I agree with you on that. So many fixes that create other bugs. Hopefully with the new Bertram ownership, this will stabilize. They have been more responsive lately, though, when we do find bugs.
Mark Nash UnwiredWest 78 Centennial Loop, Suite E Eugene, OR 97401 http://www.unwiredwest.com 541-998-5555 541-998-5599 fax ----- Original Message ----- From: "John McDowell" <j...@boonlink.com> To: "WISPA General List" <wireless@wispa.org> Sent: Saturday, March 21, 2009 2:24 PM Subject: Re: [WISPA] ISP billing/management software. > You guys should read the threads on the Moto list. Lot of people tired > of the way the company is doing it's customers. And tired of testing > beta software full of bugs with every release. This includes us. A > Powercode customer of 2 years. > > Sent from my iPhone > > On Mar 21, 2009, at 11:54 AM, "Mark Nash" <markl...@uwol.net> wrote: > >> Marlon, >> >> I looked at Intrameta and PowerCode and chose PowerCode for bang for >> buck. >> You really should look at them. It has its faults, but it's like a >> drug >> that we can't do without. It handles alot for us. >> >> Do a demo one day and check it out. >> >> Mark Nash >> UnwiredWest >> 78 Centennial Loop, Suite E >> Eugene, OR 97401 >> http://www.unwiredwest.com >> 541-998-5555 >> 541-998-5599 fax >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Marlon K. Schafer" <o...@odessaoffice.com> >> To: "WISPA General List" <wireless@wispa.org> >> Sent: Saturday, March 21, 2009 8:12 AM >> Subject: Re: [WISPA] ISP billing/management software. >> >> >>> http://intrameta.com/ They are a vendor member and good guys. I've >>> talked >>> to them (David Wilson got us hooked up) quite a bit. It sounds >>> like they >>> have a nice system. But the costs are higher than I can justify at >>> this >>> point and last I talked to them they didn't have a billing >>> mechanism in >>> place. >>> >>> marlon >>> >>> ----- Original Message ----- >>> From: "Charles Wu" <c...@cticonnect.com> >>> To: "WISPA General List" <wireless@wispa.org> >>> Sent: Saturday, March 21, 2009 7:58 AM >>> Subject: Re: [WISPA] ISP billing/management software. >>> >>> >>>> Hi Marlon, >>>> >>>> In no particular order, here's a list of some of the more popular >>>> ISP/WISP >>>> billing packages that we see in the market >>>> >>>> Platypus/Tucows >>>> PowerCode >>>> Rodopi >>>> BillMax >>>> Freeside >>>> Emerald / IEA Software >>>> >>>> Every package has their strengths and weaknesses -- ultimately, it >>>> comes >>>> down to personal preference and business processes to see what's a >>>> best >>>> fit >>>> >>>> Whatever it is that you end up with...be sure to check out ip pay >>>> (www.ippay.com) for your back-end payments =) >>>> >>>> -Charles >>>> >>>> P.S. -- in all seriousness -- QuickBooks does a really good job of >>>> hosing >>>> merchants (especially ISPs) on their payment processing -- we >>>> actually >>>> just helped another ISP/WISP pay for a new billing system with the >>>> $400 / >>>> month we were saving when they switched from QuickBooks Merchant >>>> Services >>>> to IP Pay >>>> >>>> -----Original Message----- >>>> From: wireless-boun...@wispa.org [mailto:wireless- >>>> boun...@wispa.org] On >>>> Behalf Of Marlon K. Schafer >>>> Sent: Saturday, March 21, 2009 9:52 AM >>>> To: WISPA General List >>>> Cc: memb...@wispa.org; Odessa Office 509-982-2181 >>>> Subject: [WISPA] ISP billing/management software. >>>> >>>> Hi All, >>>> >>>> I just got a notice that Quickbooks is going to REQUIRE an upgrade >>>> in >>>> order >>>> to continue to keep sending out bills via email. And we have all >>>> of 1 >>>> month >>>> or so to get it done.... I HATE Intuit and would like to replace >>>> them. >>>> >>>> Here's the work flow in our office. >>>> >>>> New customer calls in. >>>> Fill out signup sheet with all needed customer data. >>>> Assign static ip to customer. >>>> Enter customer billing info into Quickbooks. >>>> Enter all customer data into Access. >>>> Enter customer username and pass into RADIUS. >>>> Enter customer email account(s) data into email server. >>>> Enter customer data into Postini (if they purchase the filtering). >>>> Type customer signup sheet info into word doc and store in customer >>>> folder. >>>> Generate installation work order. >>>> Fill out check list showing what steps have been completed. >>>> >>>> This has worked nicely in the past and "only" takes about 30 >>>> minutes to >>>> accomplish. But now we're growing too fast and have gotten too >>>> big to >>>> maintain this. Between tech support calls etc. the office manager >>>> is >>>> having >>>> to bring in extra help. It's only a day per week and it's good >>>> for there >>>> to >>>> be two people there at least part of the time. No one should work >>>> alone >>>> all >>>> of the time. Plus, if she wants to take some time off she will have >>>> someone >>>> trained in the basics so we'll likely need to keep some extra help >>>> around >>>> no >>>> matter what. This mechanism also gives us a lot of double checks, >>>> redundant >>>> data points etc. With Access and Quickbooks we can run a very >>>> nice mix >>>> of >>>> reports etc. >>>> >>>> We do NOT have a customer trouble ticket mechanism other than the >>>> file on >>>> them. We don't track customers on a per call basis. That's not >>>> too bad >>>> because we're still small enough that we can normally remember >>>> problem >>>> customers. >>>> >>>> This would probably be a good time to change everything though. >>>> >>>> In my perfect world, I'd have a billing system (that handles all >>>> of the >>>> taxes for different communities etc.), trouble ticketing, auto >>>> server >>>> configuration AND deconfig. I'd want good reporting capabilities. >>>> >>>> I've looked at some of the commercial systems out there, but at $1 >>>> or >>>> more >>>> per month per sub for a full blown system I'd rather keep putting >>>> that >>>> money >>>> into the local labor pool. >>>> >>>> Freeside looks pretty good but I don't do programming or server >>>> admin >>>> work >>>> in-house. I don't mind hiring someone to set it all up etc. and >>>> to take >>>> care of the server. But it has to be an affordable solution too. >>>> >>>> What are people using? Do you like it? >>>> >>>> If you had it to do all over again, what would you do? >>>> >>>> Vendors please feel free to hit me up. >>>> marlon >>>> 509.988.0260 >>>> Or talk to Apryl in the office 509.982.2181, she'll know more >>>> about what >>>> she >>>> does day in and day out. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> --- >>>> --- >>>> --- >>>> --- >>>> -------------------------------------------------------------------- >>>> WISPA Wants You! 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