or an app running on a Comcast Xfinity connected TV set and, based on a demonstration I received at Comcast’s Silicon Valley Innovation Center, it’s extremely easy to use. That’s important when it comes to parental controls. Based on my more than 20 years experience in the internet safety arena, I know that many want visibility and, at times, control over how their kids use the internet but they don’t want to spend a great deal of time having to configure and manage those controls.