Front Porch - In Browser Notifications for Broadband Providers

Front Porch Participates in World IPv6 Day

admin — Fri, 27 May 2011 20:06:09 +0000

Front Porch announced today that it is participating in World IPv6 Day, scheduled for June 8, 2011. One of the day’s highlights is demonstrating Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) compatibility of its product line, including the popular PorchLight™ appliance, used for Direct-to-the-Browser messaging. A wide range of operating systems, browsers, and product configurations are slated for testing, as well as multiple solution use cases. A dedicated IPv6 lab environment with public IPv6 addresses is constructed already, and numerous test runs have been conducted.

Additionally, acting as end users as part of the World IPv6 Day, Front Porch is validating connectivity from its headquarters to various IPv6-enabled Web sites.

The goal of World IPv6 Day is to motivate organizations across the industry—from hardware manufacturers and ISPs to Web site operators—to prepare services for IPv6 and help ensure a smooth transition from IPv4. As a result, the Internet Society (ISOC) is encouraging network operators to enable IPv6 connectivity to end users on World IPv6 Day. Web site owners are requested to run IPv6 and IPv4 (dual stack) on their sites.

INC Magazine recognizes Front Porch for customer focus

admin — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 21:36:07 +0000

Think an informal, ad hoc committee can’t make a big impact on productivity? Think again. Two years ago Sonora, California-based software firm Front Porch assembled such a committee, called Team Customer. The idea was to give all of their 73 employees access to a customer conversation. Management betted that doing this, while trusting line workers to take immediate action on a customer’s issue—as opposed to sending it up the chain of command—would increase their satisfaction, leading to more repeat business and referrals. It was a fruitful wager; everyone now better understands what Front Porch calls VOC, or “voice of the customer,” and by extension they link in a more fundamental way their daily work to the success of the firm. That’s a recipe for stronger retention.

Entire Article:

Demo of In Browser Notifications at CableLabs

admin — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 21:37:23 +0000

Front Porch Inc. and Active Broadband Networks today announce a joint demonstration at CableLabs® Winter Conference of Active Broadband Networks’ innovative Active Resource Manager and Front Porch’s direct-to-browser Subscriber Messaging Platform. We will show how the two systems can be integrated to provide a direct-to-browser message to Internet users alerting them of their current network resource consumption level. Two powerful use cases will be demonstrated: a “fuel gauge” showing the customers’ current monthly consumption of bandwidth and an alert window when a customer has reached 80% utilization.

Active Broadband Networks technology is based upon the open standards of IPDR, which has been broadly embraced by CableLabs® and its members. DOCSIS® 3.0 is being deployed by Cable Operators to provide new and higher speed services to their subscribers. The additional IPDR functionality in DOCSIS® 3.0 significantly improves network and service management where high reliability and large volumes of information are required. The Active Resource Manager is an IPDR collection, storage and processing system designed to meet the needs of Cable Operators. Active Broadband Networks technology uses the IPDR standards to measure bandwidth consumption at a granular level, accurately and cost-effectively.

Front Porch’s direct-to-browser Subscriber Messaging platform supports Service Providers in 40 countries, enabling Providers to deliver engaging, cost-effective messages that provides a better customer communication experience. Our bandwidth consumption messaging solution communications an accurate real-time measurement of customer bandwidth usage direct to the customers’ browser. Effective customer communication of bandwidth usage is vital to the implementation of bandwidth usage caps.

“Active Broadband Networks is a natural partner for Front Porch. They clearly have an emerging technology to help MSOs with the complex issues of resource management. Our customers realize that accuracy, clarity and communication are key components to the successful deployment of solutions to manage the use of bandwidth and Active Broadband Networks delivers the technology to meet this need,” said Derek Maxson, President and Chief Technology Officer of Front Porch.

Adam Dunstan, President of Active Broadband Networks remarked, “We are excited to partner with Front Porch to help our customers effectively communicate to users their current consumption of network resources. Front Porch Subscriber Messaging is a powerful addition to our technology, allowing MSOs to complete the offering and bridge the gap to the consumer.”

