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News Archive |
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Friday, 31 August 2007
EXTON, Pa. - Scala Inc. has announced that he company was recognized as one of Philly's Fastest 100 growth companies listed on Inc Magazine's first-ever Inc. 5,000 list of the fastest-growing private companies in the country. The Inc. 5,000, an extension of Inc. Magazine's annual Inc. 500 list, catches many businesses that are too big to grow at the pace required to make the Inc. 500, as well as a host of smaller firms. Philly's Fastest 100 is a local subset of the Inc. 5,000 list and highlights the fastest growing companies in the Philadelphia area.
"Being recognized as the sole representative of the digital signage industry in the Inc. 5,000 list and Philly's Fastest 100 is a great achievement," said Gerard Bucas, CEO of Scala Inc.
The 2007 Inc. 5,000, as revealed online at www.inc.com, reported median revenue of $9.4 million and median three-year growth of 140 percent. The list features a profile for each company, almost all of them written as a result of Inc. interviews with management. In addition, the list is searchable according to numerous criteria, including industry, city, state, region, and year founded.
Friday, 31 August 2007
San Jose Mercury News: As kiosks become more user-friendly and capable of handling more complicated tasks, healthcare providers, fast food chains and other businesses say trading face-to-face encounters for face-to-monitor transactions improves service and saves money.
"Every time you see a door, there's an opportunity for a kiosk to be deployed," Juhi Jotwani, director of marketing and strategy for retail stores at Armonk, N.Y.-based IBM, likes to tell her staff.
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Friday, 31 August 2007
USA Today: Hertz has introduced a new budget car rental program, "Simply Wheelz," with online booking, self-service rental kiosks and rates starting as low as $15 per weekend day (two-day minimum) and $94 a week. Customers pick up their cars using one-stop rental kiosks, which scan a bar code from the printed Web reservation and also scans the renter's driver's license. The customer selects a few additional options, such as additional drivers and insurance/waiver options, and then the machine assigns a vehicle and prints the rental agreement. The key is in the waiting car.
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Friday, 31 August 2007
National Catholic Register: The use of ATM-style kiosks designed for church donations rings with modern debit-card users, but some dioceses aren't to anxious to incorporate the technology into the church buildings.
David Drain, executive director of the Self-Service & Kiosk Association, said that while the use among churches isn't widespread yet, he expects it to increase. "Churches are all about tradition," said Drain. "Progressive churches would probably be the type to have one."
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Friday, 31 August 2007
Kingstonthisweek.com (Ontario): Kingston Police are continuing their investigation into a debit card scam that set up movie-goers for a loss recently. Det. Jeff Smith says several more victims have come forward after police revealed a card skimming machine was installed at a ticket kiosk at the Cineplex Odeon Theatre on Gardiners Road from Aug. 6-17. Thieves stole debit card information, including the PIN codes, and have accessed numerous bank accounts from a Quebec base.
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Thursday, 30 August 2007
Emerald Coast Kiosk is the exclusive North American distributor for one of the leading providers of kiosks in China. Our direct relationship with the manufacturer allows us to offer high quality kiosks at a fraction of the cost.
Our products are typically 30% below comparable units without sacrificing quality, functionality, appearance, or quick production times.
The manufacturer of these units has over 10 years experience in the kiosk industry and thousands of units in service worldwide. While the majority of the units are currently deployed in China, these sleek units will soon be a common sight in the US due to their quality and price.
Custom kiosk design is also available but production and delivery times will vary depending on the complexity of the product.
Thursday, 30 August 2007
MEBANE, N.C. · ArcaTech Systems, supplier of transaction-automation components for the financial, retail and self-service industries, has developed cash-recycling and cash-dispensing technology for the check-cashing industry.
According to the U.S. Treasury Department, the number of check-cashing stores has doubled since 1986. That number is expected to continue growing, with some industry estimates predicting as much as a 600 percent increase during the next decade.
