It's funny you mentioned waveapps. That is what I started out with. It was a disaster. And the fact they don't allow multiple email addresses for recurring invoices was a major deal breaker for me.
I've since moved to UBNTs airCRM. It is an excellent setup on paper, but is seriously lacking currently and is very erratic. I need something solid, secure, and that I don't have to worry about all the time. Thank you, Brett A Mansfield > On Dec 7, 2015, at 12:08 PM, Joshaven Mailing Lists <[email protected]> > wrote: > > Plat has excellent support > > In my opinion, the problems with plat are: > 1) The user interface is a pain in the butt and generally discouraging. > 2) The software depends on a Windows platform and even worse direct > database connections from the client. > > 1) In most places when you want to alter something like customer data you > have to click on the field to edit from a table and then go to the top to > make the change in something that is like an address bar… of course you can > get used to this but Plat is full of non-user friendly quirks like this. It > reminds me of what it feels like to go back and use Windows 95 or Windows 3.1 > when I am used to modern operating systems. The system feels almost like > directly editing a database except that the software does enforce logical > edits so it is not nearly as dangerous as direct database minupulation. > > 2) If you want to run a good highly available platform then you will be > spending a lot on software licensing with Microsoft. What is the going rate > for a MSSQL cluster now of days? Of course you can throw this on old rusty > crusty in a closet and run the free version of MSSQL but we are carriers not > hacks right? Also you are depending on ODBC database connections between > your clients and the server. Opening direct database connections to my > billing server gives me the creeps even if it is only open to a network under > my administration. I’m a fan of local host db access only except for > database peers. I would really like to see ISP billing software be web based > using standard https protocols and having no client side dependencies like > odbc configurations and client executables. Try using Plat on a tablet… I > don’t want my billing platform holding back my ability to creatively design > my installation process… > > > I feel like I am ragging on Plat… maybe I am a bit but I want to underscore > their support. They are truly exceptional to work with and you can rely on > their platform. Just don’t expect to enjoy using it. If you like function > over form then you may be a perfect match for Plat… I just wish they would do > some magic to address the above two complaints. > > My recommendation to them is to become database & OS agnostic (at least MySQL > or MSSQL and run on Apache) and to make the client interface be 100% > standards compliment browser based. I suspect if they don’t do this they > will find themselves with a EOL product in the next few years. > > Right now there are really good options emerging like WaveApps. Wave offers > free billing including credit card processing at fair rates. They don’t fit > perfectly with an ISP (yet) but they are promising an API which means that a > good solutions provider can crank out an integrations solution with Wave for > front end billing. I am also super excited to see what Sonar has to offer. > I hope their offer is solid and we have a glorious solution… > > At any rate I am waiting with bated breath to see where this lands over the > next few months. > > Sincerely, > Joshaven Potter > MTCNA, MTCRE, MTCWE, MTCTCE, UACA > Google Hangouts: [email protected] > Cell & SMS: 1-517-607-9370 > [email protected] > > > >> On Dec 7, 2015, at 9:47 AM, Chuck Hogg <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> I can setup Platypus for billing only in less than an hour, including >> setting up plans/rates/services/importing customers. >> >> Regards, >> Chuck >> >>> On Sat, Dec 5, 2015 at 3:42 PM, Josh Luthman <[email protected]> >>> wrote: >>> That get's to be a little in depth and probably a loaded question...but I >>> know when we moved to Powercode the old team that wasn't very good had it >>> done in one afternoon. This was from Quickbooks. >>> >>> >>> Josh Luthman >>> Office: 937-552-2340 >>> Direct: 937-552-2343 >>> 1100 Wayne St >>> Suite 1337 >>> Troy, OH 45373 >>> >>>> On Sat, Dec 5, 2015 at 3:37 PM, Ken Hohhof <[email protected]> wrote: >>>> Are you including database conversion? Items, customers, current >>>> balances, recurring billing, credit cards, etc. >>>> >>>> Then there’s setting up the online customer payment portal. Especially if >>>> customers already had online accounts. And you need to hook it into your >>>> merchant account, put your logo on it, test it, etc. >>>> >>>> >>>> From: Josh Luthman >>>> Sent: Saturday, December 05, 2015 2:24 PM >>>> To: [email protected] >>>> Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Need new billing solution asap!!! >>>> >>>> I'm simply saying 2 days is a long time to setup a billing system. For >>>> someone that wants it running "immediately" 2 days is a LONG time. >>>> >>>> >>>> Josh Luthman >>>> Office: 937-552-2340 >>>> Direct: 937-552-2343 >>>> 1100 Wayne St >>>> Suite 1337 >>>> Troy, OH 45373 >>>> >>>>> On Sat, Dec 5, 2015 at 3:22 PM, Philip Rankin <[email protected]> >>>>> wrote: >>>>> Hey, I'm not in this for an argument. I am just offering to help a guy >>>>> out if I can. I'll bow out of this conversation. >>>>> >>>>>> On Dec 5, 2015 1:37 PM, "Josh Luthman" <[email protected]> >>>>>> wrote: >>>>>> Two days??? Powercode takes like an hour. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> Josh Luthman >>>>>> Office: 937-552-2340 >>>>>> Direct: 937-552-2343 >>>>>> 1100 Wayne St >>>>>> Suite 1337 >>>>>> Troy, OH 45373 >>>>>> >>>>>> On Sat, Dec 5, 2015 at 2:34 PM, Philip Rankin <[email protected]> >>>>>> wrote: >>>>>>> Guys, I am still a major believer in Tucows Platypus. Brett, I could >>>>>>> have you up and running with Plat in under 2 days as long as you can >>>>>>> answer speed and pricing questions as I ask them. And all I would need >>>>>>> is remote access to a Windows 7 computer. Let me know if you are >>>>>>> interested. Most of the training can be done remotely in less than a >>>>>>> day, too. >>>>>>> >>>>>>>> On Sat, Dec 5, 2015 at 12:55 AM, Simon Westlake <[email protected]> >>>>>>>> wrote: >>>>>>>> I think it is still pretty early on. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> On 12/4/2015 6:22 PM, Chuck Hogg wrote: >>>>>>>>> So I guess it does that...lol. I wasn't really expecting it to be >>>>>>>>> like that. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> It's not very baked ? or am I missing something? >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Regards, >>>>>>>>> Chuck >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> On Fri, Dec 4, 2015 at 7:07 PM, Chuck Hogg <[email protected]> >>>>>>>>>> wrote: >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> I meant for the admin side? >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> Regards, >>>>>>>>>> Chuck >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> On Fri, Dec 4, 2015 at 4:27 PM, Faisal Imtiaz >>>>>>>>>> <[email protected]> wrote: >>>>>>>>>>> Just guessing.... >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> Drop down on top right, select signup/create account ! >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> :) >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> Faisal Imtiaz >>>>>>>>>>> Snappy Internet & Telecom >>>>>>>>>>> 7266 SW 48 Street >>>>>>>>>>> Miami, FL 33155 >>>>>>>>>>> Tel: 305 663 5518 x 232 >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> Help-desk: (305)663-5518 Option 2 or Email: >>>>>>>>>>> [email protected] >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> From: "Chuck Hogg" <[email protected]> >>>>>>>>>>> To: [email protected] >>>>>>>>>>> Sent: Friday, December 4, 2015 4:25:07 PM >>>>>>>>>>> Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Need new billing solution asap!!! >>>>>>>>>>> Anyone know how to login to his demo? >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> Regards, >>>>>>>>>>> Chuck >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> On Fri, Dec 4, 2015 at 11:28 AM, Simon Westlake >>>>>>>>>>> <[email protected]> wrote: >>>>>>>>>>>> https://github.com/spencerlambert/wisp-central-control >>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>> On 12/4/2015 10:08 AM, Jeremy wrote: >>>>>>>>>>>> Isn't Spencer Lambert's web front-end free? Last time I saw him >>>>>>>>>>>> at Animal Farm he was touting it and said he would help with setup >>>>>>>>>>>> and customization at a flat rate of $100/hr. He is located in >>>>>>>>>>>> Utah, also. If you want something cheap or free that may be an >>>>>>>>>>>> option. It would probably be worth contacting him. I