On May 25th, 2023 the PKT Cash community hosted a town hall event to discuss the current updates in the ecosystem. Speakers showcased the project momentum including ongoing development efforts, discussion surrounding the wifi sharing shift from a business-to-customer (B2C) to business-to-business (B2B) focus, VPN expansion, potential Android TV support, and PKT wallet improvements. PKT community members also addressed feedback and the importance of participant community engagement in driving PKT Network’s success.
The PKT Town Hall included speakers Caleb James DeLisle, Josh Berger, Jesse Berger, and Adonis Gaitatzis.
Caleb, the creator of cjdns and PacketCrypt, was the first speaker and discussed progress on the AnodeVPN app and shared his excitement about rolling out the ability to pay for a fast speed using PKT Cash. This is an important upgrade as it represent real world utility for the PKT Cash cryptocurrency. Caleb explained that in the coming weeks the upgrade to the AnodeVPN app will be available for users to test and provide feedback. Read more about PKT Paid VPN below.
Josh joined the conversation from Israel after attending a crypto conference there. He discussed the importance of building a broader community and shared some notable business developments regarding PKT Pal.
He mentioned meeting a nightclub owner in Israel and recently installing PKT Free Internet, benefiting both the club and the surrounding tourist community. This is an exciting development, because the nightclub owner has several other businesses that he expects to deploy the technology into.
Josh emphasized the potential of PKT technology and his focus on showcasing its use cases across social media. He also talked about engaging developers in Israel to contribute to the project’s roadmap.
Josh mentioned that other businesses have participated in test pilots, including a successful installation at a resort in Costa Rica, and a nightclub in Hollywood, California, to name a few.
He highlighted the possibility of collaborating with major business franchises, such as hotels and restaurants that have many locations, to further expand PKT’s reach.
Josh explained why PKT Pal is focused on a B2B approach instead of solely focusing free internet access in rural areas. Josh sees businesses as a starting point for deploying PKT technology, showcasing real-world use cases, and building the technology’s reliability. This is because businesses already are comfortable sharing internet access with their guests. The ultimate goal is to expand the network from commercial location to residential and rural areas, thereby creating a global impact. He emphasized the importance of bridging the digital divide and empowering individuals to connect globally. This highlights the significance of wifi sharing technology for expanding internet access worldwide.
Caleb also shared about updates to PKT Pal’s captive portal software, including upcoming upgrades for users who have purchased a Mini. The big update is that the captive portal now accepts an email address for access to PKT Free Internet. Wifi sharing providers will have the choice to accept an email address for authentication, or captcha-only.
Jeremy expressed his enthusiasm for businesses adopting wifi sharing. He also highlighted the benefits of providing businesses a branded internet experience to drive customer loyalty and increase revenue. He emphasized the potential for businesses to build better connections with their customers and gain valuable insights about their operations.
Jeremy then opened the floor, encouraging participants to ask questions either in Twitter Spaces or through the online chats. Cider Eyes, a PKT community member, asked Josh if there was a possibility to become an affiliate or participate in a referral program to promote PKT Pal locally. Josh confirmed the existence of an affiliate program and mentioned the different commission tiers based on sales volume. He informed Cider Eyes that PKT Pal provided tools, such as presentations and videos, to support affiliates in their sales efforts.
Josh shared a recent successful meeting with a nightclub owner who quickly recognized the advantages of implementing wifi sharing by installing a Mini and multiple Edge Extenders around the property. Josh emphasized how these use cases expand the PKT Network.
Josh then discussed the importance of deploying PKT Pal technology on a larger scale to benefit the ecosystem. He explained that as more people use PKT Pal products and earn PKT by wifi sharing, it helps create more wallets and increases PKT liquidity. This, in turn, benefits PKT holders and miners as well as the overall PKT ecosystem.
Josh highlighted how PKT Pal’s wifi sharing system purchases PKT coins from the market to distribute them to PKT Pal customers whose guests pay for wifi access. This makes it easier for new participants to enter the PKT ecosystem without the complexities of setting up a wallet or using a traditional exchange.
Jesse highlighted that PKT Pal is building a business on top of the open-source PKT blockchain project. This has been met with acceptance and support from businesses, which are currently accustomed to using devices like Google Nest or Amazon Eero for mesh wifi. These businesses understand the need for secure wifi access and appreciate the opportunity to become hotspot access points for the PKT Network, contributing to the goal of connecting more people to the internet.
Jesse expressed his enthusiasm for PKT Pal’s new B2B approach. He mentioned the resistance faced with the initial B2C approach, where potential buyers didn’t understand exactly how exactly they could share the internet with their neighbors? However, businesses, especially in the hospitality industry, are expected to share their internet with guests, making this a favorable environment for the project.
Jesse explained that the focus is now on promoting the benefits of the wifi sharing technology to businesses and individuals without overwhelming them with technical jargon. This approach has proven successful in driving adoption and benefiting liquidity and growth within the PKT project and community. The wifi sharing technology is also designed to help PKT gain adoption around the world.
This year, PKT Pal has showcased wifi sharing during a podcast on CoinDesk and attended conventions including Consensus, SXSW, and Bitcoin Miami 2023. Jesse emphasized the benefits of bringing the wifi sharing technology to businesses, deploying network infrastructure and getting more people online.
