Re: [WISPA] WiSP info needed
I agree with you, Tom, and I have thought of the need for this for years. I prefer to think of it as an ACCOUNTING system, rather than a billing system. Reconciliation with the different 'islands of operation' and different directories, user lists, systems to provision, etc. is cumbersome and just gets out of sync. Mark Nash Network Engineer UnwiredOnline.Net 350 Holly Street Junction City, OR 97448 http://www.uwol.net 541-998- 541-998-5599 fax - Original Message - From: "Tom DeReggi" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "WISPA General List" Sent: Friday, July 07, 2006 7:30 AM Subject: Re: [WISPA] WiSP info needed EVERYTHING EVENTUALLY. To be more specific, automation and linking between every computerized system a WISP may need. If you are interested, I'll send you an Outline that I made that is the basis for an internal application we have just started to create. I wish there was someone else out there that would have created it for us, for we didn't have to. It going to be tough to get teh ROI, based on our subscriber size, but we have no choice but to spend the development dollars. Its not jsut linking to technical provisioning servers but also linking to other data bases to track things. We currently have a different method or spreadsheet for tracking each type of information that we need to track, and its becoming very incumbersome making sure each sheet gets updated. There 10 places to record customer information for example. I believe tracking customers needs to start in the billing system, and from there its logical to tie it to the other systems, that way it prevents lossing track of syncing data or missing information entered in for some one. Part of the problem is the flow and what part of your staff needs access to what features, and at what time they ahve relevant info. Here are just some of the things needing tracked. Commissions for Property owners. Commissions for resellers. Radio inventory (where at). Radio configurations IP configurations. Contact info. (reseller, accounting, technical, building engineer, what management co) Automated List server for each product client subscribes to. (Alert based on cell site, mail, web sector, reseller, etc.) Stage in provisioning. Stage in sales process. Automate mail configuration. Billing info. Terms of colocation Firmware (what radios and indoor Linksys routers have currently, and which need updating, who owns it) Configurations also get very complicated to track, because every customer configured slightly different. (What cell, what sector, what building, what VLAN, What relay site, bridged or routed, reboot devices, pingable or not, password info for all devices, ) Common access to this data from resellers, ISP, and building management. What data can each entity see? Does this data get linked to property owner, address, client, etc? Linking downtime, to billing credit. Real time QOS info. (preferrably linked to a view for resellers, client, and ISP.) What security concerns open up, if an outsourced billing system gets linked to internal servers and technical management systems. Monitoring needs to be linked to the customer contact and billing info. A lot of this data is logical to attach to the client record at time of provisioning. It would be awaste to recreate that for a seperate technical system. My logic is that a billing system itself is very easy to create. Just run a report againt the client base. Whats difficult is linking the billing system to a full featured accounting system. If the outsourced system is a complete accounting system, its a stronger reason to use the outsourced product. However, most aren't because accounting systems are two complicated, so most people use quickbooks. So if an ISP needs to create all those other technical databases, and using quickbooks, why not jsut run the billing report from the their own database? So the outsourced solution needs to be very powerful, and that is hard to do when every one does business a little bit differently. Even commissions is a difficult thing. For example I'm only obligated to pay management companies commissions on funds collected, and funs collected may depend on if there is a reseller and if any credits were given for downtime. All this stuff links back to the customer record. I think a software developer that figures out a way to track all these relationships effectively, will make a killing, but no one has come even close yet. The best ASP product I've seen today, is an application made by Delaware.net which is similar to salesforce.com, except it links to more things (phone/Email/etc) and works the way a small WISP office executive would work, as far as tracking how calls need to be handled the full cycle from phone call comming in to handled through tech. It does not have WISP technical or billing modules yet, but it handles many
Re: [WISPA] WiSP info needed
