Hotspot Providers

The Loop21 hotspot software is also an option to modernize existing hotspots and outsource the software development. When the provider and Loop21 come together, a very special and flexible variation of the hotspot software can be chosen. The solution will focus on the individualization of the software.

Let us take a look at how the Internet service provider VOL HotSpot (Teleport) in Vorarlberg, Austria reorganised a large number of existing wi-fi hotspots by implementing the Loop21 hotspot software.

Loop21 Hotspot Software for VOLhotspot (Vorarlberg, AT)

Teleport is running more than 100 VOLhotspots in Vorarlberg, Austria. These hotspots need continuous software development, maintenance and updates. Loop21 offered the perfect solution to outsource these issues. Together, Teleport and Loop21 realised an individualised unique software package for the hotspots in Vorarlberg.

Overview

Loop21 put several software aspects and modules together to come up to the project’s desires. For authentication, the registration module is extended with an interconnection to Teleport’s own SMS gateway.

Accounting is realised in two ways. On the one hand, the payment interface module is activated with MPAY24 – users can register, log in and buy their credit on their own. On the other hand, an administration backend for the several hotspot locations has been developed. Now, these locations (e.g. hotels, bars, etc.) can create vouchers to sell to their customers. In the background, Teleport has access to an interface to watch the sales of the sold Internet accounts of every location. Every month, they can make an accounting to settle their commissions automatically.

The design of the login pages has been adapted to the corporate identity of VOLhotspot. Different pages for desktop and mobile devices have been implemented. The system is differentiating on its own.
Also the multilingualism and the small location-based module are big issues in this project. Several translations such as German, English, Russian, French, etc. can be chosen by the user or automatically by the user’s device. And every single hotspot can show its own “Landing page” during the log in procedure.

Another point of the outsourcing is that Loop21 takes care of system backups in their independent datacentre, operations, software updates, 2nd level support and retention of data. In future, also the interconnection between Teleport’s customer database and the Loop21 user database is considered. Then, every customer of Teleport can use their existing customer ID and e.g. birth date to log into a VOLhotspot.

Systems in use

• Loop21 hotspot system (server and client version)
• Internet Login and AAA-system (authentication, authorization, accounting)
• Voucher module & prepayment interface module (MPAY24)
• LBS (Location-based Service) / Landing Page
• Storage of Internet traffic data
• 2nd level-support and operations