SiteCafe - management solution for local client
networks
This software is specifically designed to suit the
needs of Internet cafes and allows you to manage
credit and customer accounts stored on one or
several hundred SiteKiosk client machines from one
central location - whether the clients are connected
by a local network or over the Internet.
SiteCafe
is free to use but you will need to purchase one of
the following client applications for your terminals:
An additional installation
on the client end (customer
laptop) is not required.
Support of prepaid PIN
codes (vouchers)
User account support
Ticket Station support
Usage time billing (linearly)
Happy Hours and
day-dependant rates
Support of payment
devices such as coin
acceptors
Charging for individual
services such as printing,
CD burning, Web site access
Internet Content Filter
Access restrictions: Web
sites, programs, services,
computer functions, etc.
Easy configuration
Using the SiteCafe Configuration Wizard,
the installation and configuration of
the software is fast and easy. No
programming skills are required as you
are taken step by step through the setup
process.
Each section of the Configuration Wizard
features a “Help” button, which will
provide you with more detailed
information on the corresponding setup
option.
Fig.: SiteCafe
configuration wizard
SiteCafe manager
SiteCafe Manager allows you to manageSiteKioskandHotSpotClients
at the same time.
Credit management
Just like in a phone booth, a user will
lose his or her remaining credit at the
end of the session. SiteCafe, however,
makes it possible to set up a user
account (SiteKiosk Client only) to which
a user can save his or her credit.
This will allow the user to come back to
the cafe and use up the credit he or she
has left over from the last session.
Fig.: account overview showing
remaining credit
Multiple-language user interface
SiteCafe is available in the following
display languages: English, German,
French, Spanish, Italian, Russian,
Turkish, Portuguese, and Dutch.
Statistics
SiteCafe provides extensive statistical
functions that allow you to display and
evaluate the following information:
Cash and session sales
Creating reports
Staff statistics
User statistics
Fig.: Cash and session sales
Fig.: user statistics
User statistics
SiteCafe makes it easy to gather data
from every user and store this
information with a separate register.
The button "User Login Stats" creates an
optional register of Internet users and
enables you to store and print this
information via the Export function.
For a comprehensive overview of all
functions including screenshots, clickhere».
Click to
enlarge pictures (they will open in an other
window)
My-Public-HotSpot
My-Public-HotSpot was developed for the specific
needs of Internet cafes, hotels, and training
classrooms. Use this module to allow your customers
to use your wireless LAN at a charge or free by
entering a password (controlled access), e.g. if
customers would like to surf the Web using their own
laptops or mobile phones.
Note:you can
download My-Public-HotSpot as a standalone
application. It is, however, also available as a
module as part of the SiteCafe installation version.
License once, and allow any number of
customers to use HotSpot
You pay one license fee per installation
location (e.g. hotel) no matter how many
customers want to use your hot spot at the same
time.
No operator contract/ no minimum turnover
Existing hotspot solutions are often offered
only in conjunction with an operator contract
which forces you to share the bulk of your
revenue with a third party. You will not have to
put up with that when using "My-Public-HotSpot":
you are the only one profiting from the usage
fees you earn!
Minor hardware investments
You can install My-Public-HotSpot on any
standard Windows XP, Vista or Windows 7 computer
(even older machines). The only two other things
you will need to run your own HotSpot is a WLAN
access point and a second network card - done!
Conveniently change settings
You can use SiteCafe Manager to adjust all
important client settings, e.g. (optional) usage
fees, terms of use, company logo and news, from
one central location.
Installation
Running HotSpot requires that the installation
computer be fitted with two network cards: one
network card for regular Internet access, as you
will know from your own PC at home, and a second
network card for connecting the WLAN access point.
After installing all components, you can use
SiteCafe Manager to conveniently manage different
WIFI clients of your customers on top of all
SiteKiosk and SiteCafe clients.
Configuration
Use the My-Public-HotSpot configuration tool to
adjust the basic settings for every WIFI client.
Fig.: HotSpot Configuration Tool
Fig.: Operation
The operation mode of My-Public-HotSpot
Connecting to the WIFI works in the same way
with which you and your customers are already
familiar. You switch your laptop on and search
for available and unencrypted WIFI networks.
Users connect to your WIFI network and open
their Web browser. However, irrespective of the
URL they entered, users will now be shown a
special welcome page and prompted to
authenticate themselves.
You as the operator can use the
configuration tool to change the layout/design
of this Start Page and, for instance, add your
company logo. This will remain the only page the
user will be able to access until he or she
authenticates. Once logged in, the user is shown
the regular Windows desktop. An information
window keeps the user informed about his or her
credit balance and also lets the user end his or
her session (log out).
Fig.: After logging on to the HotSpot,
the user will be shown an information
window
Fig.: Login
Authentication and payment options
Users have various options when it comes to
signing on to the system:
- User name and
password
- Prepaid PIN code or voucher
- by credit card (PayPal)
- optional password
Go toScreenshots&Functionsfor
a list of the authentication and payment options
supported by "My-Public-HotSpot".
