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Zone Rates

By defining zone rates you can charge the user different rates for different Internet addresses (URLs). You can apply several zones at the same time. You can use the add, edit and delete functions to manage your zones.
Note:
Please note that the payment module will always use the most expensive zone whenever a choice has to be made, i.e. if three windows with three different rates are open, the most expensive rate will apply.
1. Defining a rate zone
You will first have to define a rate zone for all "surfing areas" to which you want to apply a rate that is not the default rate. The name of this zone will be displayed in the browser if you have checked the box "Display zone name and rate in status bar" under advanced settings.
2. URL search pattern
2.1 Adding/editing/deleting URLs
Important note:
If possible, avoid placing an * before the first dot (e.g. *.myPage.com) and make sure the domain name ends with a slash (/), as users will otherwise be able to avoid the surfing area by entering @ or # e.g.: the URL "www.yourPage.com@www.google.com" opens www.google.com.
When specifying the domain name, do not use the placeholder (*) for other levels than the top level domain and combine your entry with a slash (/), e.g.:

> www.myPage.*/

Go to URL Search Pattern and specify the URLs that make up a rate zone. You can define as many URL search patterns (e.g. http://www.mypage.com) as you like.
Example: you name a zone "journals and magazines" and assign the following URLs to this zone:

1. http://www.time.com/
2. http://www.usnews.*/*
3. http://www.newyorker.com/

When defining zones, the payment module applies what is called best match logic. This means that if two zones overlap, the payment module will give preference to the one matching a "more precise" search pattern. If you have two zones, one, for instance, http://www.provisio.com/* and the other http://www.provisio.com/link/*, the payment module will assign the URL that is defined more precisely.
2.2 Zone applies to all other URLs within frame structure as well
This setting refers to pages containing frames which, in turn, may contain subframes with content provided by third parties or other URLs. Since these URLs do not match the URLs you added, they will be displayed.

1. Always
   URLs called within the subframe will always use the rate you defined for the zone above. Other possible zone definitions will be ignored.
2. If no other zone matches
   If you explicitly assigned a different zone rate to one of the URLs displayed in the subframe, then this is the rate that will be applied.

Example:
The page www.a-page-with-frames.com contains a subframe with the URL www.another-page.com. While the URL www.a-page-with-frames.com costs 5 credits per hour, the URL www.another-page.com costs 8 credits per hour (belongs to a different zone). Unless you select the check box "Zone applies to all other URLs ...", your customer will be charged the 8-credits rate, as www.another-page.com is the most expensive zone. If you turn on the check box "always", the 5-credits-per-hour rate will apply, as the zone rate for www.another-page.com will be ignored. Conversely, if you set "If no other zone matches", the 8-credits rate will apply.
3. Payment mode settings
3.1 Free of charge (free mode)
If you select this mode, all URLs you added to the list will be defined as a free zone. This option is especially useful for your own pages or those of your sponsors.
Important:
The websites you specify here will always be free. This means that even if there is a credit balance available, users will not be charged for their surfing time.
3.2 Charge a constant amount of credit per minute
This is probably the option that is selected most commonly. Here you will specify the cost per hour that applies to a particular zone. For obvious reasons, this hourly rate should differ from the basic hourly rate. The rate you need to enter here is the hourly rate that will apply to this zone. This rate will then be converted into and displayed as a rate per minute.
3.3 Add a constant amount of credit per minute (advertising mode)
This option allows you to credit a set amount per minute to a virtual user account. You may want to consider this option if you want to reward the user for spending time on the websites of your advertising partners, for completing customer surveys, etc. All you have to do is enter the amount per hour in the form window. This amount will automatically be converted into the corresponding amount per minute.
3.4 Multiplier on the hourly rate
By selecting this function you will be able to define surcharges for specific zones that amount to a percentage of the applicable hourly rate.
3.5 Zone will be free of charge while user's credit balance is zero
By checking this box you will be able to specify which zone will be free of charge when the user's credit balance runs out. The Start Page is specified as such a zone by default.
This option ensures that the system will stop try to deduct money for a URL when the credit balance amounts to zero.
4. Tips and recommendations

1. You can use the service rates to charge for applications, downloads, and other services.
2. The Start Page is free as a general rule as long as no credit is available.
3. When switching zones, the user will always be charged at the rate that applies to the most expensive zone that is currently active.

See also

Service Rates
Advanced Settings
Pullmode - Debiting One-Time Charges
Supported Payment Devices

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