Hello, 
 
What I'm looking for is a product that competes with the WiFiCom SAB
Broadband Internet Service Management System, though they have plans
to come up with a few major updates in a month and in early 2003.
 
The above can be used as a reference, but what we're looking for is
listed below:
 
1. A complete billing solution suitable for hostspots where there's no
outsourcing of any part of it.
2. Has the ability to run on one of the flovors of Unix. Meaning, no
MS platform requirement can be accepted.
3. Supports prepaid and allows the user to creat an account and refill
it in the future with vouchers.
4. Supports multiple pricing plans. 
5. Bandwidth management per hotspot. 
6. Controls maximum concurrent users per hotspot. 
7. Supports roaming between our own hotspots and others as well as
globally through GRIC or i-Pass.
8. Supports revenue sharing between us and the property owner. 
9. Allows users to view and change their account information as well
as passwords.
10. Supports credit cards as a good plus. 
11. Allows for peek and non-peek rate management and quality
management.  Meaning if a client pays for a higher rate, they can get
better performance than those on a more economical plan.
12. Supports AAA. 
13. An API is a plus. 
14. Licensing is either rental or purchase. 
15. Control simultanious logins by the same account, that doesn't mean
we don't want multiple logins, but have the ability to charge twice
for the second and so on.
16. Support for local portals with the ability to allow
unauthenticated users to see them.  I think they call them Walled
Garden.
17. Ability to report problems via an online support form without
authentication.
 
We were able to locate the following solutions: 
 
www.airpath.com 
www.wificom.com 
www.nomadix.com 
 
The hardware we're interested in using is: 
 
CISCO Aironet 350 & 1200 series 
 
/Lizardnation

www.pronto.com - Their product is still in beta, but might meet your
needs. They claim that it is good from a technical perspective.

www.surfandsip.com - They are also a WISP but might be willing to
license the solution if the price is right.

www.fatport.com - They seem to be good as well. Also a hotspot that is
willing to license technology.

www.netnearu.com - Don't know much about their software either. 

www.colubris.com - They dont make the back end AAA but you could
probably hook up a RADIUS system to their hotspot CPE and make it
work.

www.Red-M.com - Claim to have a AAA that will be used by BT. 

www.hotspotzz.com -Purchased Hereuare.com assets and will have a very
good enterprise class product coming soon. Not released yet.

Other companies to have on your radar, but not exactly AAA companies.
www.sputnik.com - 
www.joltage.com - 
www.vernier.com -
www.gemtek-systems.com -
www.boingo.com

I suggest you check out http://www.telnecity.com . There will be a
research report on this exact subject there in about a month that we
are writing. It is really too early for me to give a detailed response
here with anymore than I said or people might not want to buy our
report :-) We also provide consulting services assisting companies
with making this decision.

You also might want to attend the upcoming conference in San Jose on
this topic. Link on the website. I will be attending and speaking at
the show, you can flag me down if you want.

Cheers- James

Hello Jstreanor,

Thanks for the comment which is of a lot of help, my colleague who
wanted me to post this question was under the impression that he'll be
getting feedback on the subject with a lot more interest level than
has happened.  Seems like it is an area which might be of little
interest except to those in the field such as yourself. :-)

I'll ask him to keep an eye out on the sites, specifically on your
report and the organization's consultancy services where they can
gain.

Thank you for your helpful comment!

/Lizardnation