Credit Guides And Credit Services

Netopia Introduces Hot Spot Solution for Small Business Owners

All-in-One Wi-Fi Service With a Small Monthly Fee, Maximizes Profits for Individual Retailers

EMERYVILLE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 28, 2004--Netopia, Inc. (Nasdaq:NTPA), a market leader in broadband and Wi-Fi products and services, today introduced a flexible Hot Spot service designed for individual retailers and small business owners, such as coffee shops, gas and quick service stations, food service operators, dental offices and others. Netopia's new Hot Spot service allows individual businesses to deploy Wi-Fi services quickly, easily and inexpensively to generate additional revenue, improve customer loyalty and differentiate themselves from local competitors. The Hills Swim and Tennis Club in Oakland, Calif. is one of the first businesses to deploy the Netopia solution.
"Our club aims to provide its members with a recreational experience that is private, comfortable and convenient, but also state-of-the-art," said Ernesto A. Chamorro, general manager of The Hills Swim and Tennis Club. "We've been using the Netopia hot spot service for several months. A single hot spot covers our entire property -- it was really easy to set up and our members love it. Netopia also allows us to control Internet usage with 'Family Friendly Surfing,' which is critical for a family-oriented organization like ours."

Credit Pacific Service Union Netopia's Hot Spot service for individual retailers is remotely supported and requires the purchase of a Netopia Hot Spot Starter Kit, which includes a Netopia Hot Spot Gateway with 3-D Reach(TM) technology, Netopia Hot Spot Access Cards, installation and activation guides, and venue marketing materials that help businesses promote their Wi-Fi services. Businesses can easily install Netopia hot spots, and pay just $40 per month for the Netopia Hot Spot service. Netopia's service allows individual retailers to set their own pricing for Wi-Fi services at levels consistent with local demand.

Download the guide and get up to speed on Quicken Home & Business quickly—so you can get back to business. > Payroll Solutions for Your Small Business use solutions that help you manage payroll more effectively, so you can focus on running your business. Intuit Merchant Services for Quicken The easy and inexpensive way to accept credit cards through your computer.

Credit First Service Union "Netopia's hot spot solution is perfect for small business owners -- a segment of the market which has been overlooked by other vendors in the space -- because it is so inexpensive, and easy to set up and use," said Aaron Vance, senior analyst for Synergy Research. "As public Wi-Fi access becomes more common among larger retail chains, it will be critically important for smaller businesses to offer similar services, and Netopia's hot spot offering is a perfect way for them to do so without breaking the bank."

This is the conclusion reached by a comprehensive study of the credit scores associated with small business owners' commercial and personal spending habits, carried out by Experian. Both types of credit report were studied in an attempt to determine which would impact the small business most if it turned out to be poor. The study monitored 50, 000 small businesses for four years, recording data related to the size of the business, the number of employees and the age of the business, as well as business owners' approach to personal credit.

Card Credit Mobile Service Flexible Billing Options

Card Credit Discover Service Small businesses can determine the pricing of Wi-Fi access for users based on time of day, class of user and other factors. Netopia's solution provides businesses with the flexibility to design Wi-Fi business models that best fit their needs. With Netopia Hot Spot Access Cards, the business owner can either sell the access cards at the cash register or give them away for free as a loyalty or promotional reward. The disposable, one-time use access cards are printed with unique access codes that allow customers -- equipped with Wi-Fi capable laptops or PDAs -- to gain wireless Internet access for a specified period of time by simply entering the access code on the card. The Hot Spot Access Card approach is extremely simple and convenient for both the retailer and the end-user, since it eliminates the need for a credit card account. Usage models that require credit cards can slow down the adoption of public Wi-Fi, because consumers typically do not want to set up a monthly recurring account and feel uncomfortable providing credit card information for one-time use.

From the business owner to the individual who desires full functionality on a small budget, Dot5 Hosting provides your complete web hosting solution.

Credit Public Service Union Netopia also provides promotional materials such as table tents and window decals for use within the retail location.

Credit Builder is an optional service that is made available to you at no additional cost as part of the AccountNow bill payment service. Credit Builder is only a service that provides your payment history to credit reporting agencies. Credit Builder does not improve or repair your credit record, credit history or credit rating. It also does not provide advice or assistance for the improvement or repair of your credit record, credit history or credit rating. For rmation, see Credit Builder Terms and Conditions.

Card Credit Processing Service Family Friendly Surfing

Center Credit Service Union To ensure that small businesses are not associated with inappropriate content on the Internet, Netopia's Hot Spot service features content controls and can be configured for family friendly surfing. Netopia's back-end servers apply content controls to filter millions of URL classifications that are updated on a daily basis by an independent rating service, and block access to specified categories including pornography and violence.

