First, remember that we pay for the HotSpot equipment and software and we do not charge for the HotSpot service. There are no monthly fees or minimum usage requirements such as there are in other HotSpot schemes (which charge the host £40 to £200 per month). In addition, we do not require monthly reporting or any other administrative work on your part. In this way, the HotSpot service is “free” to you on an ongoing basis.
In order for the system to work properly, however, the router must be installed by one of our Installation Partners, who are authorised to configure and register the router with our central control and ad serving system. The HotSpot Operator is responsible for paying this “one-off” labour charge.
And although you must pay for broadband and the one-time installation costs, the
HotSpot we install will also be “more than free” to you over time. Here’s how: When we advertise our FREE HotSpots, we mean it is FREE to the user – your customers. This means that you will get more customers, because they will want to use the FREE Wi-Fi that you offer. Studies show that adding FREE Wi-Fi can increase monthly sales by 30%. For example, Schlotzky’s Deli, a chain of restaurants in the US that added FREE Wi-Fi, attracted on average an extra 15,000 visitors per year per location! The extra money you make on these new customers will pay for installation and broadband many, many times over. In addition to the increased sales, you will also receive a share of the advertising revenue generated by your HotSpot. In this way, the installation and broadband costs will be paid back to you many, many times over!

You provide a router and firmware, but what if I require more than one wireless gateway, or more cabling or other equipment than is listed on the Equipment List?

free-hotspot.com is obligated to provide only the equipment listed on the Equipment List on the HotSpot Installation Form. This includes one standard Linksys WRT54 series wireless gateway and our own HotSpot firmware. If you require additional equipment, this will be charged to you by, and payable to, our HotSpot Installation Partner.

Why shouldn’t I just install my own router and offer FREE Wi-Fi to my customers?

If you install your own HotSpot you will not have the benefits of a free-hotspot.com FREE HotSpot:
• Tech support Hotline for your customers
• Premier listing in the free-hotspot.com online Directory
• Partner support and warranty replacement and maintenance service
• Worldwide promotion online, in print and media
• In-store signs and promotions
• Technical innovation to accommodate new trends (such as Wi-Fi phones)
• 10% share of advertising revenue

Who pays for the Warranty work, such as when the Wireless Gateway is defective or breaks under normal conditions?

If a router fails under normal use or proves to be defective in any way, then freehotspot. com will pay you for the labour, travel and material necessary to replace the gateway. Similarly, free-hotspot.com will pay all costs necessary to upgrade or repair the router firmware or configuration, unless such work was needed to correct a faulty installation (in other words, unless the installer made a mistake in the first place)

How do my customers access the technical support Hotline?

To access our Hotline, we offer users an International FreePhone number: 00800 28 25 23 26. This number will work from all fixed line telephones in Europe and also from mobile phones and payphones where it is permitted and/or possible.

How can I keep non-customers (such as people living above or sitting in other shops nearby) from “stealing” my Wi-Fi?

If you wish to restrict the use of your FREE HotSpot, then we suggest you implement our Scratch Card scheme. Each card will entitle the user to ONE (1) HOUR* of free Wi-Fi access – after which they will need to get a new card. Scratch Cards are available for purchase from free-hotspot.com for a fee of €200 per 1000 cards.

What if I want to limit the times of day/night that my HotSpot is operating?

We understand that some HotSpot Operators may want to curtail access to the Wi-Fi during peak rush hours or at night or on weekends when the establishment is closed. Our HotSpot system allows us to set the hours of operation, or Business Hours, of each HotSpot. You may set the Business Hours of your HotSpot at the time of installation or anytime thereafter by sending an email to network@free-hotspot.com

Am I responsible for what my customers do online while they are using my FREE HotSpot?

free-hotspot.com requires that every user accept specific Terms of Service before they can access the Internet. This Agreement requires the user to declare that they will not do anything illegal, will not download pornography or other illicit material, hack other computers, etc. We cannot do more to control a user’s behaviour due to current EU Privacy Laws.

Can I prevent my HotSpot users from accessing certain sites, or viewing certain types of online material?

If you wish to ensure that users do not access certain sites, or certain types of sites (racist, pornographic, file-sharing, your competition, etc.), we recommend that you purchase a “content filter” to block the sites you wish to keep your customers from accessing. This filter can be placed “upstream” or “downstream” of your own connection to the Internet if you wish to have different settings for your own office network and your HotSpot. Our HotSpot system supports most content filter systems, and our HotSpot Installation Partner can advise you on what content filtering solutions are available and how much
they cost.