Client OS-Specific Notes
Android-Specific Notes
The Android ecosystem is incredibly diverse—spanning smartphones, tablets, wearables, TVs, and more. With countless manufacturers and custom versions, it offers unmatched flexibility and innovation worldwide. However, this diversity also introduces complexity. Different hardware profiles and manufacturer customizations may result in inconsistent user experiences, delayed software updates, or varying security patch levels. Developers must also invest additional effort ensuring compatibility across devices with unique specifications.
In the Swisscom mobile network, around one-third of all smartphones and tablets run on Samsung hardware. Only three other Android device makers exceed a 1% share, the rest each account for less than 1%.
The Android version of the beem app is designed independently of specific hardware vendors. However, since manufacturers tailor Android to their own specifications, certain device- or model-specific behaviours may arise, especially in an app designed with cybersecurity as a core function.
Currently, the beem app is tested and validated on Samsung smartphones and tablets with One UI, where it delivers a reliable and secure experience. While we can’t guarantee full support for devices from other manufacturers or Android variants, early results on additional Android devices have been promising. We're continuously working to expand compatibility, but Swisscom cannot offer guarantees for specific hardware models.
Windows-Specific Notes
On Windows, the beem app consists of more components than one might initially perceive. At the heart, there is a set of system services that are running permanently in the background.
Press Win+R, type services.msc, and hit Enter if you want to see them. Their names all start with "beem".
In addition, there is an app that runs in the system tray (also called the notification area). It provides you with a few quick access actions via a context menu and more importantly an icon that shows your current beemNet protection and encryption status. The tray icon is like a keyhole that offers a glimpse into the state of the beem background processes.
And then there is the beem main desktop app. Besides all the well-known ways to open a Windows desktop app, you can also double-click the tray icon to launch it. Keep in mind that you can close the beem app anytime without any effect on your beemNet connection. The beem app gives you control over the background processes that do the actual work, as they provide the connectivity and encryption to the beemNet alongside other features. As you will not need to interact with the desktop app most of the time, we encourage you to keep it closed and hence out of the way, preserving your space on the screen for your main tasks. Just right-click the beem app in the taskbar and select X Close Window.
For Windows, we offer both an installer, which facilitates the installation of the beem app, and an uninstaller, which allows for the removal of the beem app. To uninstall the beem app in Windows 11, right-click it in the Start menu and choose Uninstall. Or go to Settings → Apps → Installed Apps, find the beem app, click the three dots ⋯, and select Uninstall.
INFO
There is an option for a silent installation mode, which does not prompt the user or display the installation program. This option is only accessible to system administrators.
macOS-Specific Notes
On macOS, beem includes a menu bar app along with some background tasks. The beem app places an icon in the menu bar at the top of the macOS screen. It provides quick access to settings, status indicators and manages the background functionality. The icon shows your current beemNet protection and encryption status.
For macOS, we offer both an installer, which facilitates the installation of the beem app, and an uninstaller, which allows for the removal of the beem app. For a complete removal of all components, always uninstall the beem app using the menu item provided within the beem app itself, rather than deleting the app from the Applications folder. Navigate to the Settings menu, represented by the icon ☰ in the upper right corner of the app's home screen. Follow the path: Settings → General → Uninstall beem app. A confirmation popup will appear, and confirming will delete all components of the beem app from the device.
Multi-User Support macOS & Windows
Both macOS and Windows support multiple user accounts and a feature called Fast User Switching. While macOS consistently provides this capability, simultaneous access on Windows depends on the specific Security Edition.
INFO
The beem app allows only one active VPN tunnel per device to the beemNet at a time. Multiple connections could create ambiguity about which tunnel is active, potentially leading to security risks such as users receiving incorrect policies.
iOS & iPadOS-Specific Notes
None so far.