"ArcaTech's cash recyclers and dispensers are helping check-cashing and convenience stores handle larger volumes of cash transactions, while also providing a higher level of security to store employees and customers," said Aubrey Meador, vice president of ArcaTech Systems. "We are currently expanding an in-store, check-cashing program with a large national chain. Their employee-assisted model is providing them with improved return and increased volume as a result of their ability to help customers through the process. As the industry continues to experience such rapid growth, proven tools and technology can quickly help these outlets become successful."
The Arca2000 and Arca2600 Cash Dispensers automatically dispense cash to counter-employees before it is passed to the customer. Transactions are faster and more accurate, ArcaTech says. And for check-cashing stores that offer money wires, transfers, re-loadable debit cards and bill-payment services, ArcaTech's Arca8000 Cash Recycler also provides counterfeit detection by checking each bank note for validity before it is deposited into the safe.
LCD displays allow users to clearly see instructions on how to identify and correct the most common issues without calling a technician.
Thursday, 30 August 2007
NEW YORK CITY · Hewlett Packard has signed an agreement with Meijer, the Grand Rapids, Mich.-based supercenter retailer, to provide a digital HP Photo Center kiosk solution. The solution includes the HP Photosmart Studio and Microlab products.
According to a news release Snapfish by HP will host Meijer's online photo site, including the capability to have online orders for prints and creative photo products mailed directly to a customer's home or sent to a Meijer location for fast printing and in-store pick up.
Thursday, 30 August 2007
NEW YORK CITY · American Airlines formally unveiled its new terminal at New York JFK Airport this week. The terminal is reportedly the largest construction project the airport has undergone in decades. The 88,600-square-foot lobby has 44 self-service kiosks in a separate area, where a few agents will be stationed to help customers use the machines and check bags. The kiosks can handle both domestic and international flights.
Thursday, 30 August 2007
EXTON, Pa. · Scala Inc., a solution provider of end-to-end digital signage software, announced that We Three Multimedia, a Gnoasis Inc. company, has contracted with emebaVet LLC, a digital signage network operator, to install a 250-location digital-signage network in veterinary hospitals across the United States.
The veterinary contract includes a large NEC 1020 LCD in the lobby of each veterinary hospital. The content consists of entertainment, education, news and weather, public service and commercial announcements. In addition, each location runs custom, personalized content for the hospital.
Deployment of the 250 locations began in the spring. The project is expected to be complete by October. This implementation is only considered a preliminary step, with emebaVet expecting to be in 1,000 locations by the end of 2008.
Thursday, 30 August 2007
BusinessOfCinema.com: India multiplex chain Cinemax has inked a slew of tie-ups in order to enhance patrons' movie-watching experience. One tie-up is with HPCL, wherein Cinemax and Ags Infotech will set up multiutility kiosks at 25 HPCL outlets in Mumbai.
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Wednesday, 29 August 2007
MELVILLE, N.Y. · The North American Components business of Arrow Electronics Inc. has announced that it is expanding its agreement with Conec, an electronics connector manufacturer, to become the exclusive broadline distributor in North America of Conec connector products for the electronics and communications industries.
"Arrow is proud to have offered Conec products to our customers in Canada for the past nine years, and we are delighted now to be expanding our relationship to include all of North America," said Mike Calabria, vice president of PEMCO marketing at Arrow NAC, in a news release. "With companies like Conec, Arrow can provide its customers in Canada, the United States and Mexico with an unmatched product portfolio of interconnect solutions and global distribution services."
Wednesday, 29 August 2007
The Hollywood Reporter: Dozens of kiosks are soon expected to start popping up in Galway, Ireland. PortoMedia, a small technology company, is developing a DRM-friendly rental alternative to Blockbuster or CinemaNow. Porto's kiosks, which would be installed in retail locations, allow consumers to download movies to a flash memory card in just 15 seconds (at a rate of 1.5 gigabytes per second). The so-called "movie key" can then be plugged into the USB port of a computer, television monitor or mobile screen for viewing on the go or in the home. IBM, Samsung and Toshiba have come to the aid of Porto in the development.
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Wednesday, 29 August 2007
Switched: Electronic ticketing lets you view, change and process your reservation at kiosks, online or over the phone. However, 16 percent of travelers still insist on receiving mailed paper tickets ahead of time, forgoing e-tickets for the security of paper. Bad news for that group: Paper tickets are set to be retired by June 1, 2008, forcing everyone to get with the times.
