481 Telecommuter, Hotspot Service to be Offered
I had the pleasure of meeting with StarBand executives while attending the 2004 Consumer Electronics Show (CES)...and there's a lot on the horizon for dealers. Specifically, after coming out of bankruptcy, the company is debuting a new modem called the StarBand 481 Telecommuter and introducing a service utilizing Wi-Fi technology called "Anywhere Hotspot" - both to be debuted in the spring of 2004.
Based on the success of the StarBand 480 (for commercial use), the 481 is poised for the residential market. The product boasts two-way connectivity via satellite (download up to 1 Mbps and upload up to 100 kbps), built-in Ethernet port, no software to install, and compatible with operating systems supporting TCP/IP protocol (Windows, Macintosh, Linux, Unix, etc.).
For its hotspot service, StarBand partnered with NomadISP to provide dealers with a new offering that will pay high commissions. With the Anywhere Hotspot service, the customer is able to re-sell the StarBand service on a pay-per-use basis to their clients. Powered by the 481, the hotspot service can be sold as a package offering to owners of campgrounds, marinas, truck stops, cafes and other locations that are visited by those looking for temporary Web access.
In an effort to appeal to more dealers, StarBand is not only seeking DISH Network retailers but also DirecTV sellers as well. "Dealers are our life line," said Howard Lossing, vice president of sales and marketing with StarBand. "We treat our dealers like part of our family."
With the introduction of the 481, StarBand has helped improve the satellite broadband installation time for dealers from three hours to as fast as two hours. And, with the vastly improving benefits and programs for dealers, StarBand invites more to join its family.
Interested dealers can either call 888-424-4121 or visit http://www.starband.com/partners.
