Create Instant Hot Spots – Just Add Broadband
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — HOTSPOTZZ, one of the nation’s largest providers of wireless hot spots, developed one of the industry’s first complete "HOTSPOTZZ in a Box" location set-up kits. This $500 turnkey kit features everything a location needs to launch and promote a successful hot spot, including: access point equipment; step-by-step guide for setting up the access point; table tents; window sticker; brochure holder; HOTSPOTZZ brochures; scratch cards for accessing HOTSPOTZZ; and a HOTSPOTZZ shirt. The easy-to-use HOTSPOTZZ in a Box kit was designed to encourage the instant creation of for-pay Wi-Fi access locations.

"Hot spots" are Internet access points that utilize wireless technology known as 802.11 or Wi-Fi and are becoming popular in public places such as coffee shops, airports, hotels and other public venues. Wi-Fi sends Internet signals through the air using radio waves. To make it work, a user needs a transmitting antenna, which is linked to any type of broadband connection (DSL, cable modem, T-1). A second antenna, usually part of a laptop, receives the signal.

"We wanted to make it as simple as possible for HOTSPOTZZ locations to set up and promote the service," said Henry Smith, HOTSPOTZZ CEO. "Using the HOTSPOTZZ in a Box kit, a location can be up and running with in-store signage in about 10 minutes. It’s that simple."

"We were thrilled to receive the HOTSPOTZZ in a Box kit," said Faye Sueko, Manager, Geppetto’s Gourmet Coffee in Lafayette, CA. "It was simple to set up and the Point of Sale items are extremely helpful in promoting the service to our customers. They’ve made it simple for us to offer HOTSPOTZZ service without lifting a finger. The HOTSPOTZZ in a Box is a great idea!"

HOTSPOTZZ is providing its new HOTSPOTZZ in a Box product to all current and future HOTSPOTZZ locations, including coffee shops, hotels, restaurants and other public locations. HOTSPOTZZ also sells its HOTSPOTZZ in a Box kit to Networks Service Providers (including Internet Service Providers) who resell the HOTSPOTZZ product.

HOTSPOTZZ differentiates itself from other hot spot providers by offering the industry’s only converged access platform that enables customers to use a single account for HOTSPOTZZ dial-up or wireless service. HOTSPOTZZ is owned by IKANO, the largest provider of private-label Internet services. As a result, all HOTSPOTZZ locations are marketed to its 600,000+ end-users to help drive traffic to HOTSPOTZZ locations.

Retail subscribers can purchase scratch cards in 1-hour, 4-hour or 24-hour increments, use the "pay-as-you-go" option on the Web site or purchase a monthly subscription. Costs range from $2.95 for 1-hour to $19.95 for a monthly subscription.

Wi-Fi, or 802.11, is among the most promising new technologies for 2003, according to analysts. By 2006, there are expected to be 89,000 public Wi-Fi network access points and more than 99 million Wi-Fi users worldwide, according to Gartner Group.