Frequently Asked Questions About Userful Desktop for Internet Cafe

Q: How do I get started? How much does it cost?

A: It costs nothing to get started if you own your own hardware! The initial cost of $125 is refunded to you with $250 worth of prepaid cards that are part of the package. If you don't have your own hardware, you can buy it yourself (ask us to recommend compatible hardware) or purchase it from us if you want a multi-user system (multiple users from one PC).

Q: How do I know my PC will work with the Userful Desktop software?

A: You can download a free trial , This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , or give us a call at 1-866-873-9126 and we'll let you know if it will work. A typical Pentium 4 with 1 or 2 GB of RAM can easily serve 2 users.

Q: Do I need to buy any software licenses?

A: Absolutely not! Our Userful Desktop CD installs everything you need (operating system, software, drivers, etc.).

Q: Who sets the price I charge for Internet access?

A: You do! You know your users best and know what will be most profitable. Just keep your prices above our minimum rate of $.05 per minute.

Q: Can I offer other means of payment other than pre-paid card?

A: Our credit card swipe system is coming soon. Send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it to get on the notification list. Userful's internet station software is used in a thousands of locations around the world. It's not available under our "free" revenue-sharing program, but we can integrate your kiosks into a variety of authentication or billing systems. For example, guests could charge Internet use to their room via your hotel property management system, or students could charge printing and Internet use to their student account. Contact Userful for details on pricing.

Q: How do prepaid cards work?

A: Each $5 and $10 prepaid access card has a unique access number on the back that's valid only for use at your kiosk(s). The cards retain unused time, so if a customer only uses 10 minutes of a 1 hour card, the remaining 50 minutes are still available. These cards are usually sold at the front desk, a vending machine or at a nearby convenience store.

Q: Can I offer (and charge for) printing?

A: Sure! Just plug in a supported printer and specify the cost per page you want in the configuration screen. Users will get a pop-up message telling them the cost.

Q: What benefits other than revenue could my business see from these kiosks?

A: You'll see significant benefits over and above your revenue: increased customer satisfaction, increased traffic, and repeat visitors from customers seeking Internet access.

Internet access can help differentiate your business over competitors. It can be a deciding factor when people are deciding where to stay or eat. We'll give you some signage templates and tips for promotion to help draw in new customers. The built in "walled garden" feature (see below) can also provide free benefits for your customers and business.

Q: Can I offer free access to certain websites that are useful to my visitors?

A: Yes, provided your kiosk is generating at least $100 in monthly revenue. If so, you can include a "walled garden" profile to give your users free access to certain useful sites. The walled garden profile is controlled by you - you just specify the homepage and sites your users can visit for free. These could include flight arrival/departure information (airports), virtual concierge, hotel amenities and future reservations (hotel), and online store catalog (retail).

Q: Does your software work with Macintosh computers?

A: Sorry, not at this time