Lock Media's WiFi Captive Portal / Payment Gateway Solution
What are WiFi Captive Portals / Payment Gateways?
Computers, smart phones, tablet PC's, or other device that have an 802.11 wireless connection are able to access the internet thorough a wireless router. WiFi Captive Portals forces an HTTP web client on a wireless network to see a special web page (usually for authentication purposes) before using the Internet normally. A captive portal turns a Web browser into an authentication device. This is done by intercepting all packets, regardless of address or port, until the user opens a browser and tries to access the Internet. At that time the browser is redirected to a web page portal which can require authentication and/or payment, or simply display an acceptable use policy and require the user to agree. Captive portals are used for managing Wi-Fi hotspots, and it can be used to control internet access for apartment houses, hotel rooms, business centers, and mobile environments like buses, trains, airplanes and taxis.
Benefits of a Hosted Wi-Fi Hotspot and Captive Portal Solution
The overall benefit or goal of hosting a Wi-Fi hotspot at your location is being able to offer high-speed wireless Internet access for your customers. In addition to satisfying the needs of connectivity for your customers and visitors, you and your staff can take advantage of having a powerful media channel to reach out to your customers.
Other benefits of hosting a public Wi-Fi hotspot include:
- Attract people to your location
- Generate additional revenue
- Create a private network for your own use
- Attract People to Your Location
Hosting a Wi-Fi hotspot, in any type of business, should attract new people to your location and entice them to return and stay longer. For retail stores such as cafés and bookstores, this access helps fill empty seats. For businesses such as hotels, having Wi-Fi Internet access available for guests might be essential to prevent losing potential customers. If you are in a transportation business like buses, taxis, trains or other mobile operations having public WiFi available for you passengers is an important part of your business.
Customers find WiFi hotspots in many ways, including these:
- Online directories
- Software directories
- Display signs
- Wi-Fi finders
- Laptop/PDAs
The best way to attract users to your hotspot is to display signs advertising that you have a hotspot at your location. These signs could simply say "Wi-Fi Hotspot Here" or "Wireless Internet Access Available."
How do you control access and brand your WiFi Hotspots?
Each WiFi Hotspot comes with a custom home page (portal) hosted in our datacenter - which all users see when they open their web browser, and a thank-you web page - which customers will see after they successfully register and agree to your specific terms of use.
How Does it work?
When a user first brings up their web browser they attempt to reach some particular web page, typically their home page. The user's computer issues a DNS ("Domain Name Service") request to lookup the IP address of the specified domain. The Access Controller "re-directs" the user's session and returns the IP address of the login page on the our Captured Portal / WiFi Access Portal server. No matter what domain a user tries to go to they will be returned to the captured portal access page until the agree to terms and setup there access account.
Why not sell advertising space on these pages to local or national businesses?
Lock Media provides end to end products and services to turn your facility, bus, train, or other fixed or mobil locations into a WiFi hotspot for public wireless internet access. We take care of the end-to-end process of creating, maintaining and profiting from your WiFi hotspot. Starting with a WiFi Gateway, we can support all WiFi-enabled Laptop and PDA users. Our WiFi Gateways come complete with user authentication, subscriber billing, credit card and Prepaid Card processing, portal access branding and more!
