The user profile depends to a large extent on the city or town where the cybercafe is located. In developing countries where income levels are low, many of the users are working professionals , who have access to the internet in office. Since they have little time at home, they prefer to use the cybercafe for accessing websites which may be blocked in their office.
Designing the room for a cybercafe depends on how it is going to be used. If the room will also be used for gaming, use pastel / light colours, otherwise use bright colours.
There should be sufficient space, so that people can walk around without bumping into each other.
Each computer should be in a separate cubicle, so that people cannot read each others email or check what the other person is using the computer for.
Many cybercafe owners also have games , which are an additional revenue stream.
Some of the popular games are:
In most cybercafes , a single internet connection (usually a leased line) is shared between multiple users. So the greater the number of users, the slower the internet connection for a single user. Some cybercafes may have a dedicated DSL line for each computer, but these will be few in number.
So if you want a fast internet connection, it is advisable to visit the cybercafe during offpeak hours , when only one or two users will be accessing the internet. During the evening (after office hours) cybercafes are usually crowded, but they are often empty during the day.
There are many software developed / available for running a cybercafe, a cybercafe owner can select a particular software depending on the budget available, features needed and the operating system installed.
A list of software available can be found at
http://software.techrepublic.com.com/download.aspx?docid=300596
While there will be cybercafes in any area with a large number of internet users, the greatest density of cybercafes will probably be at tourist spots. Most tourists take a holiday to take a break from their daily routine, but still have to check their mail to see if there is any urgent work to be attended to . This is especially true if you have an internet based business. However, security is also a major concern, so it is better to carry a laptop or PDA.
One of the biggest disadvantages of cybercafes is the lack of security. Some cybercafe owners install keystroker loggers on the keyboard and if the user accesses a ecommerce or related website, this can be misused for stealing passwords and other confidential data.
The success of a cybercafe in a small town depends on a number of factors such as:
1. whether enough people are IT and internet savvy to be interested in using the internet but do not earn enough to buy their own computers and subscribe to the local ISP.
2. Whether the ambience is pleasant, so that gamers can spend many hours with their friends playing games.
3. Whether any additional facilities like computer classes are provided.
4. At small towns which have a lot of tourists, the cybercafes are usually busy, since the visitors like to check their mailbox for important emails.
Cybercafes allow users to surf the internet for fixed hourly cost. Additionally the cybercafe owner can provide other facilities to increase the profit of the cybercafe. It depends on the size of your business, the capital available and which Country you are operating from.
Some of the additional activities are:
1. sales of computer stationery & accessories
2. Photocopying / cyclostyling of documents
3. Laminating of documents
4. Providing quick passport photos
5. Typing of documents
6. Printing and scanning of documents
7. Basic computer literacy classes for adults
8. Assistance in resume preparation
9. Railway, bus and air ticket booking facilities
10. Computer games
About cybercafes, starting a cybercafe, revenues, software and hardware used