Jeremy introduced Adonis to provide an update on the Anode Wallet app for iOS, as well as AnodeVPN for Android. He mentioned that he has been working on both the iOS wallet and the AnodeVPN for Android app, which functions as a wallet and VPN. Adonis expressed appreciation for the enthusiasm shown by the community and their engagement with the project.
The testing version of the Anode Wallet app for iOS on TestFlight had been launched, and while some bugs were identified, they were being fixed. Adonis mentioned that they expected to release a new version with most of the bugs resolved the following week. He also acknowledged the UI improvements that still needed to be made.
Jeremy expressed gratitude for the progress made and the community’s involvement in testing and reporting bugs. He emphasized the importance of addressing issues and improving the functionality of the apps for everyone.
Jesse provided an update on developments at PKT Pal. Jesse discussed how initially the PKT Free Internet and captive portal technology were exclusive to the PKT Pal devices, including the Mini, Cube and Edge Extenders. However, Caleb had found a solution that allows the Mini or Cube and Edge Extender to emit PKT Free Internet through pre-existing antennas or access points that may already be installed in a home or business.
Caleb explained that the traffic would be tunneled from the Edge Extender to the Mini or Cube, and by configuring the ports, a secondary network with the PKT Free Internet captive portal can be established.
Jesse explained that this solution is particularly for businesses that want to maintain their preexisting infrastructure while offering guest wifi and wifi sharing to customers.
Jesse further discussed the positive feedback and creative deployment of the Edge Extenders by businesses. He mentioned the example of the resort in Costa Rica that installed a Mini and Edge Extenders to provide the captive portal through their preexisting access points. Additional Edge Extenders were placed in various locations, including at the tiki bar and near the beach, generating revenue for the business and expanding the reach of the guest wifi. Jesse explained how this expands PKT Network’s reach beyond the crypto-centric world. Wifi sharing technology is now benefiting businesses and the visitors to these businesses, as well as their local communities.
Jeremy opened discussion about utility for PKT Cash, which the community had been eagerly awaiting. Caleb confirmed that the ability to pay for VPN was internally demoed two weeks ago in the AnodeVPN app. He planned to start open beta community testing soon, allowing VPN providers to charge for access to the VPN and receive payment in PKT. He explained that users could pay to increase the speed of their connection within the VPN docker image. Jesse clarified the use case, confirming that VPN providers could get paid in PKT for offering faster connection speeds.
Jesse highlighted this milestone, emphasizing its significance of the first real-world use case for PKT Cash in consumer use cases. He praised the ability to pay for VPN services with a PKT wallet balance, stating it big step forward in utility development. Jeremy echoed Jesse’s enthusiasm and highlighted the importance of these achievements as the foundation towards the goal of connecting the next billion people online.
A question was raised about the progression of Android TV or Anode VPN for Android TV. Caleb explained that they had applied for the app to be included in the Android TV App store but were rejected by Google without clear reasons. They faced difficulties in communication with Google and were still in discussions to resolve the issue. Caleb mentioned the possibility of exploring alternative app stores for Android TV that don’t require submitting through Google. The main challenge being faced is the blockage imposed by Google.
Jesse sought clarification on the benefits of having AnodeVPN on Android TV. Caleb explained that having VPN capabilities on Android TV would allow users to watch location-restricted TV shows or access content not available in their country. Additionally, it could prevent users from receiving letters from their internet service providers (ISPs) regarding their TV streaming activities.
Various questions were asked by community members. One question was about the compatibility of Elon Musk’s Starlink network with the PKT Network and how the network would handle the demand? It is suggested that if Starlink can provide high bandwidth through its satellites, it could be interesting for wifi sharing rather than mining.
Another topic is the idea of implementing an affiliate program to encourage new members to join the PKT project. The discussion explores the possibility of having an affiliate program for AnodeVPN and keeping a leaderboard of who has invited new users. The idea of rewarding users for inviting others was considered.
The conversation then moved to discussing the challenges of educating users about the safety of open wifi networks and the use of captive portals in the PKT Network. It was acknowledged that open wifi networks are commonly used and that secure wifi technologies are not widely supported. The potential inclusion of encryption from the user’s phone to the Mini was mentioned as an optional feature, but it’s recognized that not all phones would support it.
The issue of spoofing attacks is brought up, specifically related to the PKT Free Internet access points. It is suggested that the AnodeVPN app could connect to the wifi network and validate authenticity, providing an additional layer of security. The discussion highlights the need to address these concerns and consider implementing more education for future updates.
Discussion was had about a new app called Watchr, developed by KuzuDR, the owner of PKT.Watch. This app allows users to track and monitor multiple PKT Cash blockchain wallets in one place. The app is described as a portfolio tracker that provides an organized view of wallet balances, mining income, and transactions. It is mentioned that the app can be used with or without an account, offering privacy options. It is available for iOS and Android. Here is a link to Watchr.
Jeremy concluded the meeting by expressing gratitude for the speaker’s contributions and encouraged everyone to continue supporting PKT across social media. He emphasizes the importance of spreading the word about PKT and getting more people involved. He also encouraged participants to ask any additional questions via various social media platforms prior to the next meeting.
Thank you for taking the time to stay updated with the PKT ecosystem! Make sure to join the community on Discord, Twitter, Telegram and check out the new content being loaded onto the PKT Cash YouTube channel every week so you never miss an update! Be sure to download the Anode Wallet for iOS and AnodeVPN for Android and check out PKT Pal products on pktpal.com.
Cheers, Pkteers!
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