Disclaimer: this post is my personal meaning, I am writing this alone and I am speaking in my own name. This post is not part of a marketing — or coordinated campaign whatsoever. I believe QLC Chain and WinQ have potential to redraw the world of telecom and I feel it as a responsibility to give something back to the team and the community. This is why I created this post.

A vision on how awesome it would be to have a WinQ desktop interface on your Mac or PC

Lately QLC Chain has been wondering what value a desktop app would possibly bring to the end users. There has been some questions about this on Reddit — wondering if a desktop app would be the right next thing to do…

Let’s go; enable desktop VPN for every WinQ user!

As a Lean coach and keen UX designer, I am confident — yes this would mean the world to users. It could be one of the best decisions the QLC Chain team could possibly make. This would bring value to the user, this is what the community needs!

Why on earth would one need a desktop version?

A one-stop-shop VPN on both desktop & mobile devices.

Customer value proposition research on VPN has learned me that the need for secure connections (VPN) is the largest on non-mobile devices. People using a cellphone have less need to secure their connection since they have to achieve a certain level of security by connecting to 4G networks. With roaming becoming available for almost no extra fee — the new to secure individual session is lowering. I know, 4G is not 100% water tide security, but the perception is there.

When users want to do complex tasks in a secure way, or let’s say edit a document, or lookup a private key to trade some crypto, they tend to use their portable PC. If they are on the move, they want to make sure noone is watching their data traffic over their shoulder.

That is why people would love to enable VPN, just as they have on their phone with WinQ, with a simple tool on their portable PC.

Another important business case, next to securing the network, is the need to break out of restricted networks and proxy environments. To name one example: my daughter wants to use Instagram on the school network :)

P rotect users when they are most vulnerable, and this is when they are connected to a public WiFi router or to a WiFi they don’t control.

Product vision

The desktop version would be an extension to the WinQ mobile dApp. It’s important to always see this product as an add-on, triggered and enabled by the presence of WinQ on a mobile device. This is crucial, both from a software architectural vision — as from a need to design sustainable things.

The WinQ dApp would be the master application that contains all core features and components: Unique Wallet, Shared assets, overview of available assets. The decentral digital identity (DDI) is stored and secured on the mobile device. The benefit of this design principle is that identity is only kept in one place and from a design point of view it would mean that updates on the product would only be done in one place.

The WinQ desktop app

The WinQ decentral desktop app would use as much as possible HTML5 components (dynamic build components — bootstrap) that can be reused and are maintained outside the dApp. The desktop app is lightweight, even would be possible to run as a google chrome plugin.

vision: the desktop app makes it extremely easy for users to connect to VPN or even WiFi

The WinQ desktop app looks simple, crisp clean and is easy to use

The desktop app/plug-in possibly interacts with the WinQ dApp. Wallets and advanced stuff are stored on the WinQ mobile dApp. Configuration files and passwords get to the desktop app/plug-in after pairing with the WinQ dApp.

The reason why lightweight is great:

-Minimize the need for product updates. Core features are done in WinQ

-Avoid the need for building complex features and components

-Fast go-to-market

-Low risk — low bug ratio

-Extend the userbase on mobile dApp

-Mobile dApp might give more identity functionalities in the future

-Lower the learning curve for users

-Create an awesome product

-Enable franchising — using DwinQ in 3rd party apps

Possible components & features of the desktop app

The desktop app is clean, crisp and simple. The main functionality is just to connect the user to VPN or WiFi, guided and triggered from WinQ.

Features could be as simple as:

Display available VPN (HTML5 — JSON)

Query the blockchain (if needed —actually WinQ can do that)

Details of VPN (HTML5)

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Connection: Location/Server details

QR code generator

Unique QR code referring to the chosen VPN and the client

Use case — storyline

Actually it’s very simple. In the desktop app you can just show a QR and pair with WinQ. The VPN or WiFi connection and credentials are send by WinQ via a direct and secure P2P connection.

If the desktop device is not connected on the internet — it could be as simple as pairing with bluetooth or airdrop (macOS).

So actually what you do is this:

Open the desktop app or plug-in

Scan the QR code on WinQ

Connect a VPN or Wifi from WinQ, but send it over to the laptop or desktop PC.

The dApp knows how to reach the client (P2P can be established) and establish the connection. Payment and rewards (QLC) are taken care of in the dApp. No need to have a wallet on the desktop app, making it easier to maintain and more secure for the users.

🐓What do you guys think?

Make sure to follow QLC Chain on Reddit.