WorldSpot.net is GREAT!

[RRanch]

Thanks for all your work in creating this site! 

I was struggling with OpenWRT & Chillispot all weekend and then found that DD-WRT included Chillispot with an easy-to-configure web based interface on the DD-WRT administration page.  DD-WRT gives instructions on setting up Chillispot and they even have an external link to WorldSpot.net here: http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Chillispot  I was able to completely setup my WRT54GS including flashing DD-WRT and WorldSpot.net account in about 30 minutes. 

The installation instructions at the DD-WRT site http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Index:Install are easy to follow and if anyone is thinking about using the DD-WRT firmware, be sure to follow the installation instructions for your particular router to the letter.

Your setup is straightforward and easy to follow once the Hotspot account is set up.  I was able to disconnect from my LAN port on the router, establish a wireless connection to the router, login at Worldspot.net with a ticket, and browse the Internet without any problem.  I will be setting up my production hotspot in the next week or so and am looking forward to providing feedback on any problems my users encounter.

Are you independently wealthy?  How are you able to spend all the time and energy required for this project?  Is there any way we can contribute to the funding of this project?  What are your future plans for this project?  Do you plan on charging for this service in the future?

Thanks again for all your hard work!
-Steve

[WorldSpot]

Thank you for such positive feedback.

Are you independently wealthy?  How are you able to spend all the time and energy required for this project?  Is there any way we can contribute to the funding of this project?  What are your future plans for this project?  Do you plan on charging for this service in the future?

The worldspot service will continue to get better and better features, until I think it can become commercial.
I think this won't happen before the following features are implemented:
- I'm currently finishing the website translation.
- I cannot charge the service if it is not reliable. That's why I will setup a solution for a high availability service with hotspot monitoring (a backup server situated in another hosting provider). Note: This will need some configuration on the hotspot side.
- Full hotspot welcome page customization
Then I think the ticket service will become commercial, with rates that I hope to be lower than any other commercial solution.

Online billing (with revenue sharing or not) is the next major goal of worldspot.
I will also customize a firmware for a much more easier hotspot setup.
Then I will make some research for wifi phones and other devices compatibility.

Even if the worldspot service is actualy working well, I still have a lot of work, and I'm thinking about placing a donation icon on the website. What do you think of that?

[Polykrates]

Thanks for all your work in creating this site! 

I was struggling with OpenWRT & Chillispot all weekend and then found that DD-WRT included Chillispot ...

Thanks again for all your hard work!

I fully agree with you, Steve. I was experimenting with other solutions for a small network in Spain.
Now this is definitely the best way to get a reliable connection history.
Thanks to the admin for offering this service.

Regards
Pit

[RRanch]

Even if the worldspot service is actualy working well, I still have a lot of work, and I'm thinking about placing a donation icon on the website. What do you think of that?

I think that would be great!  We all understand the amount of time and energy it takes to work on a project like this.  I certainly feel that there is value in what you have provided so far and am willing to contribute so that you can work on more features, etc.

-Steve

[jshope]

This thread seemed like a good place to ask since you mentioned it WorldSpot

What sort of prices have you been considering for the "Ticket" service when that time comes?

~jim

[WorldSpot]

I'm still thinking on the pricing model, looking at competitors evaluation.

Worldspot won't start to charge until the following features are implemented:
- high availability service and hotspot monitoring: There will be a second replicated server hosted in a different place from the first one (maybe in US but US hosting prices are very expensive). The firmware will automatically monitor the servers availability, and worldspot will also monitor the hotspots. If your hotspot doesn't contact worldspot's monitoring service, you can receive an email indicating the loss of service. If your internet line is going down, users will get an 'unavailable service' page.
- full landing page customization: You will design your hotspot landing page templace with your own logo and decoration, with the wysiwyg editor. There won't be the worldspot topbar and the left menu anymore. There may remain a small 'powered by worldspot.net' at the bottom.
- maybe some more private account editing features and mac address based tickets.

The actual price I have in mind is about 10 to 15us dollars per month and per hotspot for the unlimited ticket service. This price will be degressive with the number of hotspots and the number of months subscribed.
When the online billing feature will come, it will be about the same price (online billing only)
Both online billing+tickets will be charged a little more but less than 17$/month.

There won't be any setup fee. I would also like to give new users a 2 month free service trial. But I have to find a way to prevent the trial service abuse.

I'm also thinking about a per ticket pricing for low activity hotspots. something like 50 cents per ticket. But it is not decided yet.

Online billing with revenue sharing will come next with no fee of course (probably 70% for the hotspot owner)

The free hotspot service will remain free.

Comments about that pricing proposition are welcome.

[jimcumming]

The pricing strcuture looks very fair to me. Especially if we are talking about

1-5 Hotspots @$12 ea
6-10 Hotspots @ $10 ea
10-25 Hotspots @ $8 ea
26+ Hotspots @ $5-6 ea per month

How long do think it will be before we have any confirmation on the pricing structure. I have a lot of customers I could sell these to tomorrow. But I don't want to commit to anything until there is a deifinate pricing structure.

