HP
720Copyright 1999 GraceTime ©
GraceTime Systems Inc closed its KIOSK
business
in 1999....
None of the following is currently for sale
or hire....
The following information and links are
Historical
Research and are for educational purposes only...
HP
720
I. The Internet and Your future!
What is the Internet?
What the Internet can do for you, your friends and customers.
The current Internet and its projected growth.
Information Kiosk, Vending Machines and Cyber Cafes.
Advertising on the Internet
Establishing your own FREE Commercial Web site
Establishing your own FREE E-mail P.O. Box.
II. How to Cash In!
Advertising on the Internet.
Web site URLs
Local and home Internet access
Automate the Selling of your products and services
Sell or operate PUBLIC Internet Vending Machines
Own and Operate PUBLIC Internet Vending Machines
Products that sell quickly: Prepaid Internet Phone cards.
Merchant accounts & 800 numbers
III. How to Build your own affordable commercial web pages
Using Netscape Communicator Publisher, HTML and a good text editor.
Creating the right presentation
Using credit cards on the net
Using a FTP program to upload & download
IV. How to Obtain a URL of your own
How to check your URL name
How to register the available URL name
How little can it cost?
Where you can get the best deals?
What to expect.
V. How to rent Website equipment space for very little.
What you need in the way of equipment space
Who can help you?
VI. How to Promote your URL / Web site
Registering your web site with search engines & directories
Web promote & other contract companies
Creating and publishing, national & local Editorials
Simple newspaper advertisements
VII. How to Sell Your Products / Services, What-Ever they are!
Marketing 101
Guerrilla Marketing
Creating your own testimonials
Measuring the results.
VIII. What about those who don't have computers?
A five year forecast by Frost & Sullivan, US interactive Kiosk
Markets
A four year forecast by Probe research, Inc. 1997
What Bill Gates of Microsoft said
Public acceptance
IX. Information Kiosk, Vending Machines and Cyber Cafes.
The Big Boys and their markets
KioskCom & Kiosk for interactive Retail
A list of existing world wide Cyber cafes
X. How to Build Your Own Internet Vending Machines!
10 Things to Know Before Starting a Kiosk Project.
Basic Guidelines according to Dennis Interactive.
The skills you need to locate.
The tools you need to manufacture
The materials you need for assembly
Create your own style of cabinet
Software, the heart of the matter
What will it cost?
XI. Where to Buy "Ready Made" Internet Vending Machines!
American CyberStations, Inc. http://www.americancyberstation.com/
Charlottesville, VA
ATCOM (http://www.atcominfo.com/)
San Diego, CA
Dennis Interactive http://www.dennisinter.com/
/ United Kingdom
Coynet International Corporation.
http://www.coynet.nt.ca/index.html
Yellowknife NT, X1A 2N8 Canada
Factura http://www.factura.com/
Rochester, NY 14625
InfoTouch, http://www.infotouch.net/
,
Rocky Mountain Multimedia http://www.sni.net/multimedia
Boulder, CO
SF NET (Telenet only) http://www.sfnet.com/
/ San Francisco, CA
CafeNet http://www.cafenet.net/San
Francisco, CA Out of Business as of 12-1-1998
General KIOSKS Information Public Web Site http://www.kiosks.org/
XII. How to Place Internet Vending Machines in Store Locations!
Selecting the right kind of store locations
Making personal calls and canvassing
Making sure the store location has something invested.
What should you charge?
How much can you make?
Who pays what?
What kind of profit split?
XIII. How to Double your Vending income selling rotating
interactive
billboard advertising!
What is Point of Purchase Advertising?
What is a billboard advertisement?
What is interactive advertising?
What is interactive linked advertising
What should you charge?
How much can you make?
XIV. More Money! Electronic Coupons! Pre Paid Net Cards?
What are electronic coupons?
How do they work?
Where do you get them?
Why should you bother with them?
How to make your business, and your clients business more money!
Repeat business and residual income!
XV. How to Partner your way to Financial Freedom!
If you elect to manufacture your own
If you want to be a reseller
If you want to be an area owner / operator
If you want to promote advertising only
If you want to simply promote your chain store locations.
XVI. The First Step is the hardest! Just do it!
Making it all happen!
Setting up for business.
Cash Flow.
Planning for success.
I. The Internet and Your future!
What is the Internet?
The Internet is most probably the forerunner of the most comprehensive communications system of the future. Available and being used increasingly today!
It presents more convenience, speed and accuracy than seen in the past.
More important, it is affordable, cost effective and correct for doing business, partaking in entertainment and generally communicating with family, friends and all.
It is a complex solution made simple to the public. It is a way to allow all computers attached to a common link (Internet, Intranet, etc;) to remotely communicate with each other. Thus being able to pass information instantly, upon command, to anywhere in the world the common link is tied.
In fact it is practical for one using the Internet technology to advertise and sell to a world market from any location that has a Personal computer and a telephone line available.
It is also practical, using the Internet, to place a "I see you and hear you, you see me and hear me" call to anywhere in the world, without the long distance charge.
Transferring letters, documents, pictures and the like is most economical, practical and fast! The communication solution will continue to grow in popularity and use.
Staying Alive, Staying in Business, Retirement and you.
The reason this publication is being written is because I, the author began looking for a retirement income. Vending mixed with a semi technical background and telecommunications experience was what led me to this new media.
After careful research, it was found that this technology was not, is not and never will be a fad. Telecom companies are pouring millions into it. Companies all over the world are pouring collectively "billions" in. It is probably one of the safest bets one could make.
It has generated a gold rush type atmosphere! What is great is it competes with current appliance technology and wins. Trouble is there are not enough appliances out there yet. That's just one of the opportunities!
I have done quite a bit of research... about two years now. More than research, I have actually successfully designed and built six each coin-operated Public Internet Kiosk in the process of the research.
Experience is the best teacher. Yes, there were failures. Yes, I used competitor prices and appearance as benchmarks to compare to.
The lowest cost I have found to be available for a completed, do it yourself kiosk is around $1800. This sounds like a lot, but when you consider that if the unit is used for an hour per day (charging $6 hr time 365 days) it will yield $2160 a year, that's a 100% return on investment. If it still seems high.. go price a few.. You will find prices starting at $5000!
Atcom (who has over 200 units) charges $0.35 per minute for the same service. That is $21 per hour. If we were to charge that amount, we would make ($21 X 365) or a possible $7665 per year on a $1800 investment. Now you know what drives my ambition.
Touch Net, (http://www.touchnet.com/ ) (based on the last time the author checked) was charging $5 to $6 USA per use. This was in addition to a per minute charge.
The author has seen kiosk in a Washington DC mall that charged
nothing.
Free access.
What the Internet can do for you, your friends and customers.
Touch Screen model Kiosk
The Internet, if you will get aquatinted with it, will afford you a much faster way to do everyday business. It will allow you instant information, solutions to questions and problems. It can also be a great way to relate to your friends, customers and suppliers.
For your customers and people you do business with, you might want
to
set up a way for them to gain easy access to the Internet. Public
Internet
Kiosk, while not yet common, are good public relations tools for
dispersing
information.
