Sputnik, which provides a turnkey, venue-branded, Wi-Fi services that can be managed over a network, now offers locally-targeted advertising over its Express Wi-Fi service.
CEO David LaDuke says non-technical business owners can add their own logo and identity easily, with localized content. It’s part of a “great opportunity for business owners to build customer loyalty,” he said.
When a customer initiates wireless Internet access, a welcome screen displays local maps, local search, and links to weather, movie times, and local advertising. The business owner can choose to display the localized welcome page information from either Google or Yahoo!
In addition to localized advertising on the welcome page, other new features of SputnikNet Express include:
- enhanced security that can be used to block Wi-Fi customers from accessing the business’ private/company/employee networks
- support for device-level authentication of VoIP Wi-Fi phones and other client devices that do not support a web browser login method
- recent usage reports and bandwidth consumption charts
- ability to terminate the session of a “bandwidth hog” remotely
SputnikNet Express lets a business operate a wireless hotspot without installing server software by using software as a service (SaaS). All the business owner has to do is plug a Sputnik-Powered wireless access point into a broadband Internet connection, set the location, and upload the business logo.
It runs on Sputnik access points. DD-WRT+Sputnik Agent firmware, available for a free download, can also convert existing APs, such as the ever-popular Linksys 54G, into SputnikNet APs.
Upgrading to the full SputnikNet service adds more services like walled gardens, support for multiple venues, a guest database and regular user database, RADIUS server support, and credit card or PayPal billing, as well as WorldPay, which handles 144 currencies around the world is also available.
Sputnik provides a range of hardware designed to work with Sputnik Control Center or SputnikNet to enable you to build managed, access controlled Wi-Fi networks.
Pricing is based on the number of APs on the venue owner’s network — those with only one AP the full SputnikNet service requires a $50 setup fee to start. SputnikNet Express, however, is free both to set up and to operate.
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