ontact info listed in the customer database? How is the dialer machine going to get the data if the Internet service is down and your customer data is elsewhere? At minimum an outsourced system needs a system that replicates a copy of relevant data on customer premise for access. I'm not saying an ASP solution won't work, I'm jsut saying, there are many challenges that the ASP providers leave out that are required for doing business, and as a result not always effective. Tom DeReggi RapidDSL & Wireless, Inc IntAirNet- Fixed Wireless Broadband - Original Message - From: "KyWiFi LLC" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "WISPA General List" Sent: Friday, July 07, 2006 2:25 AM Subject: Re: [WISPA] WiSP info needed Tom, what exactly are you wanting to automate between your billing solution and technical backend? - Shannon - Original Message - From: "Tom DeReggi" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "WISPA General List" Sent: Thursday, July 06, 2006 3:25 PM Subject: Re: [WISPA] WiSP info needed ASP model accounting software is all good and fine if all you want to do is use the application. But what happens when you want to start automating and integrating the billing solution to your technical backend? Tom DeReggi RapidDSL & Wireless, Inc IntAirNet- Fixed Wireless Broadband - Original Message - From: "KyWiFi LLC" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "WISPA General List" Sent: Thursday, July 06, 2006 9:38 AM Subject: Re: [WISPA] WiSP info needed It will be 100% web-based so you will not need to install anything as it will all reside on the ISPBuddy.com's servers. So, you'll be able to manage your ISP business from anywhere you have a computer and Internet access (dial-up or broadband, doesn't matter). The billing module will integrate with Authorize.net and LinkPoint to start and others will be added upon request and if feasible. - Shannon - Original Message - From: "Javier Arigita" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "WISPA General List" Sent: Thursday, July 06, 2006 9:16 AM Subject: Re: [WISPA] WiSP info needed Hi Shannon, is your web solution meant to be installed in one server in our offices or is it a solution similar to fon (external billing and so on)? Thanks, Javier On 7/6/06, KyWiFi LLC <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Hi Javier, The web development company I own is creating a web-based business management system for ISP's. You can subscribe to the system's launch notification list at http://www.ISPBuddy.com It is going to offer numerous features, including WISP monitor and billing processes and it will be affordable. I'm already using it to alert me when devices become unresponsive and it automatically logs in daily and backs up the settings for all of our access points so we have them readily available in the event a restore is needed. If there are special features you have in mind, contact me offlist and I'll see what we can do to accommodate your requests if the features aren't already planned. Shannon D. Denniston, Co-Founder KyWiFi, LLC - Mt. Sterling, Kentucky "Your Hometown Broadband Provider" http://www.KyWiFi.com Call Us Today: 859.274.4033 === $39.99 DSL High Speed Internet $14.99 Home Phone Service - No Phone Line Required for DSL - FREE Activation & Equipment - Affordable Upfront Pricing - Locally Owned & Operated - We Also Service Most Rural Areas === - Original Message - From: "Javier Arigita" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Sent: Thursday, July 06, 2006 4:39 AM Subject: [WISPA] WiSP info needed I plan to create a WiSP using Alvarion equipment in a rural area in Spain. I want to offer data and in the future voice as well. Do you now any good WiSP monitor/billing software?, is it expensive? Thanks in advanced. -- WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org Subscribe/Unsubscribe: http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/ -- WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org Subscribe/Unsubscribe: http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/ -- WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org Subscribe/Unsubscribe: http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/ -- WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org Subscribe/Unsubscribe: http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/ -- WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org Subscribe/Unsubscribe: http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/ -- WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org Subscribe/Unsubscribe: http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/
Re: [WISPA] WiSP info needed