Card Credit Service Wireless Netopia Hot Spot Gateways

Credit Security Service Union Netopia's hot spot solution uses Netopia Hot Spot Gateways with built-in Wi-Fi access points and access controllers that constitute a single, low-cost platform. The Netopia Hot Spot Gateways utilize Netopia 3-D Reach technology for superior wireless range and indoor coverage and are a key component in the required Netopia Hot Spot Starter Kit. Business owners can select from two different starter kits: one kit includes the 8347W ADSL Hot Spot Gateway, and the other includes the 8387W Broadband Hot Spot Gateway, designed for customers with an existing DSL or cable modem. These gateways greatly simplify the deployment, installation, and management of hot spots and provide retailers with flexibility not available with other hot spot solutions.

Credit Report Service Customized Merchandising and E-commerce Options

Blogspot Com Christian Netopia's Hot Spot service provides various e-commerce options that enable customized merchandising and branding opportunities for the retailer. For a one-time $200 fee and a small monthly fee, Netopia will create a Customized Hot Spot Home Page that can be edited by the retailer as often as needed. For example, if the local sandwich shop wants to feature its "soup of the day" on the hot spot home page and provide daily updates, it has the flexibility to do so. For additional fees, Netopia can build and host an additional multi-page Web site customized to the retailer's promotional needs. If the retailer wants to sell promotional wares, such as tee shirts, directly to customers, Netopia can provide a full-feature e-commerce store within the custom site.

Christian Counseling Credit "Wi-Fi access can help individual retailers compete with larger competitors and earn additional revenue in the process, but small businesses have unique needs that must be addressed if they are to offer Wi-Fi and make a profit," said Dano Ybarra, vice president of marketing for Netopia. "We've kept Wi-Fi simple with an easy-to-install service that allows small businesses to market Wi-Fi usage with one-time use access cards at a minimal cost to both business owners and their customers. Our unique approach gives businesses the flexibility to offer services with pricing and branding that best fit their market needs."

Credit Federal Service Union Pricing and Availability

Credit Monitoring Service Netopia Hot Spot Starter Kits are now generally available from distributors, online retailers, and value-added resellers nationwide. Small businesses can also shop directly from the company Web site. Costs include a one-time fee for the Hot Spot Starter Kit, and a fixed $40 per month charge for the hot spot service. To order a Netopia Hot Spot Starter Kit, visit Netopia's Web site at www.netopia.com or contact your favorite online retailer or value-added reseller.

Credit Division Service For VARs and resellers interested in offering Netopia Hot Spot service, call your Netopia account manager or log on to the company Web site at www.netopia.com to learn more.

Card Credit Online Service About Netopia

Consumer Counseling Credit Inc Netopia, Inc. is a market leader in broadband and wireless products and services that simplify and enhance broadband delivery to residential and business-class customers. Netopia's offerings enable carriers and broadband service providers to improve their profitability with feature-rich DSL smart modems, routers and gateways, software that simplifies installation and reduces ongoing support needs, as well as value-added services to enhance their revenue generation. Netopia's Wi-Fi CERTIFIED(TM) gateways include 3-D Reach(TM) technology delivering enhanced wireless range, security and performance.

Card Credit Fleet Service Netopia's DSL smart modems, routers and gateways come with a suite of installation wizards and support utilities that offer a comprehensive approach to installation, deployment, service provisioning, application setup, self-diagnostics and troubleshooting. Netopia provides value-added services with its server software platform, including the netOctopus(R) suite of gateway and PC management and customer support software solutions, a server-based Parental Controls subscription service, and the Web eCommerce server software. netOctopus Desktop Support and eCare software enable broadband service providers and enterprises to support customers and devices by remotely viewing and operating the desktop or other device.

Card Consolidation Credit Netopia has established strategic distribution relationships with leading carriers and broadband service providers including Belgacom, BellSouth, Covad Communications, EarthLink, Eircom, Hong Kong Telecom/PCCW, MegaPath Networks, Netifice, SBC Communications, Swisscom and Verizon.

Credit Free Online Report Headquartered in Emeryville, Calif., Netopia's common stock trades on The Nasdaq Stock Market(R) under the symbol "NTPA." Further information about Netopia can be obtained via phone 510-420-7400, fax 510-420-7601, or on the Web at www.netopia.com.

Credit Federal First Service All company names, brand names and product names are trademarks of their respective holder(s).

Consumer Credit Service Contacts

Center Credit Family Service
Netopia, Inc.
Lisa Langlands, 510-420-7529
llanglands@netopia.com

[ Comment, Edit or Article Submission ]