HOTSPLOTS is already making its mark in numerous living and working environments as a reliable billing and management system for shared wireless internet connections. Increasingly, businesses and individuals are signing on with HOTSPLOTS to offer customers, neighbours or students secure and flexible access to wireless internet. The possibilities are diverse, as the following case studies illustrate.
Hotels
This Austrian four-star hotel lies in the direct vicinity of the Kaunertaler glacier and is a beloved getaway for summer and winter holiday makers alike. 30 modern rooms, a seminar facility and a campground situated directly behind the hotel await guests at Weisseespitze – which is located 1200 metres above sea level.
The hotel has offered its guests a wireless internet connection with 
HOTSPLOTS Biz since October 2006. Guests can use their own laptop computers, PDAs or WLAN mobile phones to access the internet from the comfort of their hotel rooms or camping lots. The advantages are plain to see:
- Wireless internet as an added amenity attracts both private and business guests.
- The option to profit share offers additional opportunities to earn revenue.
- Installing and configuring a hotspot requires minimal effort.
"Our guests have really responded well to wireless internet access at the hotel. Billing and maintenance of the connection both run splendidly – there’s hardly any effort on our part. What’s more, we have a real advantage over the competition that’s not offering a simple and convenient wireless internet connection," says Karl Hafele of Hotel Weisseespitze in Feichten (Austria).
Cafés / Coffee shops
Customers increasingly want to surf the net or check their emails wirelessly while enjoying their coffee. This is also the case at World Coffee's 28 coffee bars, where delicious coffee blends can be savoured in a relaxed atmosphere.
After extensive consideration, World Coffee settled on HOTSPLOTS mobile internet solutions to offer its clients comfortable internet access.
World Coffee was looking for a solution that fulfilled many requirements. The company wanted a simple and affordable set up as well as a low maintenance, robust and flexible solution which also offered surfing customers a high degree of security. HOTSPLOTS was the perfect choice in all respects.
"Security, comfort, performance, flexibility and price - the HOTSPLOTS solution hits every mark" says Benedikt Butt, Technical Support Office at World Coffee.
In the neighbourhood
Mr Schroeder lives in an apartment block with his already-established, high-speed DSL connection. With free HOTSPLOTS firmware, however, he can upgrade his existing WLAN router to a full-fledged hotspot. His neighbour can connect to the hotspot signal and get wireless internet access at a reasonable neighbour-rate.
The advantage for Mr Schroeder:
- Thanks to the high revenue-sharing rate of around 80% for the hotspot, he can finance his own DSL connection with HOTSPLOTS Fun.
- With the HOTSPLOTS VPN system, neighbours surf with a HOTSPLOTS IP address. That means Mr Schroeder is protected against misuse of his hotspot since his IP address doesn’t appear in connection with any other user.
- Mr Schroeder uses the HOTSPLOTS billing system for free and receives his share of revenues transferred to his account every month. That means no complicated exchanges with neighbours about the internet bill.
- Mr Schroeder determines the exact amount of bandwidth to make available to users every month so neighbours don’t overload his connection.
The advantage for the neighbours:
- No contract or minimum term.
- Free and convenient online registration. The quality of the internet connection can be tested by navigating around the HOTSPLOTS site for free.
- Pay easily via debit, transfer, PayPal or credit card – even small sums.
- New neighbours won’t have to wait weeks for a DSL provider to activate their internet connection.
- Neighbours surfing every now and then only pay for what they use – as little as a few euros per month – to simply read emails or shop online.
- The monthly fee never exceeds 14.95 EUR. Even heavy users pay less than they would with their own DSL connection.
Student dormitories
The dormitory in the Mendelssohnstrasse, Hanover, is managed by Laves GbR and consists of more than 62 units. A large portion of its residents is international: Many only stay for a few months. The HOTSPLOTS solution – free from any kind of contract or minimum term – is the perfect way to give students access to a flexible and affordable wireless internet connection at home.
Several access points installed between floors ensure that all rooms in the dormitory receive a signal. An additional internet connection is not necessary.
The advantage for students:
- No contracts, fees or minimum usage requirements whatsoever.
- Keep costs under control thanks to a simple system through which students can reload their HOTSPLOTS accounts via debit, transfer, PayPal or credit card.
- Enjoy unlimited surfing for never more than 14.95 EUR per month – or simply check and write emails for as little as 2-5 EUR per month.
- Other hotspots can also be accessed with the HOTSPLOTS account.
The advantage for dormitory management:
- No extra hassle: Connection, billing and payment all managed via the HOTSPLOTS system.
- System diagnosis and remote maintenance by HOTSPLOTS ensures a high level of system stability.
- The option to profit share offers additional opportunities to earn revenue.
- Boosted image: Affordable internet as an added amenity to the dormitory means students get internet access at home as well as on campus.
Ulrike Gaedecke of Laves GbR in Hanover, student dormitory management: "The students benefit from the ability to surf the internet without a contract, and they use it accordingly. Residents at our dormitory have affordable internet access at home as well. Naturally, that makes us more attractive to potential residents – and that can only be good for business."