Tom, what exactly are you wanting to automate between your billing solution and technical backend? - Shannon - Original Message - From: "Tom DeReggi" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "WISPA General List" Sent: Thursday, July 06, 2006 3:25 PM Subject: Re: [WISPA] WiSP info needed ASP model accounting software is all good and fine if all you want to do is use the application. But what happens when you want to start automating and integrating the billing solution to your technical backend? Tom DeReggi RapidDSL & Wireless, Inc IntAirNet- Fixed Wireless Broadband - Original Message - From: "KyWiFi LLC" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "WISPA General List" Sent: Thursday, July 06, 2006 9:38 AM Subject: Re: [WISPA] WiSP info needed > It will be 100% web-based so you will not need to install anything > as it will all reside on the ISPBuddy.com's servers. So, you'll be able > to manage your ISP business from anywhere you have a computer and > Internet access (dial-up or broadband, doesn't matter). The billing > module will integrate with Authorize.net and LinkPoint to start and > others will be added upon request and if feasible. > > - Shannon > > > - Original Message - > From: "Javier Arigita" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: "WISPA General List" > Sent: Thursday, July 06, 2006 9:16 AM > Subject: Re: [WISPA] WiSP info needed > > > Hi Shannon, > > is your web solution meant to be installed in one server in our offices or > is it a solution similar to fon (external billing and so on)? > > Thanks, > > Javier > > > On 7/6/06, KyWiFi LLC <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >> >> Hi Javier, >> >> The web development company I own is creating a web-based >> business management system for ISP's. You can subscribe to the >> system's launch notification list at http://www.ISPBuddy.com It >> is going to offer numerous features, including WISP monitor and >> billing processes and it will be affordable. I'm already using it to >> alert me when devices become unresponsive and it automatically >> logs in daily and backs up the settings for all of our access points >> so we have them readily available in the event a restore is needed. >> If there are special features you have in mind, contact me offlist >> and I'll see what we can do to accommodate your requests if the >> features aren't already planned. >> >> >> Shannon D. Denniston, Co-Founder >> KyWiFi, LLC - Mt. Sterling, Kentucky >> "Your Hometown Broadband Provider" >> http://www.KyWiFi.com >> Call Us Today: 859.274.4033 >> === >> $39.99 DSL High Speed Internet >> $14.99 Home Phone Service >> - No Phone Line Required for DSL >> - FREE Activation & Equipment >> - Affordable Upfront Pricing >> - Locally Owned & Operated >> - We Also Service Most Rural Areas >> === >> >> >> - Original Message - >> From: "Javier Arigita" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> To: >> Sent: Thursday, July 06, 2006 4:39 AM >> Subject: [WISPA] WiSP info needed >> >> >> I plan to create a WiSP using Alvarion equipment in a rural area in >> Spain. >> I >> want to offer data and in the future voice as well. Do you now any good >> WiSP >> monitor/billing software?, is it expensive? >> >> Thanks in advanced. >> -- >> WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org >> >> Subscribe/Unsubscribe: >> http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless >> >> Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/ >> > > > > > > > -- > WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org > > Subscribe/Unsubscribe: > http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless > > Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/ > > -- > WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org > > Subscribe/Unsubscribe: > http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless > > Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/ -- WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org Subscribe/Unsubscribe: http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/ -- WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org Subscribe/Unsubscribe: http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/
Re: [WISPA] WiSP info needed (ASP)
People can tell you a hundred reasons why stuff won't work... Best advice I ever received: You can't score points if you don't serve in. Even if it is a lollipop. - Mike Dodd, Olympic Silver medalist -- WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org Subscribe/Unsubscribe: http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/
Re: [WISPA] WiSP info needed
ASP model accounting software is all good and fine if all you want to do is use the application. But what happens when you want to start automating and integrating the billing solution to your technical backend? Tom DeReggi RapidDSL & Wireless, Inc IntAirNet- Fixed Wireless Broadband - Original Message - From: "KyWiFi LLC" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "WISPA General List" Sent: Thursday, July 06, 2006 9:38 AM Subject: Re: [WISPA] WiSP info needed It will be 100% web-based so you will not need to install anything as it will all reside on the ISPBuddy.com's servers. So, you'll be able to manage your ISP business from anywhere you have a computer and Internet access (dial-up or broadband, doesn't matter). The billing module will integrate with Authorize.net and LinkPoint to start and others will be added upon request and if feasible. - Shannon - Original Message - From: "Javier Arigita" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "WISPA General List" Sent: Thursday, July 06, 2006 9:16 AM Subject: Re: [WISPA] WiSP info needed Hi Shannon, is your web solution meant to be installed in one server in our offices or is it a solution similar to fon (external billing