View source for WISPiab business models

[[Category: WISP in a box]]

work in progress doc

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=Business Models / Use cases=

It is essential that the technical requirements / specifications be based on business model needs and real life use cases, not vice versa.

While the study of business models is work in progress (e.g. in the Wireless Africa II project),
some valid models are known and tested.

Previous work on this includes:

Ian Howard

Laura Drewett



==Dimensions of Categorization==


Money:  
* free
* paid for

Billing: 
* voucher, data based
* voucher, usage time based
* voucher, calendar time based
* subscription / membership

Topology: 
* central
* inframesh
* full mesh

Applications:
* Web centric networks
* Voice centric networks

User location and devices:
* User have PC/Laptop or Desktop PC at home/office
* Users use VoIP devices, mobile
* Users visit a cafe/telecentre type location


==Topology: Centralized and Mesh==

'''The entrepreneur wants to offer both centralized (aka infrastructure, hot spot, access point) and mesh models'''

==> We need to implement both Access Point Management and Mesh protocols


===Networks models in detail===

In particular, we need to take into account the following 3 network models, and the hybrid models between them.

In the following pictures, 

* red stands for business / entrepreneur owned and operated nodes, 
* blue stands for clients / users. 

The line between the two may be transparent.


====Centralized model====

[[Image:WISPiab models 1 centralized.png|thumb|left|Centralized model]]

* The business/entrepreneur acts as a central access point.
* The central business/entrepreneur node supplies an internet uplink (optional).
* Clients connect to this central point, e.g. with PCs, laptops, client nodes or VoIP phones.

====Inframesh model====

[[Image:WISPiab models 2 inframesh with clients.png|thumb|left|Inframesh model]]

* The business/entrepreneur operates an infrastructure mesh.
* The business/entrepreneur node supplies internet uplink(s) at one or more of these nodes (optional).
* Clients connect one or more of these nodes, as clients, e.g. with PCs, laptops, client nodes or VoIP phones.

====Full mesh model====

[[Image:WISPiab models 3 fullmesh.png|thumb|left|Full mesh model]]

* The business/entrepreneur operates one or many mesh nodes.
* The business/entrepreneur node supplies internet uplink(s) at one or more of these nodes (optional).
* Clients fully particpate in that mesh, typically on dedicated node hardware, less likely with PC/laptop, and even less with VoIP phones. Clients may supply internet uplinks (optional).

Especially in this model, the line between business and client operated nodes might become transparent.



==Network Management==


'''The entrepreneur needs to be able to monitor, manage, troubleshoot the network'''

==> We need network management SW plus interfaces, e.g. Nagios, Cactus, Webmin, ...

==Voice Services==

'''The entrepreneur wants to offerVoice services'''

==> We need to implement Asterisk, OpenSER or similar, plus additional management tools for these, if idnetified as needed

==Billing==

'''The entrepreneur wants to offer a variety of billing options, e.g. monthly subscription, time/voucher (airtime) based, free access'''

==> We need to implement billing and accomodate the various models on the box, in parallel (e.g. parallel free and closed segments, etc)