Contextually aware client application

A system comprising:

• one or more computer-readable storage media excluding propagating signals;
• one or more processors;
• and
• a detection service stored on the one or more computer-readable storage media, the detection service comprised of instructions executable by the one or more processors to:
• determine, when the computing device initiates access to a network, whether a context bar application is installed on the computing device;
• in response to determining that the context bar application is installed, detect activities initiated by a user interacting with the context bar application, the context bar application to log one or more network locations to which the computing device navigates and to receive context data related to the one or more network locations;
• control network access by the computing device based at least in part on the activities when the context bar application is installed;
• and
• in response to determining that the context bar application is not installed, directing the computing device to a network browsing environment that provides access to a limited number of websites including a website enables the user to download and install the context bar application on the computing device.

One or more computer-readable storage memory, the computer readable storage memory storing computer-executable instructions that when executed, cause one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

• receiving a request, at a computing device, to connect to a wireless network;
• determining, when the request is received, a level of network access associated with the computing device;
• in response to determining that the level of network access is associated with a presence of a context bar application, determining whether the context bar application is installed on the computing device;
• in response to determining that the context bar application is not installed on the computing device, enforcing limits on accessing the wireless network including limiting a quality of service provided to the computing device;
• and
• directing the computing device to one or more websites that enable the context bar application to be downloaded to the computing device.