Wi-Fi Net News writes: "Hotspot and access point aggregated management software company Sputnik expands, updates its product line: The company specializes in providing a centralized console that allows management and reporting across a network of Wi-Fi access points, whether for academia, hotspot networks, hotzones, or companies."
Daily Wireless goes on to say: "Today Sputnik announced a bagfull of goodies includng the Sputnik Server 1100, a server appliance, new firmware for the new Linksys WRT54GL, and a higher-powered versions of their outdoor access points, the Sputnik AP 210 and Sputnik AP 260 Dual Radio.
"The Sputnik Server 1100 a high-performance, ready-to-rack 1U server appliance pre-loaded with Sputnik Control Center Software, ten access point licenses, and your choice of one add-on software module. Out of the box, the Sputnik Server 1100 enables you to manage ten Sputnik-Powered APs over the Internet.
"The Sputnik Server 1100 is for customers who want the power of Sputnik Control Center but don't want to manage Linux. Instead, you control everything through Sputnik Control Center's easy-to-use web interface.
"When you're ready to add more APs to your network you purchase additional AP licenses and you're good to go. The Sputnik AP 1100 has the horsepower to manage a very active network of 100 APs or more, or approximately 5,000 simultaneous online end-users. The price is $2,699 and is available now."
"Watch the skies. The world just changed," says the Daily Wireless of our new Linksys software. Well, thanks!
More highlights from their article: "Hot spot innovator Sputnik announced today that their easy to use network management software now works with the Linksys WRT54G or WRT54GS.
"The Sputnik Agent, a free software download, equips the popular Linksys WRT54G or WRT54GS to work as hotspots in centrally managed networks.
"Sputnik's central management software and 'flashed' Linksys access points should make wireless 'zones' cheap to buy, fast to install and easy to manage."
Wi-Fi Net News says: "By using a commodity AP, which has always been Sputnik's plan, they allow powerful centralized network management and monitoring through their applications, and that's where they insert value and extract revenue. The AP cost becomes so low that it's efficient to deploy more of them since management time and expense doesn't grow per AP."
wlanblog.com says: "Cisco and co. are expected to cater to the upper echelon of customers with robust and industry-leading features. But for mid-size deployments, solutions like Sputnik's can do the job, and the price is right."
Linux Devices offers more coverage, and Forbes.com includes the entire press release on their site.
Wi-Fi Planet interviews Terry Fagin, President of Sputnik Partner Whotspot.
Some highlights:
"Our business model is based on successful deployments," says Fagen. "If a location is busy, everyone makes money. If a location is slow, the costs to the venue are minimized so it doesn't hurt. We also help our customers succeed by providing tech support and consulting for free to help them solve deployment problems."
Whotspot's customers are not limited to North American businesses. This year, new customers have come online in Trinidad, St. Maarten, St. Thomas and Africa. "We have partners who have deployed into apartment complexes, hotels, marinas, and campgrounds—amazingly enough, campgrounds and marinas have been the most lucrative," says Fagen. "We also have end customers in the traditional mom and pop coffee shops. These locations do not make a lot of money, but enough to cover their costs and attract new customers to their regular business."
A large part of the Whotspot business plan involves forming partnerships with resellers and other providers. Recently, Fagen says, Whotspot's significant relationship with Airpath Wireless, which calls itself "the leader in enabling management and roaming for wireless broadband networks," has become fragile. He plans instead to partner more in the future with Sputnik, whose methods he calls more in line with his vision for Whotspot and its customers. Read more...
Daily Wireless, Wi-Fi Networking News, Unstrung, and WISP Centric take note of the launch of Sputnik’s new municipal Wi-Fi class access point, the Sputnik AP 250.
Some highlights:
Daily Wireless: “Sputnik, the low-cost, centrally controlled WiFi vendor, that makes creating and managing public WiFi easy, has introduced a new model designed specifically for metropolitan networks...” Read more...
Wi-Fi Networking News (WNN): “Sputnik offers software that lets hotspot operators remotely manage hotspots. The new AP will let operators extend the range of their hotspots to cover larger areas...” Read more...
Daily Wireless, Wi-Fi Networking News, the popular technology blog Lockergnome, and CreditCardi cover SputnikNet Premier, Sputnik’s new managed Wi-Fi service that includes a variety of billing options, including credit cards and PayPal accounts.
