Accio.US Looks to Extend Reach with Mesh Network

Founded in 2007 by Steven Hankins and Stan Szmyd, Accio.US is a technology company that provides services for small- to medium-sized businesses.

For the past 18 months, however, Accio has expanded into the multifamily residential and commercial real estate markets via its Accio.US WiFi product. The idea for providing better wireless Internet service to places like apartment complexes and shopping centers sprang from Hankins and Szmyd investing in multifamily real estate, and looking for ways to add low-cost amenity upgrades to attract tenants. The result was a wireless network based on mesh technology, in which only one node in the network is directly connected to the Internet.

The wired node shares the connection wirelessly with the next nearest node, which then shares to the next nearest node. Thus, the signal travels farther and users get a stronger, faster signal. Each node needs only a power source to operate.

Accio began offering its service about a year ago, and its first customer consisted of 325 units. That number has grown to about 600, and Szmyd said the goal is to double that within the next year.

Accio provides all upfront costs associated with the units, which are about the size of a deck of cards with a small antenna attached. Customers pay a subscription fee on a per-unit basis, and can recoup it — and potentially a small profit — from tenants via rental agreements. At least one report showed wireless Internet access brings a value of $25 per unit to multifamily dwellings.

Accio monitors the systems remotely, so it benefits from first-alert status if a disruption in one of the nodes arises.

While Accio’s focus is on expanding its multifamily customer base, Szmyd said commercial applications are available. Accio currently provides services to clients like Fayetteville Athletic Club and the Northwest Arkansas Mall.