and so on)? Thanks, Javier On 7/6/06, KyWiFi LLC <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Hi Javier, The web development company I own is creating a web-based business management system for ISP's. You can subscribe to the system's launch notification list at http://www.ISPBuddy.com It is going to offer numerous features, including WISP monitor and billing processes and it will be affordable. I'm already using it to alert me when devices become unresponsive and it automatically logs in daily and backs up the settings for all of our access points so we have them readily available in the event a restore is needed. If there are special features you have in mind, contact me offlist and I'll see what we can do to accommodate your requests if the features aren't already planned. Shannon D. Denniston, Co-Founder KyWiFi, LLC - Mt. Sterling, Kentucky "Your Hometown Broadband Provider" http://www.KyWiFi.com Call Us Today: 859.274.4033 === $39.99 DSL High Speed Internet $14.99 Home Phone Service - No Phone Line Required for DSL - FREE Activation & Equipment - Affordable Upfront Pricing - Locally Owned & Operated - We Also Service Most Rural Areas === - Original Message - From: "Javier Arigita" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Sent: Thursday, July 06, 2006 4:39 AM Subject: [WISPA] WiSP info needed I plan to create a WiSP using Alvarion equipment in a rural area in Spain. I want to offer data and in the future voice as well. Do you now any good WiSP monitor/billing software?, is it expensive? Thanks in advanced. -- WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org Subscribe/Unsubscribe: http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/ -- WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org Subscribe/Unsubscribe: http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/ -- WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org Subscribe/Unsubscribe: http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/ -- WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org Subscribe/Unsubscribe: http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/
Re: [WISPA] WiSP info needed
On Thu, 6 Jul 2006, Javier Arigita wrote: I plan to create a WiSP using Alvarion equipment in a rural area in Spain. I want to offer data and in the future voice as well. Do you now any good WiSP monitor/billing software?, is it expensive? Continue to watch this list and I will make an announcement soon for just this type of solution. Mine will be a hosted solution. If you'd like an onsite solution, look into Freeside or Optigold for the billing portion. Both of these are reasonably priced (if you are familiar with Linux, you can download and install Freeside for free). Both have the ability to do provisioning for new users. For monitoring, there are lots of options out there. I really like the the one that Mikrotik has released called "The Dude". It is free, and if you are using Mikrotik within the network, it will offer a TON of "extra" features above and beyond just simple monitoring. If you want to spend more time, you may find that Nagios is a better solution for you. I liked nagios, but for me The Dude really outshined it. Also, there is a program called Cacti that many people really like, but it is not so much of a "monitor" program as it is a graphing program. In other words, it will create graphs of bandwidth usage, signal levels, error rates and anything else that your system makes available via SNMP. -- Butch Evans Network Engineering and Security Consulting 573-276-2879 http://www.butchevans.com/ Mikrotik Certified Consultant (http://www.mikrotik.com/consultants.html) -- WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org Subscribe/Unsubscribe: http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/
Re: [WISPA] WiSP info needed
It will be 100% web-based so you will not need to install anything as it will all reside on the ISPBuddy.com's servers. So, you'll be able to manage your ISP business from anywhere you have a computer and Internet access (dial-up or broadband, doesn't matter). The billing module will integrate with Authorize.net and LinkPoint to start and others will be added upon request and if feasible. - Shannon - Original Message - From: "Javier Arigita" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "WISPA General List" Sent: Thursday, July 06, 2006 9:16 AM Subject: Re: [WISPA] WiSP info needed Hi Shannon, is your web solution meant to be installed in one server in our offices or is it a solution similar to fon (external billing and so on)? Thanks, Javier On 7/6/06, KyWiFi LLC <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Hi Javier, > > The web development company I own is creating a web-based > business management system for ISP's. You can subscribe to the > system's launch notification list at http://www.ISPBuddy.com It > is going to offer numerous features, including WISP monitor and > billing processes and it will be affordable. I'm already using it to > alert me when devices become unresponsive and it automatically > logs in daily and backs up the settings for all of our access