How long do you think till complete customisation is available of the landing page? I'm desperate to start selling hotspots.

[WorldSpot]

Maybe a little more, and a less degressive. It won't go as low as 5$ per hotspot.
I would better say 15$ going down to 10$.
In less than one week, I will give the pricing structure. I have to evaluate better the competitors.

If you know a comparable solution with this kind of prices, or if you think that a competitor is better than worldspot in terms of quality/price, please send me a private message or email.

[intramanga]

Think this is a reasonable pricing structure.
As I have to make a decision whether to wait for your solution or use Sputnik , could you give us any E.T. on
1) Full hotspot welcome page customization (most needed)
2) Online Paypal billing (NO revenue sharing)

I would prefer using worldspot as it has user bandwidth control but obviously I cant wait for weeks/months , at least I need a fully customizable welcome page to get started.

Ed,


 

[WorldSpot]

Hi
Full welcome page customization will come next week (sure).
Just one question: only the top bar and the left bar will be removed and replaced with whatever you want.
Is it ok for you?
If you just can't wait, you can setup your own hotspotlogin.cgi uam script inside your router. worldspot is now compatible with it.

Online billing will come 2 or 3 weeks later (I hope).

I hope you will choose WorldSpot

[intramanga]

Hi again,
Well 1 week I sure can wait , and yes top and left bar will do since I also can edit the welcome message.
Thanks for your quick answer by the way.
The fact that I can limit bandwidth with worldspot gives you advantage over the Sputnik solution but obviously we will need Paypal on-line billing as soon as possible and with maintaining a reasonable pricing structure you will have a new customer for at least 3-5 hotspots to begin with.

Willing to try out also this hotspotlogin.cgi solution , but no clue how to use this with worldspot , any manual or how-to somewhere to start with ?

Thanks again,  keep up the good work..
Regards,
Ed,

[WorldSpot]

Willing to try out also this hotspotlogin.cgi solution , but no clue how to use this with worldspot , any manual or how-to somewhere to start with ?

You will need some linux technical skills. I will try to make the customization possible quickly.

[jshope]

Hi,

Comments on WorldSpot pricing:

For $15 dollars, I believe Chillispot allows you to have quite a few hotspots running for that amount.

Quote from Chillispot...

"You may register several network access servers for your WISP. This enables you to grow beyond a single hotspot."

Sooo... to beat their offering (although you've got them beat hands down in enthusiasm and responsiveness) you would need to allow multiple hotspots at a cheaper monthly price. I'm not saying unlimited, but maybe up to 3-5 spots is reasonable as long as it is not commercial quantity traffic. For this service, $10 a month sounds reasonable, and is enough to draw business from your competitors IMHO as well as appeal to the people who are giving the service away for free in order to draw customers in (Hotel/motel, campgrounds, bars, eateries, etc).

Down the road, you could develop a business-class offering that provides the level of service needed by someone using your setup as a keystone in a business arrangement. This would be for people that are charging for the wireless service they provide and who have a large amount of traffic to your system.

Just my thoughts,

~jim

[WorldSpot]

For $15 dollars, I believe Chillispot allows you to have quite a few hotspots running for that amount.

Do you believe or you are sure? Do you want to pay the 180 euros to know if you can or can't?
The chillispot website is quite mysterious.

Quote from Chillispot...

"You may register several network access servers for your WISP. This enables you to grow beyond a single hotspot."

At what price?

Sooo... to beat their offering (although you've got them beat hands down in enthusiasm and responsiveness) you would need to allow multiple hotspots at a cheaper monthly price. I'm not saying unlimited, but maybe up to 3-5 spots is reasonable as long as it is not commercial quantity traffic.

What would you call commercial quantity traffic?

For this service, $10 a month sounds reasonable, and is enough to draw business from your competitors IMHO as well as appeal to the people who are giving the service away for free in order to draw customers in (Hotel/motel, campgrounds, bars, eateries, etc).

10$ for 3-5 hotspots? very cheap!

Down the road, you could develop a business-class offering that provides the level of service needed by someone using your setup as a keystone in a business arrangement. This would be for people that are charging for the wireless service they provide and who have a large amount of traffic to your system.

What would you call business class offering? What difference you would have with the other offering?
I would like to define several offerings, defining them is a problem that we could discuss on.

[jshope]

I agree that the website and it's owners are mysterious, and I've become wary of relying on them.

I am sure of the price $15/month and the inclusion of extra hotspots (as commercial offerings even), according to the chillispot radius upgrade screens (which I have attached as screenshots).

Commercial quantity traffic is somewhere greater than 100 users a day across all spots maybe? I would definitely say at least 50 although I'm not sure really on this point because I don't know what the network traffic amounts are for each user session that is being accounted for. I consider commercial to be where people are charging to use the wireless as opposed to giving it away for free and those people who are looking for direct access to you and want definite service requirements and availability issues to be met. These are probably going to be people that are interested in the billing solution you are working on.

I'm just throwing these ideas out there, I'm no expert and don't really know from experience or anything. Take them with a grain of salt 

~jim