Some highlights:
Daily Wireless: “I'm a fan of Sputnik. They may have the right product and the right price to enable many wide-area networks.” Read more...
Wi-Fi Networking News (WNN): “Although they have enterprise customers, [Sputnik’s] particular expertise allows an operator or business to scale a network with the same management console and very little upfront investment for the sophistication of their tool, especially when compared with Cisco WLSE...” Read more...
Lockergnome: “I have to hand it to the folks at Sputnik, they really seem to have the backs of the little operator. Since their new Sputnik Premier service allows for bundled service with PayPal, this is going to do a world of good for the little mom and pop operations out there just getting their feet wet.” Read more...
Wireless Fidelity Magazine writes: Like celebrities pitching new reality TV series, Wi-Fi providers are everywhere these days, with supposedly fresh takes on what by now has become an accepted genre. One standout amidst the hubbub is Sputnik Inc. which offers a hosted service that lets businesses and Wi-Fi providers deploy public-facing hotspots without installing software or running a server.
SputnikNet delivers the Sputnik Control Center management software online, so Wi-Fi providers can build managed wireless networks simply by plugging access points into a broadband connection. "We look at this like the salesforce.com of managed wireless," says David LaDuke, CEO at Sputnik. "For an operator or a venue, they simply buy an access point and get a broadband connection, sign up for a Sputnik account, name it whatever they want to, and it's plug-and-play."
...Sputnik's message of Wi-Fi for all was well-received by Speakeasy.Net founder Tyler Apgar, who has started a new company called GetLocal using SputnikNet.
...When the first piece of hardware arrived, "I was skeptical, but I plugged it in, went to the web site, and found that it's a simple GUI," says Apgar. "There's no command line or configuration or knowledge required. We had the first hotspot up in four hours, with a captive portal with its own graphics. You just don't have to be technical to do this, or pay $3,000 to install a server."
Public Company Management Corp. announces SB-2 securities registration contract with Sputnik
LAS VEGAS, Dec. 29, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- Public Company Management Corporation (OTC BB:PUBC.OB - News) today announced that its subsidiary, Go Public Today, has signed a contract with Sputnik, Inc. to provide SB-2 securities registration services and aims to obtain an OTC BB listing for the common stock of Sputnik, Inc. in exchange for a combination of cash fees and a block of shares of Sputnik, Inc. common stock. Through the SB-2 securities registration solution offered by Go Public Today, Sputnik will be able to offer registered securities for sale and aims to become a publicly traded company in a U.S. capital market venue.
"Wi-Fi is growing and the Sputnik customer base is growing with it," said David LaDuke, President and CEO of Sputnik, Inc. "We chose to become a publicly traded company because it is the best way for us to reach a broad base of interested investors. Capital raised through this action will add fuel to our growth, accelerate our leadership position in the wireless business software space, and open up a number of business development opportunities. After significant due diligence, we chose to work with Go Public Today because of their extensive experience and best practices approach to taking companies public."
Stephen Brock, President and CEO of PCMC added, "Mr. LaDuke joined us at the National Investment Banking Association (NIBA) conference on December 2-3 in New Orleans, La. He was able to see first-hand how a small business can leverage its credibility as a public company in presenting its story to investment bankers, creating a variety of funding and business development opportunities."
"I believe the door to the public markets gives small business that many more options in raising funds and being successful which are what helps keep growing our economy,'' Brock continued. "Often, these opportunities are not available to privately held companies and we commend Sputnik, Inc. for taking this step."
Sputnik rolls out additional hotspot management features Glenn Fleishmann
We love this write-up, by Glenn Fleishmann:
“Sputnik is the little company that could, and I don't mean it patronizingly. The company from its founding has continued to chart the course of best answering the needs of the customers that they find are most in need of their product. Sure, that's the way that all companies should work, but Sputnik has stayed small and focused and their "niche" product has increasingly broad applications as a result.
“Their latest addition to their managed access point software package are two important billing options that provide hotspot operators with a great deal of flexibility in accepting payment from their customers at the least ongoing cost.