points > so we have them readily available in the event a restore is needed. > If there are special features you have in mind, contact me offlist > and I'll see what we can do to accommodate your requests if the > features aren't already planned. > > > Shannon D. Denniston, Co-Founder > KyWiFi, LLC - Mt. Sterling, Kentucky > "Your Hometown Broadband Provider" > http://www.KyWiFi.com > Call Us Today: 859.274.4033 > === > $39.99 DSL High Speed Internet > $14.99 Home Phone Service > - No Phone Line Required for DSL > - FREE Activation & Equipment > - Affordable Upfront Pricing > - Locally Owned & Operated > - We Also Service Most Rural Areas > === > > > - Original Message - > From: "Javier Arigita" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: > Sent: Thursday, July 06, 2006 4:39 AM > Subject: [WISPA] WiSP info needed > > > I plan to create a WiSP using Alvarion equipment in a rural area in Spain. > I > want to offer data and in the future voice as well. Do you now any good > WiSP > monitor/billing software?, is it expensive? > > Thanks in advanced. > -- > WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org > > Subscribe/Unsubscribe: > http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless > > Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/ > -- WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org Subscribe/Unsubscribe: http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/ -- WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org Subscribe/Unsubscribe: http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/
Re: [WISPA] WiSP info needed
Hi Shannon, is your web solution meant to be installed in one server in our offices or is it a solution similar to fon (external billing and so on)? Thanks, Javier On 7/6/06, KyWiFi LLC <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Hi Javier,The web development company I own is creating a web-basedbusiness management system for ISP's. You can subscribe to the system's launch notification list at http://www.ISPBuddy.com Itis going to offer numerous features, including WISP monitor andbilling processes and it will be affordable. I'm already using it to alert me when devices become unresponsive and it automaticallylogs in daily and backs up the settings for all of our access pointsso we have them readily available in the event a restore is needed.If there are special features you have in mind, contact me offlist and I'll see what we can do to accommodate your requests if thefeatures aren't already planned.Shannon D. Denniston, Co-FounderKyWiFi, LLC - Mt. Sterling, Kentucky"Your Hometown Broadband Provider" http://www.KyWiFi.comCall Us Today: 859.274.4033===$39.99 DSL High Speed Internet$14.99 Home Phone Service- No Phone Line Required for DSL - FREE Activation & Equipment- Affordable Upfront Pricing- Locally Owned & Operated- We Also Service Most Rural Areas===- Original Message -From: "Javier Arigita" < [EMAIL PROTECTED]>To:Sent: Thursday, July 06, 2006 4:39 AMSubject: [WISPA] WiSP info needed I plan to create a WiSP using Alvarion equipment in a rural area in Spain. Iwant to offer data and in the future voice as well. Do you now any good WiSPmonitor/billing software?, is it expensive?Thanks in advanced. --WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.orgSubscribe/Unsubscribe:http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/ -- WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org Subscribe/Unsubscribe: http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/
Re: [WISPA] WiSP info needed
Hi Javier, The web development company I own is creating a web-based business management system for ISP's. You can subscribe to the system's launch notification list at http://www.ISPBuddy.com It is going to offer numerous features, including WISP monitor and billing processes and it will be affordable. I'm already using it to alert me when devices become unresponsive and it automatically logs in daily and backs up the settings for all of our access points so we have them readily available in the event a restore is needed. If there are special features you have in mind, contact me offlist and I'll see what we can do to accommodate your requests if the features aren't already planned. Shannon D. Denniston, Co-Founder KyWiFi, LLC - Mt. Sterling, Kentucky "Your Hometown Broadband Provider" http://www.KyWiFi.com Call Us Today: 859.274.4033 === $39.99 DSL High Speed Internet $14.99 Home Phone Service - No Phone Line Required for DSL - FREE Activation & Equipment - Affordable Upfront Pricing - Locally Owned & Operated - We Also Service Most Rural Areas === - Original Message - From: "Javier Arigita" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Sent: Thursday, July 06, 2006 4:39 AM Subject: [WISPA] WiSP info needed I plan to create a WiSP using Alvarion equipment in a rural area in Spain. I want to offer data and in the future voice as well. Do you now any good WiSP monitor/billing software?, is it expensive? Thanks in advanced. -- WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org Subscribe/Unsubscribe: http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/