About Active Broadband Networks
Active Broadband Networks is a leading provider of Open Source Subscriber Service and Broadband Network Management systems. We are the developers of the Active Resource Manager; a Subscriber Service Management and Broadband Network Management platform based upon the emerging IPDR protocol standards. The Active Resource Manager provides a subscriber-service-centric view of network resource usage that is unavailable in current network management systems. It further leverages this information to predict future demands, identify top-talkers by service class, implement per-subscriber usage quotas and measure subscriber experience. Designed to meet the needs of Broadband Service Providers, the Active Resource Manager is available in three editions including a distributed system supporting up-to 100 million subscriber devices. The Active Resource Manager is an Open Source platform. This benefits our customers by eliminating complex licensing, easing integration with other Operational Support Systems, and offering choice in on-going support and functionality development. Active Broadband Networks provides commercial support and professional services for the Active Resource Manager.

Front Porch Opens New Channel of Communication

admin — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 21:38:50 +0000

Front Porch Inc., the leading supplier of in browser notifications for broadband Internet providers, today announced that it has expanded services for Iowa Telecom assisting in the integration of new customer acquisitions in Minnesota. The Front Porch solution will be deployed to improve the transition of acquired customers.
”Front Porch has helped us communicate effectively and efficiently with our customers for years. Front Porch technology will help us improve customer satisfaction, reduce churn and reduce customer service calls,” said Rob Satterfield, Director ISP & Data Network Operations at Iowa Telecom.
“Iowa Telecom has been a great partner with Front Porch and we’re excited to help provide the best possible service to their newest customers and ensure a smooth transition. Internet providers know that excellent customer service is critical to the long-term success of their company and Iowa Telecom is truly a market leader in customer communication. We’re glad to be able to provide technology that assists them in fulfilling their vision of providing ‘Telephone Service with a Personal Touch,’” said Derek Maxson, President of Front Porch, Inc.
Using its patented customer messaging technology, Front Porch enables MSOs, telecoms, mobile and other Internet providers to bridge the communication gap with their customers. These solutions increase revenue and decrease costs related to customer service, delinquent accounts, and terms of use violations.
About Iowa Telecom
Iowa Telecommunications Services, Inc. (d/b/a Iowa Telecom) is a telecommunications service provider that offers local telephone, long distance, Internet, broadband and network access services to business and residential customers. Today, the Company and its subsidiaries serve over 450 Iowa communities, 10 Minnesota communities and employs approximately 800 people. The Company’s headquarters are in Newton, Iowa. The Company trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol IWA. For further information regarding Iowa Telecom, please go to www.iowatelecom.com and select “Investor Relations.” The Iowa Telecom logo is a registered trademark of Iowa Telecommunications Services, Inc. in the United States

Major Telco Increases Portal Traffic

admin — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 21:39:55 +0000

Expands Existing Deployment by Adding Over One Million New Subscribers

Front Porch Inc., the worldwide leader in direct-to-the-browser messaging for broadband Internet providers, today announced that a major Asian telco increased traffic to its popular content portal by delivering a customized version of the website using Front Porch’s patented messaging and online advertising solution. The telco improved advertising response rates and generated substantial new revenue by combining Front Porch’s unique solution with existing display and text ads. Advertiser’s click-thru rates soared seven-fold over the previous benchmark.

In addition to increasing portal traffic and revenue, Front Porch expanded its existing deployment by over one million new broadband subscribers. Because Front Porch’s solution deploys out-of-path of Internet traffic, the telco experienced a fast and easy multi-million subscriber ramp up with no network downtime or negative impact to subscribers.

“In today’s tough economy, Internet providers need to increase revenue now more than ever before. Our customers experience increased portal traffic, improved results and higher revenue with no risk to the network or negative impact to subscribers. We’re thrilled about our customers’ success and the increased interest we’re seeing worldwide,” stated Raul Vaughn, Front Porch Vice President of Asia and Emerging Markets.

Cable Provider Sends In Browser Copyright Notifications

admin — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 21:41:02 +0000

THE PROBLEM: Internet providers must find a way to serve their subscribers with demand letters from copyright holders saying they’re violating copyrights via illegal downloads.