Driving Profit with Kiosk Technology (CASE STUDY)
Chris Karcher - Director of Marketing Curtis Gunn, Inc. (Gunn Auto Network) says
Gunn Autos created the AutoNet web-kiosk system to
enhance
sales of cars between dealerships by providing model information over a
constantly updated kiosk network. Consumers can now shop for new and
used
automobiles without a visit to a traditional dealership. With no
vehicles
or salespeople on site, the DRIVE store makes for a unique shopping
experience.
In this innovative case study, you could learn how to think outside the
box for retailing their big-ticket items by learning about: 1.
Preferred
customer interfaces 2. Integrating kiosks into the retail environment
3.
Integration of kiosk and sales staff. 4. Innovative applications and
uses
of kiosk systems
Why are Kiosks so Popular in Europe? Lessons for the U.S. Market
Robert Senior, Vice President and General Manager of European Operations for MicroTouch Systems Inc. says "in comparison to the US, the European market for kiosks is substantially more mature. Europeans started earlier, invested heavily and never looked back." What similarities and differences are there between the US and Europe? Can comparisons be made that will minimize the risks to American developers? At the recent KIOSKCOM '97, MicroTouch Systems revealed the following:
1. The most successful European Kiosk Deployments
2. Discussed how banking regulations encouraged early adoption of kiosks.
3. Revealed how the kiosks multilingual capabilities make them irreplaceable
4. Described the unique partnerships that have been created to cost justify systems
The current Internet and its projected growth.
150,000 kiosks are currently in use throughout the United States and
this number will rise to about 1 million by the year 2001. - Probe
Research,
Inc. May 1997
The interactive kiosk market is expected to grow to almost $3 billion by 2003.
New Study: U.S. Interactive Kiosk Markets Frost & Sullivan
The widespread prevalence of automated teller machines (ATMs) offers a glimpse of the
future for interactive kiosks. Kiosks are making a strong showing in fields such as retail and tourism as both profit-making and information-disseminating devices. This report provides a detailed analysis of this new market and its huge potential. Highlighting ongoing and emerging trends shaping the market, this study represents an extremely valuable resource in a market with neither much market research nor press coverage.
Quote from http://www.tig2000.com/kiosk97/kiosk12.htm
"(With the connectivity offered by the Internet, it's easy to see why interactive kiosks are fast becoming the retailer's best ally in the race for market share. As consumers demand a more high-touch but low-hassle buying experience, kiosks offer the best of both worlds in a retail setting while simultaneously providing database functionality, personnel training and cost reduction. Can your business afford not to have kiosks as part of your retail strategy?) " Read M. Schuchardt Conference Director Technology Division TIG-2000
THE INTERNET & ON-LINE GAMES ACTIVITY SET TO INCREASE:
"By the end of 1995 2.7 million consumers world-wide will have individual consumer accounts with Internet service providers (most users are currently corporate and academic). This will increase to 74 million world-wide by the end of the decade."
Contact Nick Gibson on 0171-459-3613 or e-mail him at nick@durlacher.com
http://www.durlacher.com/ectsupdt.htm
Photo
Courtesy
of Easyeverthing café, NY http://www.netnote.com/
Information Kiosk, Vending Machines and Cyber Cafes.
At a conference in New York City (November 1997) KIOSCOM '97, several very important and well developed companies made presentations addressing subjects that we should all look at concerning the Internet, kiosk, public Internet kiosk and processes.
According to Neil Senturia - Chairman and CEO, ATCOM / INFO, ATCOM / INFO has over 200 high-speed public access Cyberbooths in public places from truck stops to airports to breweries. ATCOM recently discussed public use of the Internet and the issues surrounding high-speed access, security and remote network monitoring. Mainly topics as follows... 1. E-mail, the killer application 2. Is the cost of high-speed worth it? 3. Can access to the Internet be ubiquitous? 4. Can you make money with public access? 5. Information kiosks - touch screen versus keyboard
According to Doug Hayden - Program Director, Cross Industry and Strategic Alliances, Kiosk Design and Optimal Retail Locations make a difference. Although the kiosk industry is still relatively young, King Products has managed to separate themselves from the fray based on the functionality and design of their kiosks, by uniquely incorporating their customer's brand image into unique retail designs. In the process-oriented presentation made at KIOSCOM 97, King Products discussed the client-side approach to kiosk implementation. Here are the topics they felt to be important.
1. Form follows function - Design as the basis for application-specific requirements
2. How branding can be incorporated into design and why it matters
3. Kiosk design, engineering and fabrication processes
Advertising on the
Internet http://www3.zdnet.com/zdnn/content/msnb/0120/272350.html
Flea markets to Web By Barton Crockett MSNBC January 20, 1998 7:10 AM PST
(Excerpt)
Like many people on welfare, single mother Judy Williams has had her share of troubles.
There's the marriage that fell apart, the time she says she was stricken with Lyme disease, and her struggle to make a living selling goods at National Rifle Association events. "Everything literally went to hell in a hand basket," she says. Until, that is, she started selling on-line through auction-cum-flea-market http://www.ebay.com/.
Currently on eBay, you can find more than 200,000 items on auction, ranging from Joe
Camel cigarette lighters to CD-ROM versions of the Bible.
Collectibles
like baseball cards, Barbie dolls and Beanie Babies are among the
biggest
sellers. But just about anything can be found, including an "Ultimate
Guide"
to scanning images into eBay listings, and a recent auction of the
right
to appear as an extra in the television show "Murphy Brown."
The real opportunity may not lie in just the positioning of terminals but in the use of them! As of the summer of 1999, new technologies are making the expectations of the 21st century come true. Namely, Voice over the Internet (VoIP), Co Browse and Direct Interactive Chat programs and most importantly TELEMATICS!
These programs are enabling the catalog and service companies to directly communicate with prospective and existing customers over the Internet, cell phones and MOBILE devices.
Interactive direct marketing. What does it really mean? Opportunity!
Imagine yourself driving down the road in a strange town with your family… All of a sudden your child starts having pains that are very similar to those experienced when having an heart attack. What do you do?
If your auto is equipped with a Ford "Wingcast" or a GM "On Star" product… probably all you have to do is push a button or literally speak and ask for help. These products are hands free, cell phone connected and linked to personal servants (Contact centers geared for your personal service).
The customer would simply click a button on the screen and or type the simple web address into the go to box and be immediately connected to a site where VOICE, Co-Browse AND e-mail like CHAT occurs. Of course you could also have done this in your vechicle..
This means that (voice) the Telephone will be replaced with direct voice over the internet. This also means that the customer service representative at the other end will be available to control your screen… and you will be able to control theirs. Thus the both of you could be looking through pictures, directories or anything that can be published on the web!
At the same time there could be a chat box area for typing the conversation in place of or in addition to the voice conversation. All of these functions are available NOW! Go to http://www.mediaring.com/ for the VoIP. Go To http://www.hipbone.com/ for the Co-browse. Go to http://www.netscape.com/ for the conference functions.
