By CHRIS BARTON
Internet payphones are a coming trend that entrepreneur Steve Clarkson is hoping to capitalise on through the sole New Zealand and New South Wales agency for Canadian-based Info Touch kiosks.
Trading under the e-zmail name, Mr Clarkson plans to show the coin-operated public access internet kiosks next week to a host of businesses including Auckland Airport, the Kitchener group for the Princes Wharf development, Sky City and the Metropolis hotel, which he believes may wish to become owner operators.
The NetFlyer kiosks, which feature an in-built video camera and phone handset, enable users to surf the net, send and receive e-mail and video-mail, cost between $14,000 and $15,000. Users pay $2 for five minutes by either inserting coins or swiping a credit card through a built-in card reader.
Mr Clarkson said depending on their location, owner operators could expect a minimum of one to four hours' usage per day, meaning the set-up cost could be recovered in 12 months.
Next week's launch will be in association with internet provider Iconz, which will be offering installation and net connection services.
Net payphones are a fledgling industry with about 20,000 installed worldwide by the end of 1999. But Summit Research said the figure was predicted to triple to around 60,000 by the end of 2000.
Mr Clarkson acknowledged there was some existing competition in New Zealand, including The Kiosk Company and a possible future threat from listed company Ephone, but said he selected Info Touch because of its leading position in the worldwide market and its technology.
The Info Touch booths - essentially a PC with modem or router connectivity in a specialised housing - use proprietary Netlock security software to monitor and control usage. The software is used in 3000 kiosks worldwide and is also popular in cyber cafes.
The opening screens provide access to kiosk portal www.surfingthenet.net, which provides news, shopping, tourism and other web-based information.
Mr Clarkson said he was currently developing some localisation of the portal at www.surfingthenet.co.nz
The kiosks could also be configured for use in an intranet environment such as shopping malls, providing in-store information as well as net access.
Coin operation the e-z way to web
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