THE RESPONSE: Bill stuffers are thrown out unread and e-mail messages are deleted. Even messages that load alongside a provider’s homepage have no guarantee of being seen, as more consumers use third-party portals like AOL or Yahoo.

Tackling that challenge, Ohio’s Massillon Cable TV contracted with Front Porch for a messaging system that can’t be avoided. Front Porch’s software “follows” an Internet user wherever they navigate, loading the operator-branded message page into their browser before the information from the requested destination is loaded.

Front Porch CEO Zach Britton said this works better than a pop-up or pop-under, because those methods can cause disputes with Web site owners that want unimpeded viewing for their banner ads.

Massillon president Bob Gessner came up with the idea of using the application to respond to legal demands regarding Web users accused of violating terms of service by downloading music or movies without paying for them.

“We haven’t scratched the surface of all [the software] can do,” Gessner said.

THE RESULT: Consumers have a chance to legalize their behavior rather than getting their service cut off — and the provider doesn’t lose revenue.
Fair Warning for Copyright Holders, by Linda Haugsted — Multichannel News, 1/6/2008

JiWire uses Front Porch for WiFi

admin — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 21:42:05 +0000

Today, at the MuniWireless07 conference, JiWire, the world’s largest mobile broadband advertising network, announced the availability of the JiWire Advertising Appliance, an in-network appliance that provides network operators with powerful options for the delivery of advertising to network users. An enhancement to JiWire’s existing ad platform, the JiWire Advertising Appliance enables unique “in-stream” advertising formats including:

“JiWire is addressing critical needs of both advertisers seeking to maximize their ROI with better targeting and Wi-Fi network operators seeking to offset costs with advertising revenue.”
Advertising displayed in response to a user’s navigating to a particular URL
Advertising displayed at pre-determined timed-based intervals
Continuous advertising displayed throughout a network user’s Internet browsing
The JiWire Advertising Appliance is powered by advanced advertising delivery technology from Front Porch, a leader in Internet advertising delivery solutions. More information about the JiWire Mobile Broadband Advertising Network and the JiWire Advertising Appliance may be found at http://www.jiwire.com/business/ad-platform.htm.

The JiWire Mobile Broadband Advertising Network and the JiWire Advertising Appliance enable advertisers to reach a highly attractive audience with location-driven messaging using cutting-edge advertising formats. For example, a traveler can automatically be presented with offers for services, such as a restaurants or dry cleaning, that are in the immediate vicinity of the hotel or café at which he or she is using a Wi-Fi network. By delivering location-specific advertising and providing sophisticated performance tracking, the Mobile Broadband Advertising Network gives advertisers unprecedented control, maximizes the effectiveness of campaigns, and enables operators to better monetize their networks.

“We’re pleased that JiWire, a progressive leader in the Wi-Fi advertising arena, has chosen the Front Porch advertising delivery technology for the JiWire Advertising Appliance,” said Zachary Britton, chief executive officer, Front Porch. “JiWire is addressing critical needs of both advertisers seeking to maximize their ROI with better targeting and Wi-Fi network operators seeking to offset costs with advertising revenue.”

“We’re excited to enable WISPs to yield more revenue per session and advertisers to reach an elusive demographic with these cutting-edge advertising formats,” said Kevin McKenzie, founder and CEO, JiWire. “The JiWire Advertising Appliance takes the performance and capability of the JiWire Mobile Broadband Advertising Network to a whole new level.”

About JiWire

JiWire is the largest mobile broadband advertising network, delivering premium, location-driven advertising on Wi-Fi and WiMAX networks. JiWire’s breakthrough advertising medium enables marketers to reach an influential mobile demographic at point-of-connection. JiWire’s portfolio of blue-chip advertisers, combined with its market-proven delivery platform and registry of Wi-Fi and WiMAX locations, enables mobile broadband networks and device manufacturers to leverage advertising as a currency for wireless Internet access.

Front Porch Used All Over Europe

admin — Fri, 24 Feb 2006 21:54:53 +0000

A Seat on the Front Porch: Coffee shop owners, hoteliers and others don’t just want to give away free Wi-Fi. They want to use that wireless connection to greet their customers with on-screen branding messages, advertising, in-store promotions and other communications.

