Hotspots are Heating Up
Wi-Fi networks have become common in airports, hotels, coffee shops and bookstores. In fact, these types of businesses virtually must offer wireless Internet access to their customers in order to be competitive. But they’re not alone. An increasingly broad spectrum of places are now becoming hotspots. Government facilities such as libraries, city/county office buildings, civic arenas and state parks are joining the list, as are medical offices, beauty salons, auto repair shops, truck stops, shopping centers and health clubs. In short, if it’s a place where visitors gather for any length of time, it’s probably a good candidate for Wi-Fi.
If it’s a place where visitors gather for any length of time, it’s probably a good candidate for Wi-Fi.
Many restaurants find that being a hotspot helps them gain loyal customers that appreciate the value and convenience of free Internet access, and sales increase as the duration of each visit goes up. A similar concept translates to other types of retail and service businesses. The more comfortable customers (and their family members) are in an environment, the more likely they are to stick around and make additional purchases. Wi-Fi can also become a marketing tool through the log-on interface that provides branding and promotional opportunities for the business.
Of course, Wi-Fi applications go beyond those focused simply on customers. Your business may be more interested in the flexibility and efficiency that it could provide to employees who need Internet access to review presentations and documents while in conference rooms or other areas of your building. In addition, you may want clients or visitors to have the option of using their laptops during meetings or while waiting for appointments.
Are you warming up to the idea of becoming a hotspot? The first step is easy — just contact D&E. We have the resources to plan, install, configure and secure a Wi-Fi solution that meets the specific needs of any business. We’ll ask you questions about how your customers and employees will use the network, survey your building and determine the number of access points required. The best solution for your small business could be as simple as adding a wireless Linksys router. If you have a larger business, D&E can help you integrate a Wi-Fi network into your existing Local Area Network (LAN) for employees or develop a separate one.
D&E can also handle the security issues of wireless networks to ensure only authorized users are able to access the network, do ongoing security audits, and assist with setting up and testing encryption on the wireless network.
For more details on how D&E can bring the convenience of Wi-Fi to your business, call 1-877-4DE-TODAY or visit www.decommunications.com.