What does this really mean? Maybe an eventual end to the pay phone as we know it! Maybe a whole new way to provide service. Maybe a whole new way to make money in the new style of communications. Maybe a shift in how the current payphone industry generates revenue. For those that understand early about what is really happening and how fast it is happening, it could be a bonanza!
Establishing your own FREE Commercial / personnel Web / WAP site
Dave Hwang first made this page to try to help people at his church, MIT, and other Boston area colleges, but I think it can be useful to anyone. Here is more information on how you can make Your Own Home Page works.
For the complete novice - You don't need to do anything except fill out this form, make your selections, and press the "Make Me a Home Page" button, and you'll get your own home page (customized to look just like all the others generated by this form). Try this as a first step.
For commercial or personal Web Sites try http://pca.wsff.com/defaultjs.asp?vCompID=
At Inc. Online, anyone can create a Web site--for free. You'll
input
the information
(which you can modify at any time) and then choose a customized URL
Web address
to give to customers, suppliers, friends, and others.
Microsoft FrontPage 98 is a good all around solution for web page construction and maintenance. More information at http://www.microsoft.com/frontpage/resources/default.htm
Netscape Navigator communicator edition 4.6 has a very good html web page generator. More information at http://home.netscape.com/download/index.html?cp=hmp01sdow
The Best of all worlds (in the
authors
experience) is http://www.bigstep.com/
where all may be had at
minimal expense.
II. How to Cash In!
Focusing on dominance rocketed a product from the 6% share it had managed, to eke out after 8 years of struggling up to 24% market share in just 12 months - and increased the value of the company by $100,000,000. It moved a stagnating company from virtual invisibility to second place in their category in one year while increasing sales 75% - with a minimal budget. It launched a product and company that almost instantly dominated the marketplace and held that position for over a decade.
The toughest part is ignoring what you have done in the past and determining what the market wants to buy. Because the truth is that none of your outstanding sales, wonderful products, astonishing specifications, your elegant lines of code, really matter nearly as much as you might think.
The classic marketing example is that people do not need drills, instead they buy drill bits and motors because they need holes. And they will buy and use the most convenient and painless solution.
In high technology markets, they do not need hardware, they need horsepower. The general public doesn't want rules and confusing gadgets.. they want simple solutions that will make the everyday things and actions of life more pleasant or easy to use.
The reason we need all the above is so we can solve our problems, fulfill our needs and create situations we desire.
Providing What your customers and prospects want!
We would pay a premium for 6 pounds of green cheese in a black box, if it solved our problems. The fact is that we tend to look at things with the attitude "we do not care about you at all - we just want to know what's in it for us". Too many business people just do not know how to deal with that. Customer care (looking out for the other guy) is always king and will always triumph!
Take this simple test I have learned from others. Draw a line down the middle of a sheet of paper and in the left column list what is most important about your product. You will want at least three items, but do not list more than six. Focus on what is most important to your prospects rather than just listing specifications.
Now for each item listed on the left, use the right-hand column to write down what you'd say if a skeptical user asked: "So what?" Do not think about it too long - just give snappy answers and write it down. Doing it this way, I've found that I knew things I didn't even know I knew, because it seems to bypass that ultra-logical internal censor most of us have peering over our shoulders.
If you do have to make an entry on the right because the entry on the left didn't already answer the "So what," you're on the right track. Finding the message your prospects need to hear for you to succeed is that simple! It may take a few passes, with feedback from prospects if you can get it, but it's worth all the time and effort.
I use this technique all the time. I have found that the left-hand list tells you what a product is, but the right-hand column tells you what it is for. And that's what prospects are looking to buy.http://www.pawluk.com/pages/gorilla.htm
Advertising, Communicating, The Internet and KIOSK
"Leveraging the Power of Kiosks and Internet Access stations for Frequent Shopper Programs is what the 21st century is going to be all about! Shopper loyalty programs were all the rage in the 50s and 60s. Who can forget what a thousand stamps taste like; i.e.;. There used to be stamps given with every purchase at some stores, redeemable for goods and products. Some are making a serious comeback. Several current programs will be reviewed with additional programs in Beta testing to be touched on.
Today, you will find having a personal plastic card for your favorite store will entitle you to discounts in that store. That is if you present the card as you check out. It is kind of like belonging to a club. You don’t play the game, you don’t get the discount.
http://www.drivernet.com/
DriverNet terminal found at many truck stops.
If you are a participating member of DriverNet, you will have access to the internet and intranet information as you fill up the truck.
Facturas view
Presenting a comprehensive case study, Factura's founder and president has demonstrated how: Couponing, sweepstakes, and recipes are improving customer loyalty. New technologies allow retailers and manufacturers to form a long lasting impression. Shoppers that earn points towards premiums return more frequently. You can focus your marketing efforts on your best customers" Quote from: Greg Swistak - President Factura Kiosks
Web site URLs (getting familiar)
You need to go to http://www.igoldrush.com/to explore for your self and
Find out what a domain name is and how to buy and sell domain names. You can enjoy an inside view of the domain name industry, read the latest domain name news, browse the FAQ, explore over 150 reviewed links to further information, and much more...
After learning all that, you can then search and purchase a domain name / address for your own www site. If you wish, you may check for a name not already taken at one of the following (there are more sites available that will allow you to check for a URL name, these are merely example sites):
http://www.catalog.com/catalog/about-domains.html
https://www.iuinc.com/cgi-bin/123domainme/domains.cgi
Remote Web site locations can be provided by the above-mentioned Domain name search companies. Very affordable rates and good service usually occur. Check with each respective company for a quotation. There are companies that will do Turn Key solutions.
Local and home Internet access
Internet access is offered by a multitude of providers. SW Bell Internet service is just one example. http://www.swbell.net/This company provides service to Austin,
Oklahoma City, Corpus Christi, St. Louis, Dallas/Ft Worth, San Antonio, El Paso, Topeka, Houston, Tulsa, Kansas City, Wichita and Little Rock.
Other service providers for your area may be found by visiting the Internet site
http://www.netscape.com/assist/isp_select/index.html?cp=hmp01yisp
FTP programs allow local or home control of a remote URL web site. After establishing a URL address, building your web pages and finally getting to the point where you have a place (hardware site) to install all the above, you may have to use an FTP (file transfer protocol) program. Sounds intimidating, However it is almost as simple as falling off a rock. But if you have never done it before it can be very scary!
The following site allows you a free download of a FTP program that is very popular.
http://www6.zdnet.com/cgi-bin/texis/swlib/hotfiles/info.html?fcode=00064K
Automate the Selling of your products and services
"Implement interactive kiosks with Internet connectivity and inventory capabilities Streamline customer service through interactivity
Develop electronic commerce strategies through your kiosk
Maintain an open system for future and backward compatibility
Translate pre-existing data to the kiosk medium & bring your brand strategy to life
Deploy your kiosk with database training and management functionality
Reduce your costs through remote update technologies "
Quote from Read M. Schuchardt Conference Director Technology Division TIG-2000
Sell or operate PUBLIC Internet Access / Vending / Point of purchase terminals.