“A PayPal module ($299, 100 APs, no transaction fees) integrates Sputnik's Control Center software into the massive payment system to allow one-time payments for use. Hotspot operators set the price. Interestingly, operators can also opt to work with a third-party, OurWebPortals, that can handle PayPal payments for hotspot access through the Sputnik system for a $50 setup fee and transaction fees based on monthly volume.
“A more elaborate module integrates Control Center with Aria Systems' billing and customer management system for handling accounts and fees. This lets hotspot operators set up billing plans while customer can pay by bank transfer or credit card. Aria manages the account infrastructure. This module is $499 for up to 100 APs, with additional fees charged by Aria for their part of the equation.”
“When purchased as the Sputnik AP 220, the Gemtek device features a uClinux operating system with special Agent software that interfaces with Sputnik Control Center software using jabber, an open xml-based message protocol used in instant messaging and in M2M (machine-to-machine) communications.
APs running Sputnik Agent software are managed through Sputnik's Control Center application, which provides a secure, web-based central management interface. A PostgreSQL database provides storage, and all functionality is implemented using open, standard languages such as perl and SQL.”
September 22, 2004 Daily Wireless, Wi-Fi Net News, Wi-Fi Planet
Coverage of our New Products: Sputnik Control Center 3.0 and SputnikNet
The Daily Wireless compares Sputnik to systems costing far more:
“Sputnik Control Center Version 3.0 can monitor and control hundreds of wireless access points (APs) from a web browser. While other vendors have similar management software, they cost in the $20,000 range.
“Sputnik Control Center may change all that. It could make ‘free clouds’ a practical reality by lowering costs and making management of city clouds ‘easy’.” Read more...
Wi-Fi Networking News points out one of our favorite new features of Sputnik Control Center 3.0, pluggable authentication modules:
“Version 3.0 was also designed to offer users plenty of flexibility. It now includes support for RADIUS authentication, in addition to prepaid authentication and device based authentication. Users can run all three simultaneously, setting preferences for which type of authentication is presented to users first.” Read more...
Wi-Fi Planet talks about our automated software upgrade tools:
“Put Control Center 3.0 on a different server than the 2.4 version, click a button, and it will automatically migrate all data over. It will then reach out to every Sputnik AP, do a flash upgrade on that hardware, and when it re-awakes, it will point to the 3.0 version. All the APs communicate back to Control Center over the Internet, using the broadband connection at the hotspot venue.” Read more...
The Daily Wireless had this to say about Sputnik’s support for SoCalFreeNet’s community wireless networking efforts:
“With Sputnik hardware and software, SoCalFreeNet may provision and manage a city-wide network from a central location. Sputnik’s software manages hotspots and can authenticate and track end users. The degree to which Sputnik hardware and software will be integrated into the SoCalFreeNet system is not clear, but Sputnik’s centralized management could have some significant advantages. Especially as “freenets” become “citynets”, which tend to require security, roaming, and management control.”
“With the Sputnik Module for RADIUS (introductory price $295), centralized account management for a wide variety of remote and local authentication is supported. It enables end users to roam across networks and provides customized service for each user. Sputnik has packaged inexpensive, outdoor/indoor hotspots with centralized management in one, cost/effective package. ” Read more...
Unwiring Indy: Broadband Internet goes wireless on the circle
Sputnik partner eWireless offers a “wireless lunch break” to the citizens of Indianapolis by providing free wireless broadband at Monument Circle.
“eWireless, backed by Sputnik, a San Francisco-based Wi-Fi provider, hopes to push Indianapolis into the top 10 [list of most unwired cities] and create a “web” of connectivity to cover all of downtown. As more businesses offer connections, and those connections overlap, eventually the entire downtown will become a part of a large network.” Read more...
Wi-Fi Wrangling for Public Events: Managing Bandwidth, Channels and Rogue APs
A nice review of how to provide wireless access at a conference or event. Some highlights:
“In my opinion, the right stuff comes from a company called Sputnik (www.sputnik.com) which provides an entire hotzone package for only $550, with a Sputnik 160 802.11g AP/router, a Sputnik 200 rugged long-range AP, and a single-license version of their Sputnik Control Center software, which lets you manage your wireless network and portal, control client log ins and session durations, and track bandwidth usage. Speaking to Sputnik CEO Dave LaDuke I found out that they’ve proven out the technology to add both bandwidth throttling and rogue AP control, and are looking forward to offering them in the future.
