Kiosks will provide Internet access, information

The latest variation is the Internet and information kiosk, such as those David Tracy plans to place in locations in Branson and Springfield through his Hollister-based company, Kwicknet.

Tracy said he will have kiosks in operation beginning in February, with 10 in Branson and two in the Springfield area. While several sites have been secured, Tracy said, contracts have not yet been signed. He declined to name any specific locations.

Tracy plans to roll out with 12 sites initially, adding machines as necessary and branching out into Kansas City, St. Louis and Little Rock, Ark.

“We’re negotiating with the Convention and Visitors Bureau in Springfield and evaluating others. We’re taking requests now,” Tracy said.

The kiosks will be set up at select sites, such as hotel lobbies, high traffic businesses or visitor’s centers, offering information on hotels, restaurants, attractions, golf courses and events.

“Those items will be on the free zone of the kiosk software,” Tracy said.

There is no cost for a business to have a kiosk on-site, Tracy said, but they do have to provide the DSL broadband for the unit.

“Hotels that have a kiosk will be able to just point their customers over to the machine, where they can find what they want and how to get there,” Tracy said. “It will tag into their broadband. They will find that the service more than covers the cost of their broadband.”

The kiosks are 58 inches tall, with 15-inch, touch-enabled LCD screens. They are radio equipped with 2.4 GHz technology for wireless access. One kiosk will remain in-house with Kwicknet for maintenance and marketing purposes, Tracy said.

Each kiosk machine will be tailor-made to fit its location.

“Depending on the location, you can buy show tickets or reserve rooms. Each kiosk will have its own independent base and they will be up and running even when the Internet goes down,” Tracy added.

The general information that will be included in the “City Guide” will include family attractions and shows, lodging,

RV parks, shopping, grocery stores and pharmacies as well as transportation, restaurants, marinas, camping, golf courses, churches, real estate companies and medical/dental clinics. Each free listing includes the company name, address and phone number, Tracy said.

“If you own a business and would like more extensive information on the kiosk, for $30 to $65 a month, we can include room rates, pictures, show schedules, video commercials, discount coupons and discount offers,” Tracy said.

Clients can choose from voice-overs and music to 20-second video presentations which would be running when the machine isn’t actively being used.

“Customers will be able to press a button to print out discount coupons or special offers,” Tracy said, and there is a one-time set-up fee for the advertiser, which ranges from $10 to $25.

For a small fee, the machines also will provide Internet and e-mail access. Access costs 25 cents per minute, and users can pay with dollar bills or credit cards. Host companies get 20 cents for every dollar spent at the kiosks, and Kwicknet gets the rest. The company’s revenues also come from commissions on bookings made at the kiosks and the advertising packages. Kiosks are an addition to the services offered by Kwicknet, a year-old company that also provides Internet service, wireless service at RV parks, computer classes and computer repairs. The company’s Web address is www.bransonkiosk.com.

“The kiosks are an idea that has been floating around awhile. People want it,” Tracy said.

Kiosk units will be on display to the public at the Ninth Annual Branson Tri-Lakes Building & Home Show, which will be held Feb. 11-13 at the Chateau on the Lake in Branson.