Own and Operate PUBLIC Internet Vending Machines
Read M. Schuchardt Conference Director Technology Division TIG-2000 projects that one may "deliver services and information of value to your customers". One may implement fully functional transactional kiosks and develop long-term strategies for maintaining your kiosk.
One can translate pre-existing data to the kiosk medium without to much difficulty. One may enhance brand strategy with multimedia displays and streamline customer service through interactivity. One could reduce costs through the latest technologies. It is possible to deploy an effective kiosk strategy on short notice with budget creatively for start-up and long-term plans.
It is important to maintain an open system for future developments and backward compatibility" Excerpts from Read M. Schuchardt, Conference Director Technology Division TIG-2000
Products that sell quickly:
Keith Hammer - CIO Crown Books implies Enhancing Customer Service With Interactive Information Kiosks can be profitable! Crown Books, a 170 unit, 300 million discount bookstore chain has recently rolled out commercial interactive book information kiosks The Crown Book chain customized their system to complement the store environment and integration issues with existing store systems. Implementation issues along with ongoing training and support requirements must be addressed. Namely: 1. Justifying the investment 2. Enhancing customer service 3. Customizing commercial kiosks 4. Integrating with existing store systems
Merchant accounts
You can always use a local bank or credit card processing facility. However there is always an alternative... for instance http://www.intur.net/metroweb/credit5.htm
could set you up to process most major credit cards. Designed to service EXISTING OR NEW MERCHANTS OPENING A BUSINESS: They say it will INCREASE YOUR SALES AND PROFIT BY 25% TO 44% BY ACCEPTING ALL MAJOR CREDIT AND DEBIT CARDS.
III. How to Build your own affordable commercial Web Sites and web
pages. Creating the right presentation
Looking for a good HTML, Publisher program and a good text editor?
A good place to start would be by visiting the Web Mastery Forums and Resource Lists created by Daniel LaLiberte.
http://www.hypernews.org/HyperNews/get/www/html/guides.html
The list contain links and instructions as follows:
1. Style issues, such as when to divide text, what kinds of navigational devices to use, or how to present multimedia information to optimize readability.
2. HTML as a "language." Issues addressed here are HTML coding reference lists, HTML specifications, changes in HTML, and other web languages, such as VRML.
3. Beginning web designers. Issues include resources for learning how to write HTML-based documents.
4. "The most complete list of HTML editing tools around, organized by platform."
5. Conversion programs that translate various document formats to and from HTML.
6. World Wide Web in general. Issues include general introductions, web terminology, web history, web terminology, and growth statistics.
7. HTTPD, the daemon that WWW Servers run to talk with clients using the HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP). Issues include server comparisons and security.
8. Client software packages, such as Mosaic, Netscape, and Lynx. Information about helpers and plug-ins may be added to this category.
9. Concerning images and the WWW. Images are often contained in HTML documents. Issues include image repositories, mapping, image creation and manipulation, and graphics software.
See above at ( http://www.hypernews.org/HyperNews/get/www/html/guides.html)
Daniel LaLiberte created the Web Mastery Forums and Resource Lists. Nancy Stegall has since adopted the Resource Lists. liberte@ncsa.uiuc.eduand Resource List comments and adds should be addressed to nstegall@devry-phx.edu
Using credit cards on the net
It is not a completely accepted practice (at the time of this printing) to use credit cards for purchase goods and services over the Internet. That is especially true if there is no indication of security indicated. There are sites that do seem to have fully encrypted codes that protect any information you might transfer. This is usually indicated by a key symbol being displayed in the Internet browser lower left corner. When the key is broken into two pieces, it would indicate a non-secure connection. However, most folks prefer to use a 800 number to call when placing credit card number orders.
In vending machines, ATMs, and other like equipment, using credit cards is beginning to be a very accepted practice. Probably because the systems are secure and are not used on the open Internet. Rather they are used with a closed network called an INTRANET.
Using a FTP (file transfer protocol) program to upload & download
http://www.hotfiles.com/hot/top1997.htmlpresents a host of helps and free downloads.
If you look under Internet tools, you find FTP programs. The tuffest part of using the standard FTP program is understanding how simple it is. Usually all you have to do is fill in the blanks with the correct information to log on. Then on the left side (usually the side that contains the files you are trying to upload from your site) you need to select which drive your info is on. The remote computer directory usually generates the information on the right. Important! To get information from your machine to the remote (or visa versa), all you do is highlight the file you want to transfer and click on the arrow indicating which way the files are going (i.e.; > means left to right or from you machine to the remote) .
http://www.catalog.com/catalog/ftp.html
This document explains how to access your Catalog.Com account via FTP, assuming you are using a simple command line oriented FTP program on your local system. If you are using Microsoft Web Publisher, please see our instructions about Publisher.
If you are using a Mac you should read this and also our instructions on Fetch. explains how to access your Catalog.Com account via FTP, assuming you are using a simple command line oriented FTP program on your local system. If you are using Microsoft Web Publisher, please see our instructions about Publisher. If you are using a Mac you should read this and also our instructions on Fetch.
IV. How to Obtain a URL of your own
How to check your URL name, How to register the available URL name
How little can it cost? Where you can get the best deals? What to expect.
The following are good places to go to get answers to all the above questions....
https://www.iuinc.com/cgi-bin/123domainme/domains.cgi
Need help picking a domain name? 123 would be happy to help you!
The 123 unique program will furnish you with over 1,000* domain name possibilities!
Don't worry about how... It just does! It will send you three e-mail messages, one with taken domain names, one with NOT taken domain names, and ones it gave up on InterNic for! Would you like an example?
This service costs nothing! It's now FREE! and can save you HOURS of work!
Enter Your Name (REQUIRED): Enter Your E-Mail (REQUIRED):
Enter The Name of The Company (Up to 5 Words - Words past will be cut off) (REQUIRED): Enter Up To 10 Keywords Separated By Spaces (Ones past that
will be cut off) (REQUIRED): 1 2 3 NameMe! will check on .ORG, .COM, and .NET domains.
http://www.catalog.com/catalog/about-domains.html
"Catalog.com registers domains on your behalf, under the name of your own organization. The name is yours and can be transferred to other providers or used for your own server at any time you decide to leave our service. Unless you request otherwise, domains registered through Catalog.Com automatically get three names:
myname.com
www.myname.com
ftp.myname.com
When you fill out our domain template, do not include "www." or "ftp." in your request. These names will be assigned automatically when we setup your domain. "
For .COM's, .ORG's, and .NET's, InterNic will bill their domain charge of $70 for first 2 years, thereafter registration renewals will be billed at the prevailing rate at time of renewal.