“Sputnik’s products are specifically designed for users who don’t want to invest $20k in setting up a hotzone but need the management features normally associated with more expensive solutions. If you insist on writing your own management software, which I don’t recommend, you’ll be happy to know that the platform is built on open source interfaces which you can extend to suit your needs. Another thing to keep in mind about Sputnik is that their products are scalable and equally at home indoors or out, and using their directional antennas and multiple APs can cover a parking lot or an entire community.” Read more...
June 4, 2004
Mobile Business Advisor
Sputnik Control Center and Sputnik AP 160
A great introduction to, and review of, Sputnik’s hardware and software products. Here are some highlights:
“This may be the first product evaluation I’ve ever written where I couldn’t bear to return the product to a vendor, and actually purchased one for my own use.”
“This is one of those Holy Grail products that harnesses the power of Linux to create a product that brings powerful and compelling features into the hands of the masses.”
“Sputnik has hit a home run with its Wi-Fi management solution.”
“Sputnik provides a complete wireless ecosystem to give you convenient, organized, and feature-rich hotspot management at a price thousands of dollars below the competition.” Read more...
“Sputnik, which appears to have created one of the best value propositions for Community LANs, has upped the ante with a $250 outdoor AP, the Sputnik AP 200,” or so says Daily Wireless. (Thanks!) Nice mentions of our new long-range AP in Wi-Fi Networking News, Wireless Warrior and Wi-Fi Planet.
Wi-Fi Networking News details how 3rd Wave is winning new customers by deploying Sputnik Access Points to offer free wireless in the city of Atlanta. How’s this for rapid provisioning: Mike Landman, 3rd Wave’s CEO “credits the quality of the [Sputnik] APs for the fact that his workers spend just 30 minutes setting up each network.”
Wi-Fi’s Still Free—In Some Places Sebastian Rupley
They’re at it again, and we’re just going to bask in their glory. Sputnik customer 3rd Wave is offering free wireless service around the city of Atlanta with Sputnik Access Points. PC Magazine thinks this is a good idea. We agree!
Wi-Fi Networking News points out that Sputnik has the technology to power Robert X. Cringely’s wireless vision. Scroll down to find our favorite quote: “The features of the access point and gateway in [Cringely’s] vision include bandwidth throttling, firewalling, and other aspects of control that are the heart and soul of the Sputnik firmware, AP, and Control Center. Bob, you don’t have to invent it. It already exists and it uses Wi-Fi standards and other networking standards. And it has all kinds of open-source and extensible components to it.”
Sputnik Upgrades Cloud Administrator Sam Churchill
DailyWireless provides an excellent overview of Sputnik’s recent product announcements. Here’s a quote we like: “Dozens of access points can be managed from a single station without the high cost of enterprise-level solutions.”
Blog Roundup Cory Doctorow, Om Malik, Doc Searls, Dave Sifry
Blogroll: Doc Searls, Om Malik, Cory Doctorow and Sputnik’s own Dave Sifry take note of Sputnik’s recent product launch. As the inimitable Doc puts it, “Very cool, that.”
Wi-Fi Networking News has the scoop about how Sputnik Control Center helps hotspot operators manage wireless networks. The article highlights Softmatrix, a network system integrator that uses Sputnik technology to offer secure wireless networking for customers waiting in car dealership service departments.
Linux Devices takes an in-depth look at the Sputnik AP 120. Complete with a photo of the guts inside the plastic case (warning: not for the squeamish).
Sputnik AP 120 Voted Best Server Appliance Editors
Sputnik is honored to have won a 2003 Linux Journal Editor’s Choice Award! The Sputnik AP 120 was voted best server appliance. Not only that, it’s a darn good wireless access point. We’re breaking out the champagne!
"As wireless LANs grow in size and complexity, and IT managers wrestle with the twin burdens of staff time and security when configuring and maintaining wireless APs (access points) across their enterprises, a previously unnecessary category of network management solution has started to proliferate: the central WLAN controller . . . "
Note: Despite the report in this story, in May 2002 Sputnik withdrew its plan to build a paid-subscriber Wi-Fi network in favor of the development and support of the Sputnik Wireless Product Family of enterprise-class 802.11 software. Sputnik still operates a free authentication back-end for community wireless networks.