In short, they want to say howdy, and companies like Front Porch are here to make the howdy happen.

Founded in 1998, the company’s technology offers simplified means of creating and managing communications between Wi-Fi providers and users. Recently, it scored a big win when its product was selected as the technology of choice by free-hotspot.com, Europe’s largest and fastest growing free wireless service network.

“Europe has the least Wi-Fi penetration, but it is growing the fastest,” says Raul Vaughn, Director of Strategic Services at Front Porch. “Everyone we are talking to there is still talking about individual businesses putting up their own hotspots.”

That’s territory Front Porch knows well, having cultivated just such a market in the U.S. since its inception in the late 1990s. In this latest iteration, the company has teamed with Anacapa Holdings, parent company of free-hotspot.com. Anacapa will utilize Front Porch technology to help European Wi-Fi operators build an ad-supported network in a revenue sharing model, Vaughn says. free-hotspot.com works with local, multi-national and national advertisers and agencies to develop online marketing programs and initiatives intended to reach Wi-Fi users.

To make the most of this opportunity, Front Porch executives won’t be relying just on their partners across the pond. The company already has opened a three-person office in London in an effort to have a direct presence in their target market. “We think it’s pretty important to maintain contact with the customer,” Vaughn says. “And when you have someone who speaks with a British accent, they say things so much nicer than we do.”

Analysts say there is good reason for purveyors of hotspot-related technologies to be looking toward the Continent for business opportunities.

In 2005, two of the top three Wi-Fi enabled cities in the world were European: the top three were London, New York and Paris, according to the latest research from hotspot information and service provider JiWire. The trend held among the top three countries: the United States, the United Kingdom and Germany.

Yet even with its recent European coup, Front Porch is keeping one eye firmly fixed on the United States, where Vaughn says a shifting emphasis in the Wi-Fi market is driving significant growth opportunities. He’s talking about the push toward municipal Wi-Fi, which he predicts will soon reshape the market for Wi-Fi technologies and services.

“In the U.S., the main focus right now is on municipal wireless in places like San Francisco and Philadelphia, with people wanting to [provide high-speed connectivity to] entire cities and provide free or low-cost access to every man, woman and child,” Vaughn says.

Over the past year, numerous cities large and small have put the wheels in motion to deploy citywide networks. They’re looking to wireless to enhance public services, boost economic development and make the Internet more readily available to citizens.

Vaughn says his company may have an early lead in that its core product readily translates from the hotspot model to the municipal realm. “At any time, our existing technology can be applied to municipal wireless,” he says.

Instead of delivering ads, he suggests, the same technology could be used to send emergency alerts across a broad population.

To help spread the word, the company has launched a marketing push. It will sponsor free Wi-Fi access at this spring’s Muni Wi-Fi conference in Atlanta, as well as at the W2i digital cities convention in Houston. The firm also has joined Intel’s “Digital Communities” initiative, an effort to help pilot communities design, develop and deploy new technologies.

Thus, even as Front Porch pursues its new European opportunities, the company is pushing hard to grab a piece of this emerging municipal market. “And we are making some pretty good inroads,” Vaughn says.