For BASIC Virtual Web Site Hosting
10 Megabytes of Disk Space
1 Gigabytes of Transfer (bandwidth)
1 E-Mail Forwarding Account (POP3 account)
Who can help you
http://www.123hostme.com/ An eastern seaboard site, says
"The single most important factor when picking your Internet Presence Provider (IPP). No matter who you are, you are going to have questions, comments, and maybe an occasional problem. A voice mail menu from hell is not going to help your situation. At 1 2 3 Host Me you can call us and actually talk to a human! *** Note: Customer Service does NOT mean we are going to code your web site for you or debug your CGI scripts for free, but if you are having problems related to your service we are more than happy to help. "
Be sure to also check
http://www.catalog.com/catalog/nug.htmlis a West Coast site. It has comprehensive affordable services and guides you may find at their site.
There are today Many others!
VI. How to Promote your URL / Web site
Registering your web site with search engines & directories
Web promote, Submit It!® & other contract companies
Savvy Internet marketers understand whether you invest $100 or $100,000
Developing your web site, it is critical that the right people see what you have to
Offer. That is where the full-service WebPromote Team can help, delivering
Innovative, traffic-building programs that get your web site in front of the Internet
Audience you want to reach.
Do not expect to make your site an overnight success. The truth is, there are no magical solutions to succeeding on the Internet, just good old-fashioned hard work and
Intelligently applied, proven Internet marketing techniques.
Submit It!®
The best services for driving traffic to your Web site. Submit It!® services are used by over 250,000 Webmasters, on-line marketers and site owners, from Fortune 500 employees to individual hobbyists. As creator of the world's most popular Web site
Announcement tools, we're dedicated to providing the best Web site marketing services to our members.
Announcement Services: Submit It! Online: Announce your Web site to your choice of
more than 400 search engines, directories, what's new sites, and award sites in 30 categories. Comes with Free verification.
Need to announce many Web pages? Download software and save time. Consultants can announce your site for you. They also offer extensive Web marketing services.
Free: Announce your Web site to about 20 search engines and directories.
Additional Traffic-Driving Services
ClickTrade: Easily reward other Web site owners for linking to your site.
PositionAgent: Monitor your Web site rankings in the major search engines.
ListBot: Get a free mailing list for your web site.
DirectoryGuide: Find new announcement opportunities in our extensive catalog of search engines and directories.
LinkExchange: Join the Web's largest ad banner network.
VII. How to Sell Your Products / Services, What-Ever they are!Marketing 101
http://www.pawluk.com/pages/sitemap.htmbyHAL PAWLUK
Focus and determination take you a long way towards success at just about anything. But applying that to marketing and advertising - especially on the Web - is something else, and that's what this site and our agency are about.
Turning the food chain around http://www.pawluk.com/pages/foxcase.htm
Sometimes the little guy wins, and this is a case history of one of those times. Against a competitor with 75% of the market, a small software publisher boosted their market share from 6% to 24% in one year. And increased the value of the company $100 million. Killer results!
Guerrilla Marketing
What really works is "Gorilla Marketing" because dominance is what it takes to win. If you go to the www site http://www.pawluk.com/pages/gorilla.htmyou will see the following quoted material (Gorilla marketing is a great buzzword, but it is losing its strategy).
Creating your own testimonials
If you are good at creating editorials or brochures, then this might be the avenue for you.
A press release can sometimes help with the spreading of the word.
Measuring the results.
If you are renting web site space, there is usually associated with this site a tool for measuring number of visits, how many unique URLs visited and much more.
You can also build a counter within your website. Along with the counter, it is also very smart to insert a leader of some kind that will entice the visitor to leave or e-mail his or her name.
Of course, if you have some means for a person to order something, and the ordering occurs, then you have done your best.
Abundant Resources for further study http://www.pawluk.com/pages/resource.htm
What about those who don't have or understand computers?Today, how the internet is presented to the public is getting simple. Most public access stations are set up to where the average person only has to be able to read, point and / or click.
Touch screens enable us to point at the item or result we want and the interface is programmed to automatically make it happen. There are many programs available (software you buy, lease or rent). This is no longer a hurdle. It is in fact off the shelf product. Elo Systems and Netshift offer a turnkey product that will allow just that. http://www.elo.com/ .
The primary market for kiosks exist in retail, which already
accounts
for more than 50 percent of the market. The average price for a kiosk
has
fallen by one-half since 1993.
The interactive kiosk market is expected to grow to almost $3 billion
by 2003.
- Frost & Sullivan, US Interactive Kiosk Markets
A four year forecast by Probe research, Inc.
1997
150,000 kiosks are currently in use throughout the United States and
this number will rise to about 1 million by the year 2001. - Probe
Research,
Inc. May 1997
What Bill Gates of Microsoft said in his book "
The
Road Ahead"
" If you are not carrying a wallet sized PC, you will still have access
to the interactive network at kiosk - some free, some requiring payment
of a fee - in office buildings, shopping malls, and airports in much
the
same way that drinking fountains, restrooms, and pay telephones are
available
now.
These kiosk will replace not only pay phones, but also banking machines. They will offer many other network applications, from sending and receiving messages to buying tickets. Some kiosk will display advertising links to specific services when you first log on - the way phones in airports connect you directly to hotel and rental car desk now. Kiosk will be rugged devices on the outside and PCs on the inside."
Public acceptance 
No one seems to know exactly how many Public Internet Kiosk there are in the USA, much less the world! In a later section there is a list of Cyber Cafes that will give you a good start on the world count. However, there seems not to be any real count concerning what is really in place in the USA.
At my last count CafeNet has 25 ea., SFNet has 24, Atcom has 600?, American Cyberstation has 20? There are about 50 - 100 independent cybercafes listed and
1800 + internationally are listed. DriverNet has 600+ ?
Perhaps we are talking 2500 to 5000 in the USA? The industry is still young.
The thing of it is the hardware and services are just now getting to the point where they are affordable. The speed of data transfer rates are just now getting to where people
can perform the needed work or task in a reasonable amount of time.
Public acceptance is starting to occur. In fact, it is starting to soar!
The Election campaign of 2000 has addressed the excitement and great expectations that the world seems to have. It is not going away. It is the darling of Wallstreet and a baby that is being cuddled.
The Big Boys and their markets
While some of the more aggressive and cash rich playersare out there making there mistakes early, there are others whom are carefully using their time and looking for the niches the big boys will not take over soon.
Atcom has installed over 200 systems. From this experience they say, first using slim clients was a mistake. Lately they have found that using the fastest Internet connection ( and the most expensive) may not be the right solution either.
ATCOM (http://www.atcominfo.com/)
ATCOM supplies its booths to major telephone companies, including US West and GTE,
who are hoping to tap into the business – travel market. With access to Cyberbooths in
places such as airports, convention centers and hotel guest-rooms, business travelers
might be happy to forego lugging their laptops in order to send and receive E-mail. Beyond that, applications such as gaming arcades and self-service banking are also in ATCOM’s sights. By aligning with trends toward self-service, Internet kiosks look like a sweet spot in the market. Article Written By: Phil Hood Article Released :: December 15, 1997
Atcom says (http://www.atcominfo.com/ ) "USAGE PATTERNS: In hotel environments, the usage pattern is one-third browsing, one-third e-mail, and one-third games. With Internet Kiosks in airports and other public areas, half the users browse the Web and half log on to check their e-mail. Hotel users log on for an average of 30 minutes, while public users typically spend just 10 minutes on-line."