Camping sites
Wangerland Touristik GmbH operates two four-star campgrounds – each with 1,500 lots – on the German Frisian coast of the North Sea, a three-star marina with space for about 400 boats as well as an outer harbour. That makes the operation one of the biggest tourism businesses on the North Sea.
Numerous access points ensure that the entire area receives a wireless signal. It was possible to install the HOTSPLOTS software on the existing server so that the HOTSPLOTS advantages could be enjoyed here, too:
- Guests register free and conveniently and pay for their usage online.
- Alternatively, guests may purchase location tickets from personnel or on site.
- Fair rates – always.
- The FlexiFlat option can also be used on campgrounds. That means guests never pay more than 14.95 EUR per month for longer-term internet access.
"An increasing number of holiday makers want access to the internet. With HOTSPLOTS, we can offer campsite guests just that, simply and securely – and we profit from additional revenue and satisfied customers who keep coming back," says Stefan Koch of Wangerland Touristik GmbH in Horumersiel, Germany.
Clinics and hospitals
HOTSPLOTS is also the perfect partner for wireless internet in the healthcare sector. Demand for mobile wireless in clinics and hospitals is significantly increasing. For example, the Sportklinik Stuttgart has been enjoying the benefits of HOTSPLOTS Biz since October 2007. Multiple access points provide coverage to patient rooms.
The advantages at a glance:
- Mobile internet for patients: affordable and flexible
- Very low maintenance with high levels of security
- Simple operation due to convenient ticket system (patients do not have to go through a complicated registration process)
"An increasing number of patients are requesting mobile web access. After investigating the options for a simple solution with low investment and resource requirements but high levels of reliability and security, we settled on HOTSPLOTS as the perfect choice.
Libraries
The Ingeborg-Drewitz Library – the central library in Steglitz-Zehlendorf – belongs to the Association of Public Libraries in Berlin (VÖBB). The establishment gives visitors access to more than five million items of media. In the shopping centre “Das Schloss” located in Berlin-Steglitz, the Ingeborg-Drewitz Library allows visitors to borrow and read books throughout the 3,000m2 site.
Aside from internet terminals, the library has offered visitors wireless internet access with HOTSPLOTS Biz since June 2007.
This allows visitors to do internet research with their own laptops or to compare prices on the web as they shop.
The advantages for the library:
- Hotspots are easy and cost-effective to install.
- No maintenance required: Access, billing and online payment all happen through the HOTSPLOTS system.
- Tickets can be conveniently supplied anywhere necessary.
- No recurring costs – instead, there’s potential for additional revenue through profit sharing.
Juergen Klucken, head of the Ingeborg-Drewitz Library in Berlin: "It’s clear from the high usage rate of our internet terminals: An ever-growing number of people are catching onto the idea of internet access in libraries. Thanks to HOTSPLOTS, we’re now in a position to offer cheap, wireless internet – and it’s not costing us anything extra."
Agencies
united communications is a PR and advertising agency in the heart of Berlin. For the past twelve years, it has developed tailor-made communications solutions for internationally recognised brands, small and medium-sized businesses and public institutions. Since Autumn 2006, the agency has had a wireless internet connection with HOTSPLOTS.
The advantages for the agency:
- Customers, business partners and visitors get to enjoy free and secure wireless internet access on site with agency-issued credits.
- Residents and guests in nearby cafés as well as customers and employees from neighbouring businesses can enjoy fair and affordable wireless internet access with HOTSPLOTS – even as they sit in the park or in the courtyard.
“Customers expect to be able to access the internet wirelessly without a problem in order to interact with their own business networks even during meetings. HOTSPLOTS has made this possible – simply and independently of our private agency network” says Manfred Grossert, Managing Director of 
united communications GmbH in Berlin.
Amusement Parks
The advantages for amusement park management:
- An enhanced, innovative image as it can offer an extra amenity such as wireless internet.
- No maintenance required: Access, billing and online payments all happen through the HOTSPLOTS system.
- Profit sharing creates potential for additional revenue.
“Even if guests don’t expect it: HOTSPLOTS allows them to send an email to relatives or look up the next rest stop while the kids enjoy themselves at the petting zoo or on the carousel,” says Matthias Bergstaedt, Managing Director of Family Park Westerheim in Baden-Württemberg (Germany).
Holiday homes
Nils Ehnert's holiday home is nestled on the French Atlantic island "Île de Ré" and can be rented throughout the year. The 110m2 house was built in typical island style and offers four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a living room and a kitchen. The garden and private beach 150m away invite hours of quiet relaxation. Since May 2007, guests have also been able to enjoy wireless internet access thanks to HOTSPLOTS.
Advantages for guests:
- Simple and free registration on site.
- Switch-on hotspot, register, and surf.
- Cheap and fair rates for frequent use.
Advantages for the owner:
- Competitive advantage by offering internet access.
- Customised welcome page for guests.
- Automatic invoicing.
Nils Ehnert, holiday home owner: "Seclusion and wireless internet are not mutually exclusive. Thanks to HOTSPLOTS, we can offer our clients both. And the best thing about it: it's as simple as you want it to be during a vacation".
