14 DAY TRIAL // One of the new features coming in Apple's iOS 11 is a Wi-Fi sharing tool that works similarly to Microsoft's Wi-Fi Sense, a tool that was introduced in Windows Phone 8.1 and which was discontinued in Windows 10.
The purpose of Apple's and Microsoft's features is nearly the same, even though Cupertino appears to be offering improved functionality that makes Wi-Fi sharing a very neat process.
For example, on Windows devices, users could provide quick access to their wireless networks using the contact list, so whenever someone attempted to connect to a Wi-Fi, the password was filled in automatically provided they were in the contact list.
This makes it extremely convenient to connect to unknown Wi-Fi networks, and the best scenario that shows this was a useful feature in home networks. Whenever someone paid you a visit, their devices were capable of automatically connecting to your home Wi-Fi if they were saved in your contact list and Wi-Fi Sense was enabled.
Apple's iOS 11 Wi-Fi sharing
As far as Apple's new feature goes, the whole process seems to be a lot simpler and it addresses a number of problems that forced Microsoft to abandon Wi-Fi Sense.
iOS devices can automatically connect to a Wi-Fi network if another nearby iPhone or iPad is already connected, with a prompt displayed on the connected device to ask for permissions. The feature only works if the connected iOS device is unlocked and in the Wi-Fi range, which means you won't be disturbed by requests all day long.
If you agree to provide access to the Wi-Fi, all you have to do is tap the "Send Password" button, and the other device automatically receives the information and connects to the Wi-Fi without any other user input. This is again very convenient in a number of cases, including at home when friends need to quickly access the network and you don't want to share a super-long password that takes forever to type.
Without a doubt, there still are ways to improve this feature on iOS as well, and Apple would probably need to add more privacy features, including limiting the possibility of requesting Wi-Fi access to only user-defined contacts or groups.
iOS 11, however, is still in beta for the time being and more improvements could be released by September when Apple is expected to unveil it, though history has proved that beta versions are mostly supposed to refine existing features and not to roll out new options.