The FreePPP Installer was created using the Internet Setup Monkey™ Admin Kit. ISP's and network administrators may license the ISM to provide users with customized Internet access kits for their dialup service or LAN. If interested please read on for more details, call 415.242.1984, visit www.rockstar.com or send email to sales@rockstar.com.
Proven effective by over 500 ISP's in over 20 countries around the world, the Internet Setup Monkey 2 Admin Kit (ISMAK) is a software solution which slashes technical support costs by giving you a tool to build your own custom, easy-to-use software installation and computer configuration package for your customers. With the ISM 2, you will save money on tech support while increasing your user base and easing administration headaches. Best of all, you don’t have to be a Mac expert to use it--you’ll just look like one to your users!
Features and Benefits
The ISM Admin Kit is designed to let you build your own customized Mac-savvy client setup software. It provides more installation and configuration features than any other single product…
• Trouble-Free User Setup. Your ISM kit walks users through the setup process with easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions, interactive help text, and on-the-fly error checking for configuration fields. Your users won’t even need to call you for help during the intuitive setup!
• Intelligent Configuration. The Monkey completely configures the user’s machine for TCP/IP-based networking. This configuration includes Open Transport TCP/IP, MacTCP, FreePPP, OT/PPP, and leading applications like Internet Config, Internet Explorer, Netscape Navigator, Microsoft Internet Mail and News, Eudora, Newswatcher, and more!
• Advanced Diagnostic/Repair Logic. The ISMAK automatically diagnoses and fixes common pre-existing user configuration errors. Your users will connect successfully more often using the ISMAK.
• Flexible Setup Software Creation. You can include whatever software you wish to install. Prompt your users for exactly as much info as you need. Provide a list of dial-up POP phone numbers. ISM 2 features a plug-in architecture, making it easier to install and configure the applications you desire.
• Customizable in-dialog graphics and instructions. It’s your Internet service, so why not personalize the setup software you provide to your customers. The ISM gives you the ability to brand your service, adding a professional touch to the user setup experience.
• Easy to Administer. In just a few minutes you can define your settings and software in the Monkey Maker and build a finished kit to distribute to your users. We take care of the hard stuff for you, so you can worry about what matters—your customers and the success of your business.
• ISP-Friendly. Customize your own POP list. Attach unique connection scripts, domain names and so on to each POP. Install and configure Rockstar’s popular PPP Menu to allow users to connect and launch applications right from their menu bar. The Monkey gives you many ways to support your customers.
• Free Technical Support. Rockstar Studios gives you 20 hours of free technical support via phone and email. Whether you’ve got a problem with the ISM or just a question about FreePPP or some other aspect of Macintosh configuration, you can talk to a real person for knowledgeable answers.
New features in ISM 2.0 include…
• Full support for Open Transport, including Open Transport PPP (OT/PPP).
• Installation options for 68K or PPC-native software components.
• Plug-in architecture: configure virtually any Internet application. Includes 4 free plug-ins for added flexibility!—POP Juggler, POP Editor and PPP Menuizer, and the Sub-Launcher.
• Customizable interface for branding your service in the installer.
Software Compatibility
The ISM Admin Kit supports on-the-fly configuration for more system and application software than any other Mac configuration product. Period. And remember: It doesn’t just cram pre-built Preferences onto your users’ machines. The Monkey actually re-configures existing configuration files—or creates new ones, if necessary. Currently supported software configuration capabilities, without using plug-ins, include:
• FreePPP 2.5v2, and 2.5v3
• Open Transport PPP (OT/PPP)
• MacTCP 2.06
• Open Transport 1.0.8 - 1.1.2
• Netscape Navigator 1.1 - 3.1
• Netscape Navigator Gold
• Microsoft Internet Explorer 2.1 - 4.0
• Microsoft Internet Mail and News 1.0
• Eudora 2.1 - 3.0
• Eudora Lite 1.54
• John Norstadt’s Newswatcher 2.x
• Internet Config 1.3 and 1.4
And, of course, you can use the Monkey to install and configure just about anything else you want to include the “old fashioned way”—by installing preconfigured preferences files. Or use the Monkey’s plug-in architecture and build a specific module for your requirements.
The ISM Cost Advantage!
Rockstar Studios commissioned a poll of over 200 service provider customers in April 1997 and found, on average before using the ISM, new Mac users required technical support with their setup 53% of the time—averaging $9 per support call. After using the ISM, first time support calls dropped to only 20% of new customers!
To illustrate the cost savings of using the Monkey, consider a service that signs up 200 new Mac users per year. On average, without the ISM, this service would spend $954 toward support issues. After using the ISM, this same service would spend $360. This translates to a savings of about $600 per year—or almost $3 per user!
After doing some simple math, you can see how using the Monkey is a smart choice—it provides a polished, professional, easy-to-use setup process for your customers and saves you money!
Customer Testimonials
The Internet Setup Monkey Admin Kit is in use today by hundreds of ISP's and network services in over 20 countries around the globe. Here’s what a few of them have to say:
“Concentric chose Internet Setup Monkey (ISM) for our Macintosh Internet access kit based on Rockstar’s proven track record and attentiveness to our custom requirements. ISM gave us the flexibility to build a seamless installation process, which reduces our customer support costs and provides subscribers with a smooth installation experience.”
— Henry R. Nothhaft, President and CEO, Concentric Network Corporation
“Prior to the Monkey, I just had two disks with files and a painstakingly detailed ‘Read-me’ file…I had customers that just got their Macs and didn’t even know how to close windows or drag icons infuriated at my complicated instructions. The Monkey has changed all that. Installation is a dream…I have yet to have a single customer have a problem with the install.”
— Jeff Sikkema, I-Serv
“To say that we are delighted with the Monkey would be an understatement. Since we started using the Monkey, our Macintosh customer support has dropped significantly…We are a licensed distributor of Netscape Navigator, and our plans are to continue to use the Monkey, rather than Netscape’s setup program for the Mac.”
— Timothy Pulling, LANLine Communications
“When I first began work here in Sept, 80% of our tech support calls were Mac users (30% of our customer base causing 80% of the calls…not very good.) Many of these users had serious conflict problems with previous software installed on their system. After researching your product and convincing our owner to purchase a license with Rockstar, our Mac tech support dropped almost completely. Suddenly we all had time to work on our projects. And now, when someone installs something AFTER your software, a simple reinstallation can usually correct the conflict and restore all of their settings. I like that.”
— Bryan Lewis, XSITE Internet Services
For more information, send email to sales@rockstar.com or call (415) 242-1984 and ask for Sales. Visit Rockstar Studios on the web at www.rockstar.com.
