In January 2010, Intel and Microsoft announced an initiative to standardize platforms for digital signage. The companies said that the optimized platform would be built on the Windows 7-based, Windows Embedded Standard 2011 operating system, powered by the Intel Core i7 processor and rolled out sometime in Q2 2010.
Earlier this month, a second announcement was released stating that NEC has joined this strategic relationship. Three heavy hitters working together to provide “…a more streamlined, high performance and highly reliable solution that supports digital content, interactivity, intelligence and life cycle management,” while discussing “...collaboration in the areas of hardware, software, system integration and services."
The relationship was designed to provide an integrated digital signage offering for the global market and includes new control devices and displays for digital signage based on Open Pluggable Specifications (OPS), utilization of Windows Presentation Foundation, Windows Flip 3D navigation and Windows Touch multi-gesture touch interfaces and context-aware applications. In addition, the solution offers streamlined connectivity, audience-measurement solutions, and remote-management functions.
The release continues, "NEC’s joining this alliance will further promote the concept of intelligent digital signage and embody next-generation digital signage products. This includes a strategic cloud computing collaboration, which is intended to eventually increase alignment between NEC, Intel and Microsoft."
So what does this mean for the industry? For the integrators? For the smaller digital signage solution providers?
