I'm using the BT Wi-Fi app on an iPhone 6 Plus.

Does the app have to be running in the background all the time in order to connect me to a FON or public hotspot? Because I've noticed that I don't always get a connection to a BT Wifi-X network unless the app is running but can't confirm for sure yet....

Also, I'm off to Croatia next week, if I have the BT Wi-Fi profile installed (and/or the app running?) will I be connected to any FON hotspots automatically? Has anyone been able to connect to FON hotspots in another country successfully?

Thanks for any advice.

On my Windows phone I have to manually start the app to log me in whereas on my Android tablet it connects and logs in automatically. Which goes to show the app functionality does differ between platforms.

So I tested this on my journey home - I didn't have the app running in the background, but the app did originally install a configuration profile. I regularly got the 'Connected to BT Wi-Fi' notifications and was able to visit a few web pages. So all looks good..... not sure about BT Wi-Fi-X hotspots yet.

Using the BT Wifi app on Android (not the iPhone), you don't need to launch it and have it running in the background all the time (though I think some service associated with the app might always be running), all you need is to have 'remembered' a BT Wifi or BT Wifi-with-FON wireless network - the phone then connects when one is in range, and the app launches and logs you in (the app only appears in the notification bar).

The BT Wifi app for Android does not connect or login to FON hotspots when abroad, I think the same applies to the iOS app. When I've been abroad I've installed FON's own app for this... though back in the UK it then wants to connect to any and all BT Wifi-with-FON hotspots even if I have made my Android phone 'forget' the entry for them, so I've uninstalled the app on my return.

App store links...
FON app for Android
FON app for iPhone / iPad

Thanks binary.

I got in touch with BT and they confirmed I won't be automatically connected to FON hotspots outside of the UK. I need to log in manually with my BT ID with 'BT/' at the beginning. e.g. 'BT/john.smith@hotmail.com'. Using the FON app over there sounds like a good plan though!

In the meantime I was connected to a BT WiFi-X hotspot yesterday without the app running in the background.