NCR is entering the KIOSK market in a big way with their 7401 kiosk terminal.. complete with card scanner. Set to sell and support with hardware and software.
Kiosk for interactive Retail
FUTURE BOOTHS: Though ATCOM builds Cyberbooths to order, right now the
company’s biggest business is licensing software and designs to other system integrators
who are building kiosks. Like many multimedia startup companies, it has found there is at least as much money to be made selling shovels as in digging for gold. Either way,
today’s $400 million kiosk market is probably just the tip of the iceberg. In all areas, there is money to be made bringing information to people, rather than luring people to
information. Articles Written By: Phil Hood Article Released :: December 15, 1997
List of existing world wide Cyber cafes are poping up!
( http://www.cyberiacafe.net/cyberia/guide/ccafe.htm) This world wide list may not be fully up to date but gives a good guideline as to what is happening.
GraceTime Systems Inc.
10 Things to Know Before Starting a Kiosk Project.
according to Jason Pearson - Creative Director, Dennis Interactive.
Authors of the book "Kiosks from A to Z" and one of the country's leading kiosk software development groups, Dennis Interactive .
1. How do I make intuitive navigation that allows users to back up?
2. What is onsite sound control and end user parameters?
3. Can I replace small and chunky video with full and smooth?
4. Creating kiosk software is a little like TV, print, and the web. Or is it?
5. How long does it take to produce a kiosk? Weeks, months, years?
6. If it breaks, who will service it?
7. Is Internet connectivity reliable?
8. How can I capture and save consumer data through my kiosk?
9. What are the retail benefits of having an interactive kiosk?
10. How soon will the technology be outdated?
Basic Guidelines according to Dennis Interactive.
Kiosk designs are as varied as the people that use them. All however, need to follow the same basic guidelines to enable a successful kiosk program. Selecting the right materials is often times critical to achieving program cost targets. A useful comparison of the effects of various materials on unit cost, and industry standards for minimum volume requirements is important. Special attention should be given to the following topics:
* Aesthetics that appeal to a broad spectrum of users.
* Responsiveness to Americans with Disabilities Act, Human Factors
* Industry Certifications , Underwriters Laboratories, FCC
* Ease of access to the components for field service
* Long term durability
* Environmental issues, moisture, heat, dust, ambient light
The skills you need to locate.
It requires much to manufacture your own kiosk. Much more than most would realize. It is more than a chore just to locate the required parts, much less the enormous time required identifying what kind and how many one needs. If you have enough mechanical, electronic and (power type) electrical background you can probably do it.
It is an enormous job! Even so, You then need to also find the skills needed to build the cabinet enclosure. Depending on what kind of material you use (i.e.; wood, metal or plastic ect;) will determine what type of craftsmanship skills are required. If that isn't enough, the next most important skills needed will be that of computer software / hardware abilities. Once we get past that point there will be a great need for artistic skills. Signs graphics will be important on our project! You can find those skills at some specialized stores like Mailboxes Ect, but they are expensive!
The tools you need if you manufacture your own
In my efforts to actually construct and build The Internet Pay Station, I was blessed to have already in my possession electronic tools (soldering iron, wire splicing and other special tools) from my electronic technician days, a table saw and basic carpenter tools,
and a 24 X 24 shop area to work in. In a short while, especially if you are building three or more, one will find at least twice that space will be required.
The materials you need for assembly
The cabinets constructed by the author were made out prefinished particleboard.
Ultrablend (tm) by Roseburg Forest Products, Uniboard by Uniboard Canada and other comparable brands will work fine. The important thing is to make sure the material is of quality and comes in a wide selection of colors and designs. Five 4' X 9' sheets in the Kansas market cost about $125.00.
Using these types of products will allow one to build with little need for painting or glue. In this case the edging was trimmed using T-Bar, a plastic pre-molded trim that snaps into a special routed slot around the edge.
After you determine the cabinet shape and make your pattern, you will need to figure out the hinging, locks and accessories.
Create your own style of cabinet
When designing your own cabinet style one does not want to forget
to
allow for the right enclosure space for the computer CPU, Screen and
all
the accessories. In the authors case it was decided to use a mini tower
PC CPU case, a 14" screen, heavy duty special ordered trackball and a
special
metal hinged rectangle cabinet mount for the dollar bill acceptor.
It was also important to enclose all exposed electronic equipment from public contact
and to vent the cabinet! This part of the project is not a small matter at all! After six months of trying different patterns , trail and error construction, and making alot of mistakes, it took the author no less than 5 days to produce 3 ea. working cabinets that were in finished form.
It is important to know that outside sources offered to build to a supplied pattern for $400 per cabinet. Mind you, that was not assembly of the cabinet and certainly not installation of electronics ect. Another company offered to make the design drawings for $1500 and build 10 cabinet enclosure units for a cost of $450 each. One has to look at what is more economical! In a mass production mode, 10 or more units, the latter option would be a bargain.
Software, the heart of the matter
The most important part of the unit is the software codes that interpret and execute the input pulses from the money acceptor, credit card swipe, trackball / mouse, keyboard and other outside input. Not only must it execute simple instructions, if it is any good at all, it will manage everything that is essential to allow a customer to walk up to any terminal on the system, deposit money, and automatically dial your Internet service provider.
Once connected, it will launch any available program. It should
also
take over the windows desktop and allow the owner/administrator to
decide
exactly which programs the user will have access to. It should lock out
the desktop, the taskbar, all of the drive controls, it should even
disable
the reboot commands. It should effectively disable every escape route
for
even the most skilled hacker.
What will it cost?
It has been the authors experience, that one could spend a fortune, if one were to use the very best. The latest and greatest and the fastest. However, there are minimums one may use to economize. Using the bare minimums ... it has been discovered the least expensive route, for a full size unit, will cost about $ 1800.00 in materials. A scaled down countertop version, using only a card swipe, keyboard and cheap trackball arrangement will cost in the neighborhood of $ 1000.00. Include another $500 per unit for labor.
If you use only the best, think in the neighborhood of $2500 for the enclosure and another $3500.00 to equip it. Then include labor. Pricing as of January 1999 was as follows:
XI. Where to Get Help or Buy "Ready Made" Internet Vending Machines!
GraceTime Systems Inc.http://www.gracetimesystems.bigstep.com/
American CyberStations, Inc. http://www.americancyberstation.com/ /
Charlottesville, VA
ATCOM (http://www.atcominfo.com/) San Diego, CA
Dennis Interactive http://www.dennisinter.com/ United Kingdom
Coynet International Corporation. http://www.coynet.nt.ca/index.html
Yellowknife NT, X1A 2N8 Canada
Factura http://www.factura.com/b3.htm Rochester, NY 14625
InfoTouch, http://www.infotouch.net/
Rocky Mountain Multimedia http://www.sni.net/multimedia/kiosks.html Boulder, CO
SF NET (Telenet only) http://www.sfnet.com/ San Francisco, CA
CafeNet http://www.cafenet.net/San Francisco, CA Now out of Business!
