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  • Why Register?

    Wireless devices are here to stay. Most broadcast either a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth signal, and these signals are detectable by other smartphones, laptops, or tablets. By registering a Wireless Name, it becomes your devices’ wireless identifier, or your proximal identity. A Wireless Name gives you the ability to control what information is available to others who detect your devices’ signals.

  • What is a Wireless Name?

    A Wireless Name is a word or phrase (32 characters or less) that typically corresponds to the Service Set Identifier (SSID) of your device. SSIDs are often referred to as “network names” and are broadcast by your device to all receiving devices within the broadcast radius of your device’s networking hardware. In other words, a Wireless Name gives you or your business a consistent wireless identity. So, whenever a device senses another device that is connected to your wireless name, the wireless identity of that device will be revealed.

  • What kind of wireless devices can I name?

    There are a wide range of devices you might consider naming, including your home Wi-Fi router, smartphone, laptop, tablet, and any other Wi-Fi or Bluetooth-enabled device such as your health monitoring bracelet, car, or your dog’s wireless collar. A business might name their business Wi-Fi routers, beacons, tablets, and tablets in use by the staff or customers. When you register a Wireless Name, your wireless identity is consistent across all technologies and all wireless protocols.

  • What wireless technologies can be associated with a Wireless Name?

    A Wireless Name can be associated to a wireless identification string used in any type of wireless technology. We see them readily used today in the billions of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth names that surround us. With the forthcoming introduction of LTE Direct, a new proximal signal technology, another wireless identifier – or LTE Expression – will enter our daily lives.

  • What else can I do with a wireless name?

    Registering Wireless Names allows you to create a virtual identity bubble around you or your business that can stay in one place (like your home) or be portable. You control your wireless identity. Wherever you broadcast your Wireless Name, your profile and any associated content will be visible to anyone--or any smart device--nearby.For example, you can: Connect your Wireless Name to your social networking accounts (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.), and broadcast it on any device, perhaps while attending a conference. Attach promotional details, menus, or daily deals for your business to the Wireless Name you use to the Wi-Fi Access Point at your business location. Allow people nearby to message you via your Wireless Name without having giving them your personal email address. Name your car’s signal and allow it to communicate with your home automation system whenever your car is within range.

  • Which wireless technologies are supported by Wireless Names?

    A Wireless Name can be associated to a wireless identification string used in any type of wireless technology. We see them readily used today in the billions of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth names that surround us, and there are even more on the way.

  • How much does it cost to register a Wireless Name?

    Registering your first Wireless Name is free for one year. Simply check the Wireless Name’s availability and reserve it using a valid email address. After one year, you will be given the option of renewing your Wireless Name for $4.99 per year. Additional Wireless Names can be purchased immediately for a yearly subscription of $4.99. Wireless Name registration fees are nonrefundable.

  • How many devices can I connect to a single Wireless Name?

    You can connect an unlimited number of devices to a single Wireless Name. However, each Wireless Name comes with a limited number of free devices. If you would like to connect additional devices, please purchase additional devices during registration, or you can upgrade any time from the Wireless Name management page within FutureOrb.

  • Do I control the content associated with my Wireless Name?

    Yes! Registering with FutureOrb gives you complete control over all content associated with your Wireless Name. You can add or delete content at any time from within FutureOrb, and even prevent others from associating content to your Wireless Name in the future.

  • Can I prevent my Wireless Names from being tracked?

    Yes! You are in complete control of your wireless identity. FutureOrb works in collaboration with The Future of Privacy Forum to give retailers and their Mobile Location Analytics (MLA) providers a centralized opt-out database. Simply opt-out to let the MLA providers know that you do not want to be tracked.

  • How do I choose a Wireless Name?

    When choosing a Wireless Name, we recommend that you either (1) consider registering the SSID currently used on one or more of your wireless devices; or (2) manually change the SSID on your device(s) to match your new Wireless Name. This will help simplify the management of your devices down the road. Choose a Wireless Name that reflects your identity, similar to how a domain name may represent you or your business on the Internet. How do you want to be perceived by the wireless devices – and their owners – that you come across every day?

  • Is an SSID the same as a MAC address?

    No. A MAC address is unique to each device and is assigned by its manufacturer, whereas an SSID if often configurable by the user.

  • How do I change the SSID on my computer?

    PC: Click on the Start button and go to Control Panel > System and Maintenance > System.On the tab labeled Computer Name, click Change.Type in the new SSID and click OK.Note: These instructions may vary depending on your specific operating system. 

    Mac: Go to System Preferences > Sharing.Enter the desired name and exit.Note: These instructions may vary depending on your specific operating system.

  • How do I change the SSID on my smartphone or tablet?

    Apple iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch:Go to Settings > General > About.Tap the first line to display the current name of your device.Type in the desired name and tap Done.Note: These instructions may vary depending on your specific operating system. 

    Android Phone/Tablet 4.2 and above:Go to Settings > About > Device Name.Type in the desired name and tap OK.Note: These instructions may vary depending on your specific operating system.

    Android HTC Device:Go to Settings > About > Phone Identity.Press “Phone Name” and enter the desired name.Note: These instructions may vary depending on your specific operating system. 

