Free Surf 76

Now, surf the Net free-of-cost at kiosks

Ahmedabad, Nov. 30 For the first time in India, the Ahmedabad-based NETHOTZONE has joined hands with US-based Ahem! Management Solutions to set up kiosks providing free Internet facility in 155 cities and towns of the country. NETHOTZONE is investing Rs 165 crore over the next five years to set up these kiosks at public places and expects revenues to the tune of Rs 255 crore, Mr Chetan Ingole, Chief Operating Officer, told Business Line here today.

The company has also applied for patenting the software and the concept. Its revenue model is based on online and offline advertisements. Each kiosk will have 19-inch LCD monitors and high-speed Internet access, with support staff. The outlay of the concept would be borne by the companies looking to reach out to the Internet surfers.

Ahem! Management Solutions is a San Francisco-based software firm specialising in developing Internet traffic controlling software through wireless network. The concept has been tested at a college here for 45 days. The NETHOTZONE portal is designed to promote local content’s global reach. The content of the Web site will be completely user-driven, Mr Ingole said.

With the mottos of “Freedom of Knowledge” and “Let the Web be free”, NETHOTZONE is setting up two kiosks in Ahmedabad in the next two weeks, followed by those in Vadodara, Rajkot and Surat. These kiosks are being set up at malls, colleges and other public places, Mr Ravin Vyas, CEO and promoter of the company, earlier told presspersons.

Along with the free Internet accessibility through kiosks, the NETHOT user will also have access to discount coupons and other deals of various brands.