Logging
You can use "My-Public-HotSpot" to record all
client sessions. This allows you, if necessary,
to track which (anonymous) client has called up
which URL. Passwords and any other sensitive
information will, of course, not be recorded.
Fig.: Logging
Fig.: Free Websites
Free Websites
You as the operator can specify several Web
sites your users will be able to open once they
have authenticated themselves. These Web sites
can, for example, include your own homepage or
the information pages offered by your partner
companies.
Frequently asked questions:
Question:The
range of my WIFI access point is only 30 meters.
What can I do to still offer HotSpot access
everywhere in my hotel?
Answer:To
extend the range of your WIFI, you can use WIFI
repeaters or range extenders. These devices can be
obtained from the usual commercial sources.
Question:I
would like to offer my customers WIFI access free of
charge. Would the use of the HotSpot module make any
sense under these circumstances?
Answer:Yes,
because you can still issue prepaid codes including
credit balances to your customers or guests even
though you do not charge them for this service. By
doing so, you are making sure that users in adjacent
buildings cannot use your HotSpot without paying and,
thereby, diminish your bandwidth. Your guests will
certainly appreciate this service.
Question:Will
my customers be able to purchase prepaid PIN codes /
vouchers without having to refer to my staff?
Answer:Yes,
you can do so by installing the Ticket Station
module on the SiteCafe server. Users will then be
able to buy prepaid PIN codes all by themselves. As
an alternative, you can also enable the "PayPal"
payment option. This allows users to pay their usage
fees directly using their PayPal account.
Ticket Station allows your customers to
independently purchase pre-paid PIN codes at a
ticket vending machine. Ticket Station is not a
necessary requirement for running SiteCafe.
The benefits of this software at a glance:
Installation on the same computer as
SiteCafe Server
You can install Ticket Station on the same
computer on which you installed SiteCafe Server.
Automatic generation of PIN codes that equal
the desired credit balance
Customers set the value of the pre-paid codes
themselves by the amount they deposit. Ticket
Station will then automatically generate a code
that equals this amount. This will save you the
trouble of generating and printing, for example,
1,000 PIN codes.
Selling vouchers without the need for any
staff
Since your customers create their own pre-paid
PIN code using the ticket station, you will need
fewer staff. Another advantage: since your staff
is not involved in the billing process, your
accounts will always be correct at the end of
the day.
Installation
The SiteCafe software package (version 2.0 or
greater) contains the installers forSiteCafe
Server, theMy-Public-HotSpot,
andTicket
Station. Start by installing SiteCafe Server on
the designated computer/server. If possible, install
Ticket Station on the same computer.
Running Ticket Station requires at least one payment
device supported by SiteKiosk, e.g. the emp800 coin
acceptor, and a printer/receipt printer. Your
customers can usecoins,billsor
theircredit
cardto
acquire a credit balance.
Using a lockable steel enclosure including coin
acceptor which hides the SiteCafe Server computer
completely out of sight will protect your investment.
Your customers can insert coins into the coin
acceptor and generate the code using the mouse (or
keyboard). Other, more sophisticated solutions, e.g.
touchscreen terminal including receipt printer will
work as well.
Fig.: TicketStation with enclosure
Configuration
Use the Ticket Station configuration tool to
adjust any necessary basic settings.
Fig.: Configuring TicketStation
Fig.: Charging options
Ticket Station's mode of operation
Your guests can use TicketStation to easily
create and print out their own pre-paid PIN
codes.
Customers simply deposit the desired amount
using the payment device connected to
TicketStation. You can also pre-define a minimum
amount that your customers will have to deposit.
As soon as the customer presses (touchscreen) or
clicks on (mouse) "Create code", a request for a
corresponding pre-paid PIN code with a value
equal to the amount provided will be submitted
to the SiteCafe server before TicketStation
prints out a corresponding voucher.
With the help of this voucher, your customers
will then be able to use SiteKiosk Client orMy-Public-HotSpot
Client.
You as the operator can adjust the
layout/design of this Start Page as well as the
ticket layout using this configuration tool.
Fig.: View ticket and pre-paid PIN code
Frequently asked questions:
Question:Can
I use Ticket Station in combination with a regular
printer?
Answer:While
you can use any Windows-compatible printer in
combination with Ticket Station, we recommend that
you use a receipt printer.
Question:Can
I allow payments by coin and bill at the same time?
Answer:Yes,
you can offer up to two different methods of payment.
Question:Can
Ticket Station return change?
Answer:No,
users can deposit amounts until they reach the
desired credit balance. The credit balance is
transferred completely to the code. For this reason,
there will be no change.
Ticket Station:Through
Ticket Station your customers can
independently create and print “Prepaid PIN
Codes“ by using cash or credit cards.
The evaluation copy allows you, the customer, to
test as many SiteKiosk Clients as desired,
however only 1 SiteCafe Client and 1
My-Public-HotSpot Client are permitted.
To report bugs or make suggestions for
improvements please emailsupport
(at) provisio.com.