By Adam Stone, February 24, 2006, Wifi-Planet

In Browser Security Notices by Front Porch

admin — Mon, 06 Feb 2006 21:53:40 +0000

Front Porch, Inc., the leading developer of online user communications technologies for Network Providers unveiled today its PorchLight Security Messaging(TM) technology that extends the capabilities of Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems to automatically notify infected users of security threats such as viruses, worms, spyware, Trojans, and zombies. Online users are also automatically notified in real
time in their browsers when they attempt to surf to fraudulent Phishing sites.
PorchLight Security Messaging combines Front Porch’s proven subscriber communications technology with output from leading Intrusion Detection and Protection Systems to automatically send notification directly to infected users’ browsers. Infected users receive a secure, branded message that contains information on the specific security threat along with instructions, enabling users to clean up their computers and solve network issues at the source.
“Current Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems detect and contain security threats,” said Raul Vaughn, Director of Strategic Services at Front Porch. “PorchLight Security Messaging bridges the gap between detection and automatic user notification and provides a more elegant and efficient solution than other methods currently available to network providers. Our solution is ideal for all types of network providers, including corporate, campus, community and municipal WiFi networks as well as traditional Internet Service Providers.”
Currently, network providers typically handle a flood of incoming calls,
send email that users may never receive or read, or cut off network access to
a broad group of users without notice. “We created automated messaging
services because Network Service Providers asked for our help. Infected users
were killing their networks. Their network operations personnel were
overwhelmed by the magnitude of the security problems and did not have the
resources to resolve them while focusing on customer service,” said Carl Daly,
Director of Sales at Front Porch.
Front Porch will demonstrate PorchLight Security Messaging at DEMO 2006 on
February 7 and 8. “We are pleased to have been chosen as a participant at DEMO
2006,” said Zachary Britton, CEO of Front Porch. “DEMO is the ideal venue to
present our PorchLight Security Messaging Services to an audience that is
eagerly awaiting the latest breakthroughs in network security.”
“Front Porch’s PorchLight Security Messaging is the next step in the
ongoing evolution of network security,” said Chris Shipley, executive producer
of the DEMO Conferences. “I am eager for my network service provider to get
PorchLight Security Messaging on their network.”
To learn more about this exciting new technology visit the Front Porch
station #32 at DEMO 2006 for a live demonstration.

Front Porch Selected by free-hotspot.com

admin — Wed, 05 Oct 2005 21:52:42 +0000

Front Porch, Inc., provider of online subscriber communications technologies for Internet Service Providers and wireless networks, announced that its technology has been selected by free-hotspot.com to power Europe’s largest and fastest growing free wireless service network.

“Front Porch’s technology provides us with sophisticated local advertising, messaging and management capabilities,” said Daniel C. Toomey, Jr., CEO of free-hotspot.com. “These unique capabilities coupled with the ability to scale rapidly and manage literally thousands of distributed access points from a central interface make Front Porch technology critical to our business. With this technology we can accelerate our network deployment to meet the growing demand for free HotSpots.”

“These unique capabilities coupled with the ability to scale rapidly and manage literally thousands of distributed access points from a central interface make Front Porch technology critical to our business. With this technology we can accelerate our network deployment to meet the growing demand for free HotSpots.”
“We are pleased that free-hotspot.com has decided to build its network on our technology,” said Zachary Britton, President of Front Porch, “They are making full use of our technology to deliver terms of service and other customized messages to their users, provide information portals, and serve local advertisements. They are an excellent example of how our next generation of network services and management capabilities can be used to produce profits, even when access is given away for free.”

Front Porch and free-hotspot.com will be demonstrating their combined solution today at the TELECOM ’05 show. To learn more about this exciting new technology, drop by booth #1229 for a live demonstration.

About Wi-Fi and HotSpots: – Wi-Fi, also knows as 802.11 or wireless networking, is the simple, wireless way to handle networking. With Wi-Fi, computers can be wirelessly connected anywhere. HotSpots are connection points for Wi-Fi networks. Each HotSpot is created with a small box, containing an 802.11 radio that can simultaneously talk to up to one hundred 802.11 cards, which is hardwired into the Internet. Wi-Fi hotspots are now available in public places like restaurants, hotels, libraries and airports. Traditionally, users have had to pay for access to public HotSpots. Free public HotSpots are now becoming widely available through companies such as free-hotspot.com

About free-hotspot.com – free-hotspot.com is rapidly expanding Europe’s largest free Wi-Fi service network. The company also provides a comprehensive directory of more than 6,000 free HotSpots throughout the world. free-hotspot.com’s locations include cafes, hotels, pubs, restaurants, retail centres, transit centres and other public venues. free-hotspot.com works with local, multi-national and national advertisers and agencies to develop online marketing programs and initiatives intended to reach Wi-Fi users through its “On-Site” and “Portal” advertising channels. free-hotspot.com is located in Dublin, Ireland and is a subsidiary of Anacapa Holdings Ltd, an international online marketing company. For further information, please visit: www.free-hotspot.com.