    Android Device (Wi-Fi SSID only):Go to Settings and make sure Wi-Fi is enabled.Tap the Wi-Fi text to see the configuration screen.For Samsung devices: Tap the Wi-Fi Direct button on the bottom.For AOSP and Nexus Devices: Tap the Wi-Fi Direct under the launch options menu.Go to Menu > Rename Phone or Rename Device and enter your desired name.Note: These instructions may vary depending on your specific operating system. 

    Android Device (Bluetooth SSID only):Go to Settings and make sure Bluetooth is enabled.From Settings go to Bluetooth > Menu > Rename Device or Rename Phone.Type in the desired name and press OK.Note: These instructions may vary depending on your specific operating system.

  • How do I change the SSID on my wireless Internet router?

    Common Linksys router and most other routers: Log on to the router’s administrative console through a web browser. Linksys routers typically have the web address http://192.168.1.1 and the default username is Admin with no password. Go to Wireless > Basic Wireless Settings. Type the desired name into the field labeled Wireless Network Name (SSID). Comcast XFinity Router: Log into the router at http://10.0.0.1 The default user ID is admin and the default password is password. If you are presented with a setup wizard, follow the steps provided. If not, you will have to go make the changes directly. Go to Gateway > Connection > WiFi and press the Edit button next to your wireless network. Enter the desired SSID and click the Save Settings button. For other types of routers, consult the product manual or contact the customer service department for that particular device or your Internet Service Provider.

  • What are the rules for creating a Wireless Name?

    Wireless names are valid in any language, and a single wireless name can be made up of characters from multiple languages. Wireless names can also be comprised of numbers and special characters, except for the tilde, question mark and hash (“~, ?, /, #”).Even though SSIDs are case sensitive, Wireless names are not. Spaces count as characters in Wireless names (you can have up to 32 characters), but they are ignored when determining if a Wireless name is available. For example, since the Wireless name “FutureOrb” has been registered, the name “Future Orb” is not available.

  • Are there any names copyrighted or otherwise protected?

    Yes. Wireless Names may not infringe upon the global intellectual property or legal rights of others, including but not limited to trademarks, brand names, or recognized personal names of famous people. For example, Coke, Disney, and Nike are protected Wireless Names and cannot be used by anyone besides these entities.

  • I have a Wireless Name. Now what?

    Congrats! You’ve created a unique wireless identity for yourself or your business. Log into your FutureOrb account and start linking your mobile devices’ hardware IDs to your Wireless Name(s). You can also pin content to your wireless name. Whatever you associate to your Wireless Name will be visible to others based on your privacy settings and preferences.

  • Does my Wireless Name ever expire?

    Yes. Just like a domain name, a wireless name will expire if not renewed, and then it will be available for someone else to register. The typical expiration date is one year after the date of initial registration. However, you can choose to register your wireless name for 2, 3, or even 5 years at a time, or choose auto-renew.

  • How do I close my account?

    To close your account, contact us at any time. You will receive a confirmation via email once your account is closed. Subscription fees are nonrefundable and your Wireless Name will immediately be made available for others to register.

  • What is an Orb?

    Orbs are like mobile web sites attached to wireless devices and signals. Orbs can be as simple as a photo attached to a business’s Wi-Fi router, or as complex as a virtual chat room that is only accessible based on your proximity to the wireless signals connected to it.

  • How do I find Orbs?

    Finding Orbs is easy. Simply download the FutureOrb mobile app and start looking for Orbs nearby. Or, create your own Orbs using the FutureOrb web site. Simply log into your account and click on Orbs.

  • What are your Terms of Service?

    FutureOrb’s current Terms of Service is always available to view online.

  • What is your Privacy Policy?

    FutureOrb’s current Privacy Policy is always available to view online.

  • Where can I send feedback?

    We love hearing from our users. Please feel free to contact us. 

  • Do you have a PR contact?

    For all media inquiries, please contact us and we will respond promptly. 

  • Why does my YouTube video link only show a grey screen (no thumbnail)?

    When a video is uploaded to YouTube, the preview or thumbnail of the video is not always created correctly.  The content owner much create a thumbnail for their video.  Unfortunately, there is nothing we can do about the thumbnail, since we didn't upload the original video content.  If you are linking to one of your own videos, then you can follow the following instructions as provided by YouTube: https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/72431?hl=en.

    1. Log into your YouTube account (Google)
    2. Select My Channel
    3. Select Video Manager
    4. Find the video for which you wan tto add the thumbnail to (preview frame) and select Edit
    5. To the right of the video area a series of still images.  Select the image to 'set as thumbnail'
    6. Select Save changes

  • How do I allow FutureOrb to access my browser's location?

    • Mozilla Firefox: Press on the  icon to the right of the Back button and then press on the  icon to the right of 'Location' to remove the block.
    • Internet Explorer: Open Internet Explorer > Internet Options > Privacy tab. Under the header 'Location', place a 'check mark' for the option 'Never allow websites to request your physical location'. 
    • Chrome: Press on the  icon to the right of the Refresh button then select allow in the select field to the right of 'Location'.
    • Safari: Preferences -> Privacy -> Website use of Location Services - Select 'prompt one time only' then select 'prompt once a day'. After that is done, refresh the page.
    • Edge: Settings - Choose what to clear -> Show more - check Location Permissions - clear - then refresh page