Articles
About Live-WiFi
Live-WiFi started trading as CommsPort in 1998 by opening its first Internet access location as a fully managed concession within a Costa Coffee store in Edinburgh. The business has gone forward in subsequent years by opening Internet locations mostly operated as ‘stand-alone’ concessions with well known retail brands (we call these Trading Partners). Live-WiFi has developed a very successful formula for providing secure fully managed internet and communication solutions for wide variety of Trading Partners.
Live-WiFi’s primary business is the installation and operation of ‘turn-key’ Internet access and communication solutions. This has been achieved successfully by responding to the needs of major retailers and leisure organisation such as Coffee Republic; Debenhams; Costa Coffee; Esporta Health Clubs; Aroma Cafe Bars; Renaissance Hotel Group and numerous other organisations who demand an exceptionally high level of service and seven-day technical support. During recent years the demand in the sector has shifted from internet terminals to mobile applications. Live-WiFi has responded to this demand shift by developing a robust and well proven WiFi solution allowing customers easy and secure access to the internet via their laptops and other mobile devices.
Typical installations feature bespoke hardware; specialist software to allow remote maintenance; fully managed broadband telecoms; and in many locations complete shopfit arrangements. The aim is to achieve a seamless offer to compliment the Trading Partners’ main offering; improve or manage their dwell time; increase traffic flow; and add net profit to the Trading Partners’ locations without causing their staff any technical hassle.
Live-WiFi currently operates around 600 internet locations throughout the UK, comprising of over 800 internet terminals or information points and approximately 1,000 fully serviced WiFi Access Points (APs), often known as ‘WiFi Hotspots’. The flexibility of the business model and service focused culture continues to enable the business to secure major clients. CommsPort has recently acquired one of its competitors NetPoint UK which specialise in stand-alone internet terminals usually located in shopping malls and hotels.
Live-WiFi’s WiFi offer is regarded as one of the most flexible and cost-effective solutions currently available. It isn't just a coincidence that leading brands such as Coffee Republic, Virgin Active Health Clubs, Costa Coffee and Coffee Hub have selected Live-WiFi as their WiFi partners in preference to the other perhaps better known so-called ‘big brands’.
Why You Have Probably Never Heard of Live-WiFi......................
A key aspect of the growth strategy has been to ‘white label’ its service and brand identity enabling the Trading Partners’ brands to become prominent. Screen savers, log-on (splash) screens and point of sale collateral are usually branded under the Trading Partner’s identity. Live-WiFi sees itself as offering a business-to-business solution rather than a customer facing brand identity
Robust attention to detail and a philosophy of keeping it simple are key aspects of the Live-WiFi ethos. The success of this policy accounts for the on-going growth consistantly delivering a high-quality service to its demanding customers in the retail, leisure and hospitality sector.