Many Others that can be found at http://www.kiosks.org/
How to Place Internet Vending Machines in Locations!
Most people would expect that a high traffic area would be important to succeed. Actually it would not hurt. However, one must remember that if the device is used only one or two hours per day, a good return on investment can be realized.
The most common locations that were picked early on were coffee houses. Later others
installed in airports, truck stops and other transport terminals.
Remember what you are trying to do is provide a service to those that need it. This could mean anywhere there is a centralized location that does not currently have a public Internet service available. Example, a grocery store in a rural community or a café in an airport.
Making personal calls and canvassing
The best way to find out how the community will accept this type of service is to test the market. Target a group of possible prospects and start calling. Set appointments for a show and tell session. Then simply follow through.
Making sure the location has something invested.
Any store or business will accept gifts! In the beginning, when it is difficult to place units you will have to almost give the business away. Leases and charging of rent is almost foolish.
The businesses don't know the risk and therefore will only agree to allowing placement if there is little risk on their part. And of course, they are usually
accustomed to accepting 50% for other vending arrangements. It is difficult to ask for help on the Internet access machines. That is, who is going to pay for the telephone line? Who is going to pay for Internet access?
What should you charge? (Example)
Lets say you have $3900 invested in a Internet vending device. It cost $40 per month for a dial up telephone line and it cost $20 for the Internet access charge. What would it take to get break even in 1 year.
Monthly Requirement
3900.00 / 12 months = $325.00
Telephone Monthly charge = 40.00
Internet Access Charge = 20.00
20% of gross for location = 96.25
Sub Total 481.25
$481.25 / 31 days per month requires $13.36 per day.
Break Even when charging $6 / HR means it must be used 2.22 hrs per day.
Break even when charging $12 / HR means it must only be used 1.11 hrs per day.
How much can you make?
In the authors case, where I am building my own and have a basic equipment cost of
only 1/2 as much ($2000) it would look as follows:
Monthly Requirement
2000.00 / 12 months = $166.00
Telephone Monthly charge = 40.00
Internet Access Charge = 20.00
20% of gross for location = 56.00
Sub Total 282.00
$282.00 / 31 days per month requires $9.09 per day.
Break Even when charging $6 / HR means it must be used 1.5 hrs per day.
Break even when charging $12 / HR means it must only be used .3/4 hr per day.
Atcom charges $ 0.35 per minute or $21 per hour! Using our example and the rate they are using on over 200 kiosk, break-even comes with less than 1 /2 hour use per day!
Who pays what? What kind of profit split?
It is better to make it a 50 % split after the bills are paid. It is also better to have the location take ownership of the telephone line to insure against local abuse. It is smart to retain ownership and control of the Internet access account (this prevents outsiders from possessing passwords, ect).
XIII. How to Double your Vending income selling rotating interactive billboard advertising!
What is Point of purchase Advertising?
Point of purchase materials include things around a cash register or the area that you are about to enter to pay for goods or services. They include signs, window displays, counter pieces, display racks and self service cartons. These items attract attention, inform customers and encourage retailers to carry particular products. A retailer is likely to use point of purchase materials if they are attractive, informative, well constructed and in harmony with the business environment.
What is a billboard advertisement? You seen them! Along highways, above store in LED (the moving text in red lights like stock ticker symbols) and in barber shops! Yes they are every where in every form. Some movie theaters use them (as slide shows advertising local businesses) before the movie begins.
What is interactive advertising? What is interactive linked advertising
On Internet Pay Stations, it will take the form of rotating advertisements that are interactive. Interactive meaning when you click on the screen (that is timed to sit there for about twelve seconds) you will be linked to more detailed information concerning that advertisement.
What should you charge? How much can you make?
How much do you want to make? How much will the market bear? Atcom charges $ 21 per hour. CafeNet charges $1.00 per 3 minutes.
I have heard several ISPs comment in the Mid West $6 per hour is acceptable.
Looking at the above information concerning the break-even analysis, it is easy to discover what you have to make in order to stay in business. From that point it would trail an error to find what your market will bear.
XIV. More Money! Electronic Coupons! PrePaid Net Cards?
What are electronic coupons?
Electronic coupons are some generated by the manufactures of dollar
bill acceptors. They are dollar bill sized pieces of paper with special
magnetic inks printed on them. The coupons can have any other print
that
you might want in order to advertise your specific products, locations
or offers.
How do they work?
The money replacement can be used to substitute currency in your locations or where ever there are dollar bill acceptors that have been specifically programmed to accept the special coupons. This means you could have electronic coupons that would act like prepaid certificates. Internet Pay Stations or other vending units would only accept these certificates if they were specifically programmed.
Your group could in essence have a special currency of your own, with your picture, autograph or advertisement. They user would in turn have to go to your locations to use them.
Where do you get them? Why should you bother with them?
GraceTime Systems Inc is a supplier. It is one of several revenue producing systems associated with the Internet Pay Station. It is designed to drive new and repeat clients to your products and services.
How to make your business locations more money!
Purchase the Electronic Coupons and give them away to potential new clients. Drive new clients to your business. Interest new customers to return.
Sell the 25 interactive billboard advertisements. Sell them for a minimum or $25 / month
per page. This means if a page is interactive, it would be linked to a second page. For the month you make $50 for the two pages. For 25 pages that were interactive you would make $25 X 2 pages X 25 advertisements = an extra $1250 per month per Internet Pay Station. If you had 25 Internet Pay Stations in place with 25 interactive screens rented, all having one screen linked, you could make $ 1250 X 25 = or $ 31,250
per month. That is just advertisement fees!
Repeat business and residual income!
Few kiosk are designed to actually draw their customers back to the kiosk location. GraceTime Systems Inc. is one of the few. It does so by offering to set up a personal account and giving credit for time unused on the particular kiosk that is being used.
Also GraceTime Systems Inc. models are capable of accepting special electronic coupons designed and programmed to be acceptable only in specifically programmed kiosk dollar bill acceptors.
Of course convenience, location and price still play a major part in attracting repeat business.
XV. How to Partner your way to Financial Freedom!
If you elect to manufacture your own. One may want to for go the cash profit (the difference of what a unit normally resells for at a retail level and that of which is actual cost of goods to manufacture) of each unit and instead invest that equity into a partnership. In which case it would be beneficial to both parties.
Advantages:
Supported and co-owned by the manufacture and or assigns!
1. Technical and marketing support of manufacture.
2. Financial summary E-mailed to both every day, from each of the
"Internet Substations"(tm) there is financial interest in, to the principals E-mail
address! One would always know what the investment is doing!
3. One would have the option to have as little or as much involvement as liked!
4. Invest in systems and watch them perform. If they don't, just move them to a
new spot! Try to do that with other types of investments!
5. You Win! The investing partners Win! The User Wins! The store location Wins!
The advertisers win!
If you want to be a reseller
1. One may promote and sell the Internet Pay Station and make a one time Est $900+ sales commission per unit. New owner makes $180 to $540 MO in
Vending cash plus $10 per each of 25 rotating interactive Billboards sold ($250 to
500 / MO).
