PC is much more spendy than Plat. That is one of the reasons we did not go with PC.
----- Original Message ----- From: "Tom DeReggi" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "WISPA General List" <wireless@wispa.org> Sent: Wednesday, December 03, 2008 2:42 PM Subject: Re: [WISPA] Billing and process management system > > Advantage or Disadvantage? > > Actually Powercode integrates with Imagestream routers. > Personally, I think the PowerCode/Imagestream platform was probably the > best > value proposition on the market for a solution to manage WISPs that was > commercially available and complete. > Something someone should definately look into, if they are starting new, > and > not locked into a platform yet. > > However, I personally, chose against it, for the same reason. I was > already > locked into a methodology, and the value wasn't there for me, if I > unnecesssarilly had to start replacing routers to get full advantage of > the > software. > > But I'd argue Logisense (engage IP) also had the same flaw. The > equipment/provisioning/BW management features were only > integrated/compatible with their proprietary BW management hardware router > device. After I bought it, I never ended up using it. (But it was my first > choice at the time for many reasons) > > Both these platforms still offer significant value even if you don't use > the > router integration features, and it solves many problems for WISPs. But > ultimately it means jumping into a platform that leads to never having a > complete solution as an end game, if you don;t embrace their hardware > vendor. As a result, I chose to just stay with Quickbooks, and create > in-house, and not address it until I absolutely had to. I'll admit, I'm > not > sure that I made the right choice. > > WISPA also has a another vendor member, IntraMeta, that has a nice > operations management system, but they did not have teh billing components > integrated yet, which I feel are the most important. But I know they are > working on the billing pieces. > > What ever happened to OptiGold? 5 years ago, when we were debating the > accounting topic on ISP-LISTs, the winner was OptiGold. WISPs loved it. I > wonder how many of those WISPs are still using it, and still loving it? > > Tom DeReggi > RapidDSL & Wireless, Inc > IntAirNet- Fixed Wireless Broadband > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Mike Hammett" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: "WISPA General List" <wireless@wispa.org> > Sent: Wednesday, December 03, 2008 3:12 PM > Subject: Re: [WISPA] Billing and process management system > > >>I can't say that I really care about my top posting, I actually prefer top >> posting because I don't have to hunt for information... unless it is >> addressing many points, which you did, I did not. The entire email fits >> on >> my screen, so I saw it all. ;-) Here is my end of the bickering over >> trivial things. >> >> Freeside can do the ticketing through RT integration and you can use >> ticketing (albeit not gracefully) to track leads to installs. It cannot >> do >> the scheduling to the best of my ability. >> >> He also said it doesn't have to be one application, therefore I provided >> what I knew handled most of the requirements quite well. >> >> I guess to further add to my previous post, Mikrotik's The Dude is a >> great >> network monitor. Maybe it does, but I wish it had the ability to be >> integrated with. Sure the open source ones do, but they're a PITA to >> setup. >> >> Others have had great success with PowerCode, but my experience is not. >> When I was talking with them, they basically told me to purchase their >> BMU >> or their software won't really do anything for me. Yes, this was a long >> time ago in Internet time. >> >> >> ----- >> Mike Hammett >> Intelligent Computing Solutions >> http://www.ics-il.com >> >> >> >> -------------------------------------------------- >> From: "Butch Evans" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> Sent: Wednesday, December 03, 2008 11:02 AM >> To: "WISPA General List" <wireless@wispa.org> >> Subject: Re: [WISPA] Billing and process management system >> >>> On Wed, 3 Dec 2008, Mike Hammett wrote: >>> >>>>While I'm not yet using it, Freeside is quite impressive. I'd like >>>>to refer you to Jeremy Davis of maximumtech.us for more >>>>information. >>> >>> While I agree that FS is a good application and can do PARTS of what >>> he asked for, it does not do all of it. Jeremy Davis is a good man >>> for FreeSide without question. >>> >>> Perhaps it's the top posting that made is so that you didn't >>> remember all the requirements? See my example in this email... >>> >>>>>Some things it has to have: >>> >>>>>A system that integrates with a bandwidth management and auto >>>>>shutdown for delinquent accounts. >>> >>> FS can do this in the hands of an Expert like Jeremy. >>> >>>>>Can process a customer form lead to install and handle trouble >>>>>tickets afterward including installer scheduling. >>> >>> Unless Jeremy has done some extra work with FS, It does not fulfill >>> these CRM requirements. >>> >>>>>Can actually accurately and consistently send a bill by email to a >>>>>customer........... <- major importance. >>> >>> This is what FS does "for a living". >>> >>>>>Credit Card processing. >>> >>> This, too. >>> >>>>>Decent and totally customizable report generating system. >>>>>Customer portal. >>> >>> Both of these are doable in FS and both are customizable. >>> >>>>>Things that would be a bonus >>>>>Inventory management >>>>>Network monitoring >>> >>> FS isn't equipped to do either of these. >>> >>> See, Mike? I was able to address each section of the request and >>> anyone who reads it will be easily able to follow the conversation. >>> Also, all irrelevant information has been removed. >>> >>> >>> -- >>> ******************************************************************** >>> * Butch Evans * Professional Network Consultation* >>> * http://www.butchevans.com/ * Network Engineering * >>> * http://www.wispa.org/ * WISPA Board Member * >>> * http://blog.butchevans.com/ * Wired or Wireless Networks * >>> ******************************************************************** >>> >>> >>> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>> WISPA Wants You! Join today! >>> http://signup.wispa.org/ >>> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>> >>> WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org >>> >>> Subscribe/Unsubscribe: >>> http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless >>> >>> Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/ >>> >> >> >> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >> WISPA Wants You! Join today! >> http://signup.wispa.org/ >> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >> >> WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org >> >> Subscribe/Unsubscribe: >> http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless >> >> Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/ >> >> >> -- >> No virus found in this incoming message. >> Checked by AVG. >> Version: 7.5.552 / Virus Database: 270.9.13/1826 - Release Date: >> 12/3/2008 >> 9:34 AM >> >> > > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > WISPA Wants You! Join today! > http://signup.wispa.org/ > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org > > Subscribe/Unsubscribe: > http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless > > Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/ > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WISPA Wants You! 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