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Thorn · 05-21-2004

What TarHeelV is proposing is a "turn-key" hotspot system for places that want to provide HS service to an existing customer base, and that lack the technical know-how. It may be simple for those of us here to do things like flash NoCat to a Linksys WRT54G, but damned hard for a busnes owner who calls in a consulant when the printer is out of paper. (And yes, they're out there.)

True, any moron can hang a cheap AP on a DSL line and call it a hotspot. However, unless they are very low usage, those types of setups are a problem for the busness owner in several respects. Even if it is a "free" service* business owners want managment. Just an example: We've all seen "free" continental breakfasts at hotels. I can assure you that every competent hotel manager knows exactly things like what days of the week are high demand, and what are low; the ratio of people that choose the poppy-seed bagels verses the blueberry muffins; and how much it costs to produce that breakfast each day to the cent. The same thing applies here. No business manager worth his salt is going to put up a hotspot and not want to know if it is producing (and how much) for him.

Monthly service fees are a fact of life, too. Again, competent managers are those who concentrate on the "core business", and pay for people to handle the stuff they need, but lack the expertise to do themselves. TarHellV is offering a lot of things that business owners like, such as monthly demographic reports, advertising materials, etc.

While I'd question some of the specifics, it is has potential to be a viable business model.

*TANSTAAFL

05-21-2004	#12 (permalink)
Thorn Did you do the math? Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Villa Straylight Posts: 10,084	What TarHeelV is proposing is a "turn-key" hotspot system for places that want to provide HS service to an existing customer base, and that lack the technical know-how. It may be simple for those of us here to do things like flash NoCat to a Linksys WRT54G, but damned hard for a busnes owner who calls in a consulant when the printer is out of paper. (And yes, they're out there.) True, any moron can hang a cheap AP on a DSL line and call it a hotspot. However, unless they are very low usage, those types of setups are a problem for the busness owner in several respects. Even if it is a "free" service* business owners want managment. Just an example: We've all seen "free" continental breakfasts at hotels. I can assure you that every competent hotel manager knows exactly things like what days of the week are high demand, and what are low; the ratio of people that choose the poppy-seed bagels verses the blueberry muffins; and how much it costs to produce that breakfast each day to the cent. The same thing applies here. No business manager worth his salt is going to put up a hotspot and not want to know if it is producing (and how much) for him. Monthly service fees are a fact of life, too. Again, competent managers are those who concentrate on the "core business", and pay for people to handle the stuff they need, but lack the expertise to do themselves. TarHellV is offering a lot of things that business owners like, such as monthly demographic reports, advertising materials, etc. While I'd question some of the specifics, it is has potential to be a viable business model. *TANSTAAFL __________________ Thorn "I'm The Doctor. I'm a Time Lord. I am from the planet Gallifrey in the constellation Kasterborous. I'm 903 years old and I am the man who is going to save your lives and all 6 billion people on the planet below... You got a problem with that?"