2. One could sell the unit, make a commission, allow the new owner to keep the
vending profits and the marketer keep all the $250 to $500 /month residual
advertising revenues.
3. One could purchase, place and operate the Internet Pay Station (tm), keeping all
the profits.
If you want to be an area owner / operator
Break Even in a year? Investment partners and principals wanted for placement of Internet Access Vending Stations. Multiple revenue streams from sales of promotions, electronic coupons, magnetic prepaid cards, phone services and Internet surf time!
Revenue Streams
1. Cash income from money inserted in your "Internet Pay Stations" (tm)
2. Cash income from sales of special printed coupons (think prepaid calling cards)!
3. Extra Cash income derived from charging more during prime time periods!
4. Generate more repeat customers in targeted store location sales!
5. Cash & income from sales of interactive advertisements set up like a rotating
billboard. Great for local, regional product advertisements.
6. Cash from accepting credit card charges in exchange for Internet time.
7. Optional Cash from sales of printing pages with an Optional wireless printer
connection.
8. Save big bucks from NOT running out and checking each machine every day.
Instead you would use the "Remote management E-Mail report" and optional remote
maintenance feature.
9. You can be in control utilizing the standard activity accounting
system for
each kiosk machine location, client, month, week and day.
HOW MUCH CAN YOU MAKE?
How do the numbers really stack up? Judge for yourself! Here is what just one machine can do!
Standard Chart showing Hours of use per day vrs " Revenue from
time
charges" only. Excludes revenue from advertisements, coupons, prepaid
time
sales and other!
If Used daily (on average) Annual revenue would be
2 Hours $ 4,380
3 Hours $ 6,570
5 Hours $10,950
8 Hours $17,520
12 Hours $25,920
Above chart based on 365 days per year at a rate of 10 minutes for $1 or $ 6 / hour.
Another way to look at it is as follows:
If you want to promote advertising only
The business location want the profits, the promotional qualities that come with special electronic coupons, the ability to lead the pack and increase sales at their vending locations.
What the business locations don't want is the agony of servicing, the depreciation and trouble of outdated equipment down the road. Most of all, the business location would probably appreciate not having to invest a great deal and hanging on to their cash a little longer.
A win - win package that may interest you. Each agreement will be based on the cost of the units being installed and of course the estimated cost of servicing.
Consider the following.......
The business location getsThe manufacture or supplier gets
Free Installation of a unit in to use the establishment all your locations location for billboard advertising
To keep 50% of the 50%. vending profits vending Profits after expenses and all advertising revenue.
To provide basic telephone to provide interface, setup and Internet service and service to the kiosk,
dedicated to the kiosk.
Allow 3 free billboards to the location but retain rights to all remaining advertisements for each lease/ service contract.
of billboard advertising in each of your vending
locations.
To retain title to equipment and headaches!.
If you want to simply promote your chain store locations.
THE Internet Pay Stations have been designed to provide daily E-Mail reports concerning financial and customer activity. Because of this remote reporting you can have multiple units scattered anywhere you can find a telephone line. The next room, store, shopping center, county, state or country. Customer activity and accountability.
SERVICE IS ALWAYS AN ISSUE. Should you decide to spread units out in separate areas, cities, states or even countries, fear not, there are remote maintenance software and programs available. Remote maintenance and service contracts come, automatically, if one subscribes to a SERVICE / LEASE program. This means that there is a good chance that any program difficulty can be fixed by simply calling the Internet Pay Station (tm) rather than going to it physically!
WHAT THIS MEANS If one couples the remote reporting with the remote maintenance features, one will have a very positive, low cost method of control.
It would be smart to place a limited number of "Internet Substations"(tm) at its expense (less the cost of the telephone line) to demonstrate how profitable and effective the advertising, promotion and public interest can be. This should be a limited time offer and would be subject to the suppliers terms and conditions.
XVI. The First Step is the hardest! Just do it!
Making it all happen!
It is all about the latest and most exciting technological development that you and I can capitalize on. Bill Gates predicted it! We are helping to make it happen! It might even replace the PAY telephones someday! It is the GraceTime Systems Inc. "Internet Pay Station" (tm) and "Internet Substation"(tm) Pay per use Internet access KIOSK.
Setting up for business and Planning for success.
Break even and Cash Flow. Consider the following model:
| Present time charge is = $ |
10
|
for |
60
|
minutes. | |||
| or $ 1.00 for 4 minutes. $ 5.00 for 20 minutes, ect. | |||||||
| Base cost of the Kiosk = |
1819
|
A one time fee. |
1819
|
||||
| Base cost for local telephone = |
53.75
|
A monthly fee resulting in yrly |
645
|
||||
| Base cost for local internet = |
19.95
|
239.4
|
|||||
| Est. Sales |
4
|
/day @ $ |
10
|
per hour times 360 days= |
3600
|
||
| BE point= | Kiosk + Tel line + internet acces. |
2703.4
|
|||||
| Add markup of |
21
|
% |
718.6253
|
||||
| Add 20 % commission for site. |
684.4051
|
||||||
| Total required annual revenue |
4106.43
|
||||||
| divided by the time charge of $ |
10
|
per hour use. | |||||
| Base cost + Mkup +commission /hrly chg= |
410.643
|
hrs /yr | |||||
| breakeven requires |
1.140675
|
hour/s of user hits per day, or 2 ea 30 min sessions. | |||||
| Or daily dollar avg of$ |
11.40675
|
for 360 days. | |||||
There are many reasons to consider being a part of this. The USA market is primed for this service and is expected to be a 3 billion dollar market by 2003 (Frost & Sullivan).
3. Convenient and affordable access to the Internet, communications, information and entertainment.
4. A promotion vehicle to promote store locations, increase counts on new and repeat customers.
5. Perfect vehicle for catalog and service industries to advertise
and
provide to.
Long distance as we know it today is about to
change!
Communication as we know it (ie telephones, computers, cell phones
and
yes TVs) are merging to one. This process is described as
Convergence....
Lots of new products and services are being generated... Research
Telematics
and PC Tablets... What used to be in the KIOSK department has
now (2002) become completely mobile and Personal.
The author hopes you or your group will participate in this boom.
Please feel free to contact the author at gracelineusa@yahoo.com
Our website has "HOW TO " publications as well as pictures and details. When contacting us, please include your E-mail address if available.
Remember!!
There are some very important things learned during the KIOSK process...
#! Keep the money
out of the machines!
Use credit cards, prepays and anything else.. BUT hard money.
# Manage all
your machines electronically..
(over the Internet or wireless) from one central
location.
# Keep your
machines in highly visual areas where people ARE NOT in a hurry!
# Place your proto
types in one or two areas.. BUT When placing production machines
be sure you apply your placement efforts on accounts that have multiple
locations.
# Allow the potential customer something free to do on your machine.
Get the attention of your customers by offering, as free, something inexpensive
but interesting.
# Let advertisers pay the bulk ( if not all) of your operating expenses
and profits.
NCR