HSC HotSpot

Internet access for guests

Guest internet access under your control

Internet access has changed the way hotels do business. Guests expect reliable Wi-Fi for e-mail, browsing, social networks, video and audio streaming and voice calls – and Wi-Fi is often a deciding factor in where they choose to stay. Hotels need affordable, non-disruptive solutions that provide consistent coverage throughout the building.

HSC HotSpot lets you offer easy, reasonably priced high-speed internet access to your guests. All you need is a broadband internet connection. You run your own hotspot, offer different types of access and charge for the service: you define the scope (data volume, time, bandwidth), set the prices and keep all the revenue.

The solution

What is HSC HotSpot?

HSC HotSpot is a software solution that lets businesses offer their customers internet access limited by time, by download volume or both. Customisable billing gives you complete control over pricing and the flexibility to maximise revenue.

It is used in lodging properties of all kinds (hotels, campsites, B&Bs), convention centres and trade fair and exhibition centres. The system only needs router-based broadband internet access, such as cable or DSL, and has a multilingual web interface. Billing is simple: with prepaid internet access tickets or through your existing property management system (PMS).

Total control

With HSC HotSpot you generate internet tickets with time and volume limits. Each ticket carries a user name and password that give the guest access for the selected period.

On first access the guest is asked for the user name and password. Guests without a ticket can still open the pages you have released – for example the hotel website or the tourist office – but no others. Access covers not only browsing but also e-mail, VPN connections and other internet services.

Plug and play

Guests connect without reconfiguring the IP settings of their device. The network uses DHCP and works with all major operating systems, regardless of proxy or DNS settings.

Guests get online with a laptop, tablet or smartphone without installing any software.

Benefits

For guests

Multilingual login page (21 languages)
Permanent cost control
No software installation or configuration
In-house roaming – credit can be used on wireless and wired connections at no extra cost

For hotels

Individual billing by time, traffic or bandwidth – or free of charge
Easy administration in a web browser (4 languages)
Numerous PMS interfaces, e.g. HSC Entry and HSC Connect, Micros Fidelio / Opera, Protel
Detailed revenue statistics with CSV export
Freely available links and services, e.g. your own website or car rental
Customisable login page
The guest network can be built in several ways, e.g. DSLAM, wireless or Ethernet
Easy installation in existing or new infrastructure
Runs on standard PC hardware, appliance hardware and virtual machines
Operating system and application in one

Features

Administration

Convenient administration in any modern web browser
Individual billing of internet tickets (“Surftickets”)
Management of the tickets you have created
Auto-logon: define devices with free access to the web
Free to use: release websites that are free of charge, e.g. your homepage

Real plug-and-play connection

No configuration on the guest device
No software installation on the guest device
Automatic proxy detection
User-friendly guest login page
Guests see their status information, e.g. the amount of data used

Flexible accounting

Billing by time, data volume or date
Flat rate: access for a limited period (e.g. 6 days) with an allotted download allowance
Time rate: time credit is debited to the minute between logon and logoff
Free of charge, with or without a home page
Bandwidth management per user
VLAN-based accounting

Security

AAA system (authentication, authorisation, accounting)
Private VLAN support (room and port isolation)
Port forwarding (DNAT) for access to end devices, e.g. access point management within the guest network
Client protection – guest devices cannot see each other
Integrated stateful firewall that isolates the office LAN from the guest network
Simple and advanced HTTP content filter
Port filter
Hardware health status
Backups
Static routes
Support for major virtual private networks (VPN)
Logging of relevant actions, e.g. logon, logoff and ticket creation

Included modules

Simple and advanced web filter
Customisable login page (colours, logo)
Reporting: program, ticket statistics, system log, hardware, connection tracking
User management and logging
Intelligent bandwidth restriction – no disturbance in the office LAN
Online update module
SMTP relay host and authentication
DHCP static leases
Ping tool
Default terms of use
Redirect after logon
VAT settings
Automated invoice numbering

Creating tickets

Office printer (A5)
Bulk tickets (.csv) for mail merge, scratch cards, bulk e-mails, etc.
Thermal ticket printer (optional)
PMS system (optional)
Credit card

Add-on modules

Up to 8 thermal ticket printers
Ethernet-to-serial adapter
PMS connector, e.g. Micros Fidelio, Protel
Online update renewal: security updates, minor and major releases, web content filter list subscription

Supported languages

Administration: English, French, German and Italian.

Guest login (including editable terms of use): Arabic, Chinese (Simplified), Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Polish, Romanian, Russian, Slovak, Slovenian, Spanish and Swedish. More languages on request.