In the world of Bitcoin and digital currency, there is no shortage of bright minds and aspiring developers. Andreas M. Antonopoulos is one of the most prominent members of the Bitcoin ecosystem today, and he has a project on GitHub allowing users to pay their Wifi minutes with Bitcoin. What is really interesting is how the project uses the 21 Inc Bitcoin Computer as the authentication server for any OpenWRT router running Wifiportal21.
Also read: Microsoft Enables Carrier Billing For Windows Store – Bitcoin Integration Soon?
Wifiportal21 Displays 21 Inc Bitcoin Computer’s Versatility
Slowly but surely, more and more people are starting to unlock the true potential of the 21 Inc. Bitcoin Computer. Other than the embedded mining chip, this device offers a powerful tool for aspiring developers to create all types of interesting projects along the way. Wifiportal21, created by Andreas M. Antonopoulos, is just one example of how the Bitcoin Computer can be used.
It is important to keep in mind that, even though this project is publicly available on GitHub, the latest build is still in its experimental stage. Wifiportal21 is an authentication portal that will allow users to buy Wifi minutes with Bitcoin. There are two prerequisites to using Wifiportal21 though: the router needs to be running on OpenWRT, and have Wifidog installed. Full installation instructions can be found here.
Installing the Wifiportal21 authentication server is quite easy, as users simply have to download the file to a directory on their 21 Inc Bitcoin Computer. Once that is done the config.py file will need to be edited, and the values for xpub and billing rate will have to be replaced. Then it’s just a matter of installing the package and running the authentication server itself.
Paying for Wifi minutes in Bitcoin is a versatile way to show off Bitcoin’s strengths as far as microtransactions are concerned. Rather than using traditional payment methods, which involve high fees, Bitcoin is more suited for smaller transactions. Plus, Bitcoin is a global payment method, so users wouldn’t have to worry about exchange rates when paying for Wifi connectivity.
What makes Wifiportal21, even more, appealing is how the service requires no login, authentication, or personal identification to be used. As a result, no personal user information will be collected, and user privacy will be respected. A payment QR code will be presented to the customer, and once paid, Internet access will be made available automatically.
Source: GitHub
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