recommend >>>>>>>>>>>> Powercode. >>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>> On Fri, Dec 4, 2015 at 8:58 AM, Craig Schmaderer >>>>>>>>>>>>> <[email protected]> wrote: >>>>>>>>>>>>> I've been looking at https://www.whmcs.com/ >>>>>>>>>>>>> I have a friend that uses it for his ventrillo voice business and >>>>>>>>>>>>> it does auto billing and ticketing and is cheap. I think you can >>>>>>>>>>>>> get a hosted solution if you don't want to install it. >>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>> Craig schmaderer >>>>>>>>>>>>> Skywave Wireless, Inc. >>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>> On Fri, Dec 4, 2015 at 7:41 AM -0800, "Brett A Mansfield" >>>>>>>>>>>>> <[email protected]> wrote: >>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>> Here is what I've always said about quality, cheap and fast. >>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>> You can only pick two. You will never have all three. >>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>> For this I need fast and quality. Cheap is relative in this case. >>>>>>>>>>>>> I don't have a lot of customers so the $200/mo min that visp >>>>>>>>>>>>> requires is about $100-150 too much for me. I'm fine with a >>>>>>>>>>>>> reasonable one time fee, but it must be reasonable. >>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>> I used to use waveapps to just invoice and then customers could >>>>>>>>>>>>> pay using the invoice. But if they didn't get the email or lost >>>>>>>>>>>>> it, they couldn't pay their bill. >>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>> I appreciate everyone's input on this. I think I'm going with >>>>>>>>>>>>> platypus and pay someone to set it up. >>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>> I like powercode, I just cannot justify the initial cost for my >>>>>>>>>>>>> small size operation. >>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>> Thank you, >>>>>>>>>>>>> Brett A Mansfield >>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>> On Dec 4, 2015, at 7:47 AM, Chris Fabien <[email protected]> >>>>>>>>>>>>> wrote: >>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>> Good, cheap, and fast? You know what they say about that. >>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>> We are reasonably happy with Powercode. Few gripes but it has >>>>>>>>>>>>> never double or triple charged our customers. >>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>> On Dec 4, 2015 1:35 AM, "Brett A Mansfield" >>>>>>>>>>>>> <[email protected]> wrote: >>>>>>>>>>>>>> I'm looking for a good billing solution that is cheap and I can >>>>>>>>>>>>>> have up in running immediately. >>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>> I've had far too many issues with my current billing system. >>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>> I need something turnkey and cheap. My WISP is a fairly small >>>>>>>>>>>>>> operation. >>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>> I am not willing to pay per sub, especially if there is a >>>>>>>>>>>>>> minimum like visp. I don't want to buy any new hardware. I >>>>>>>>>>>>>> looked at platypus, but it cannot be deployed easily or quickly. >>>>>>>>>>>>>> I looked at powercode, but I don't want to buy any new hardware. >>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>> Is there anything out there that might fit my needs? Or should I >>>>>>>>>>>>>> just go back to manual invoicing with quickbooks? >>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>> Thank you, >>>>>>>>>>>>>> Brett A Mansfield >>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>> -- >>>>>>>>>>>> Simon Westlake >>>>>>>>>>>> Skype: Simon_Sonar >>>>>>>>>>>> Email: [email protected] >>>>>>>>>>>> Phone: (702) 447-1247 >>>>>>>>>>>> --------------------------- >>>>>>>>>>>> Sonar Software Inc >>>>>>>>>>>> The next generation of ISP billing and OSS >>>>>>>>>>>> https://sonar.software >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> -- >>>>>>>> Simon Westlake >>>>>>>> Skype: Simon_Sonar >>>>>>>> Email: [email protected] >>>>>>>> Phone: (702) 447-1247 >>>>>>>> --------------------------- >>>>>>>> Sonar Software Inc >>>>>>>> The next generation of ISP billing and OSS >>>>>>>> https://sonar.software >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> -- >>>>>>> Philip J. Rankin >>>>>>> Wireless Telecommunications Services >>>>>>> PO Box 24 >>>>>>> Pittsburg, KS 66762 >
