RE: Wireless Internet Wifi Hotspot - Worth it? - billing platforms?

There is a difference between commercial grade and Cisco.  People buy Cisco
for certain features you are not going to use.  Here are two options to
consider for a single site solution:

http://www.zyxel.com/product/model.php?indexcate=1103876296&indexFlagvalue=1
085450343
http://www.dlink.com/products/?pid=173

The kick is that you have a receipt printer inside, so as you can sell these
slips of paper with any information needed, and then the user would use it
to configure their settings.  Cash and carry, or promo, free 15min of wifi
with a combo meal, etc...

If you wish to carry this conversation on any further, please move it to the
Talk@ list, as doing a wifi link of ~1400 miles just ain't gonna happen, no
matter how large the antennas are or how much power you shove down it.  ;)

-Joe 

-----Original Message-----
From: Robert Kim, Wireless Internet Consultant
[mailto:[email protected]] 
Sent: Thursday, February 10, 2005 1:30 PM
To: 'Joe Towner'; 'SeattleWireless Development List'
Subject: RE: Wireless Internet Wifi Hotspot - Worth it? - billing platforms?

Joe... Appreciate the technical info... My growth plan is to simply see how
much money I can generate before buying a serious cisco wireless AP... 

And I was considering Boingo as a way to PAINLESSLY guage traffic.. I don't
expect to make millions off boingo but.. It looks like the fastest way to
get off the ground... 

You mention
"Hotspot in a box solutions that you should look at."
I'd love to find a profit share billing system... Any ideas... As it stands
now.. Boingo only pays me month ONE and keeps the MRC ongoing...
I'd love to do a 70/30... Me 70... And the billing platform folks take 30...


And point well taken - about the Karma that is.. Changed my address book...
Btw... Talking about karma.. 

Its Raining and Gloomy here in San DIEGO!!!!




 X----------------

Robert Kim, Wireless Internet Consultant, Wifi Hotspot Consultant Verizon
Wireless Agent (TM) http://EVDO-Coverage.com
https://evdo.sslpowered.com/wifi-hotspot-router.html
2611 S Pacific Coast Highway 101
Cardiff by the Sea CA 92007
206 984 0880

"Internet Service Is ONLY Broadband with Broadband Customer Service"(tm) OUR
QUEST: To Kill the Cubicle! (SM)

---Shalommmmmmmm-------
----------------;-)----


-----Original Message-----
From: Joe Towner [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Thursday, February 10, 2005 1:20 PM
To: [email protected]; 'SeattleWireless Development List'
Subject: RE: Wireless Internet Wifi Hotspot - Worth it?


There are a few different ways you would want to deal with this.  Are
you going to be dealing with a lot of monthly users, or are you looking
to snag a few bucks off of a bunch of people "on their way thru"?  

If it's the former, then you're going to want to setup something
in-house, with a back end accounting & user management system.  You want
a enterprise level gateway then, so you can make sure those who don't
pay are "restricted".  Also expect to support the users, as in, if they
can't connect, it has to be your wireless stuff right?  Also plan on
doing a front end & back end wifi, where as you have b/g AP's for
clients to connect to, but A links between your AP's.

If it's the latter, where you're looking at customers looking to pass
thru, there are a few different Hotspot in a box solutions that you
should look at.  Their builtin support for a ticket / timed automatic
user accounts makes 98% of the headache's go away.

Either way, don't look to "hacked" consumer grade equipment to make this
work.  Use something commercial that will keep going under the most
intense summer sun and heat.  Your time is money, and running around
replacing gear on a constant schedule will get old really quick.  I'd
recommend some of the Metrix Mark II boxes for nodes, it'll make your
life much easier.

Figure out what you are looking to accomplish, then hit ONE list back.
Posting to numerous lists at once is bad for the karma.

BTW - it's sunny and clear, mid 40s outside in Seattle.

-Joe

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