A few days ago I posted a blog discussing the eye-fi card – which adds the very real prospect of being able to upload photographs in near real-time to a range of photography web hosting sites without the need for a computer, which gives rise to all sorts of journalistic or other opportunities.

It simply replaces your existing SD / SDHC card, with a WiFi enabled one, but it’s worth checking out compatibility issues on the eye fi website.

The Eye-Fi cards with hotspot abilities ( NOTE:-  not all of them do) would however appear to be limited in it’s use outside North America, because most FREE hotspots in Europe that I have come across still have some form of login splash screen, and those with a subscription based service also need to be logged into, so it’s appeal is limited.

However encouraging words came from Eye Fi yesterday – here are the words from the Eye-Fi Press release:-

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MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., April 27, 2010 — Eye-Fi Inc., makers of the world’s first wireless memory card for digital cameras, today announced it will add hundreds of thousands more Wi-Fi networks to its Hotspot Access service, including a significant expansion of its international hotspots. By the end of May, Eye-Fi X2 users with an active Hotspot Access plan will be able to upload photos and videos directly from their camera to their home computer, and the Web, from commercial and open Wi-Fi networks around the world.

“Digital photography lets us capture the moments of our lives, wherever we are,” said Jef Holove, CEO of Eye-Fi. “Now we can enable our users around the world to back-up and share these memories from anywhere, whether traveling abroad or out running errands.”

The expansion is made possible through a partnership with Devicescape, a provider of Wi-Fi connectivity solutions for mobile devices. Eye-Fi X2 users with Hotspot Access will automatically benefit from the service expansion in several ways:

*       Eye-Fi users with a personal hotspot subscription to a Wi-Fi hotspot provider, such as Boingo, BT Openzone, T-Mobile, SFR, Orange and Vodafone, can add their existing credentials to their Eye-Fi account to upload in these supported locations, and potentially expand their hotspot upload coverage to millions of hotspots.

*       Eye-Fi users at schools and universities across the world can now add their campus Wi-Fi network credentials to their Eye-Fi account.
*        Eye-Fi users will be able to automatically upload through hundreds of thousands more open hotspots because the Eye-Fi card now navigates through splash screens

“Our users want to be connected no matter where they are or what device they are on,” said David Fraser, CEO of Devicescape. “Eye-Fi has come up with a way to make virtually any camera wireless and, with our help, now those cameras can back-up and share from more places.”

Last month, Eye-Fi expanded its coverage to more than 21,000 Wi-Fi hotspots through a partnership with AT&T. Users can upload photos through any Starbucks in the U.S., in addition to Marriott Hotels, Barnes & Nobles and more.

Beginning June 1, 2010, the expanded Hotspot Access service will be available as an upgrade for $29.99 per year. As a limited time offer, the Eye-Fi Connect X2 and newly released Eye-Fi Geo X2 can be upgraded to a year of Hotspot Access service for $14.99 until May 31, 2010. The Eye-Fi Explore X2 and Eye-Fi Pro X2 cards include one year of Hotspot Access service and will benefit from the expanded footprint in May.

Eye-Fi’s entire X2 card line-up will be rolled out internationally beginning today through May in the U.K., Canada, Germany, France, Switzerland and Japan.

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If you care to visit Jessops or most of your average photographic dealers, they are still selling first generation cards at present and this press release relates to X2 cards, which I have had confirmed by Eye Fi are NOT GOING TO BE SUPPORTED with this new hotspot roll out, as the service relies on the engine and firmware of the second generation (x2) cards

So my advice – The Eye Fi card is from what I have discovered in a few days use has the makings of a GREAT product.  But if you live in the UK and elsewhere in Europe and you are looking for a card with “Hotspot” access as allegedly the  Eye Fi Pro Card has, do not buy anything other than the appropriate X2 card in a few weeks time, however tempting the cost might be because if you want “Hotspot” access the classic cards will be permanently limited within the UK and Europe.

This is the X2 Pro Card that I shall be getting – it’s currently (30th April) on back order with Amazon.co.uk, but the press release would indicate that it should be in stock in the next three to four weeks, or perhaps a bit sooner.

Roy 28th April 2010