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Tuesday, 28 August 2007
 Trantech ATM is not the same manufacturer you are used to! Trantech ATM is not only the manufacturer of the highest quality ATM's in the Market place today, it has an entire component manufacturing division along with the readiness to respond to the ever quick changing ATM world. That is what makes Trantech ATM stand out from the competition!
Our ATM's are setting the standard for how retail ATM's will run. Trantech ATM has redesigned the ATM with both the user and owner in mind with standards such as on screen advertising, new functions never before seen on an ATM, with safety and security features unsurpassed in the industry today. That is what makes Trantech the ATM for the future. We, at Trantech, are proud to announce that we are one of the first in many areas of ATM manufacturing to equip our machines with the ever stringent PCI standard certification for our EPP"�s and we did not stop there! Trantech has developed its ADA plug-in above standard to speak in both English and Spanish. We also developed our receipt printer to a standard much higher than anything else in the industry to all but alleviate any and all printer failures. Trantech's most innovative decision was to make a machine that was easy to use and would actually show the owner how to fix it themselves, cutting down costly service fees and lost revenue due to down time. That is what makes a Trantech ATM the ATM for the future.
As you will see Trantech has put behind it a wealth of knowledge and expertise from around the Globe to bring you the latest technology, with the ability to quickly react to changes in both Local and Worldwide markets. Our goal is simple we want to be the Company you look to for answers to the questions that are going unanswered today. That is why we say Trantech, "Where Your Transactions Meet Our Technology!"
Tuesday, 28 August 2007
SYDNEY, Australia · 22Moo is in the final stages to enable millions of iPod and iPhone owners around the world to download movies, videos, games and music to their iPods or iPhones from places such as airports, train stations, hotels, shopping malls, schools, cafes and coffee shops, with their launch of the iPod and iPhone compatible Internet kiosk, the Digital Diner 9.
22Moo is now in the final stages of migrating to the 20-inch iMac and extending software and hardware support for the iPhone as well, the company says. It also has added Internet-browsing to the Digital Diner 9 kiosk.
22Moo plans to launch the kiosk at the CES and Macworld shows in January 2008.
Tuesday, 28 August 2007
DAYTON, Ohio · NCR Corp.'s board of directors has approved a record and distribution date for the spin-off of its Teradata data-warehousing business.
The distribution of Teradata stock is begin Sunday, Sept. 30.
Teradata is expected to trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the trading symbol "TDC."
"We have been diligently preparing for the strategic separation over the past several months and are very pleased to have reached this important point in the process," said Bill Nuti, president and chief executive of NCR. He said NCR looks "forward to launching two new technology companies for the benefit of our customers, business partners, employees and shareholders."
"Regular-way" trading of Teradata stock is expected to begin on the first trading day following the Oct. 1 distribution date.
Tuesday, 28 August 2007
For a company looking to deploy kiosks, the initial cost of a rollout can sometimes be overwhelming. Some kiosk vendors are turning to leasing and renting options to help deployers get started.
For future deployers, leasing a kiosk is a lot like leasing a car. The lease serves as a financing program that spreads the cost of a kiosk rollout over a certain time period. Kiosk vendors work with banks, which they call leasing partners, to develop the financing programs for their clients.
"The financing programs are great for us as vendors because we get paid right away," said Kevin Kent, director of business development for Meridian Kiosks. "The bank absorbs the risk of the lease."
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The DS line is just one type of kiosk that Meridian offers for lease.
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Kent said that a typical lease from Meridian is three to five years, with most lessees choosing the three-year plan.
Although spreading out payments may seem like a favorable option for companies planning a rollout, only a small percentage of companies actually do it.
"For most companies looking to deploy a kiosk, it doesn't cross their mind to lease," Kent said. Meridian, based in Aberdeen, N.C., has offered a kiosk leasing program for several years, although Kent says that they only see about one or two clients use the program each year.
"I wish we were doing more leasing," Kent said. "I think it'll come in time."
Kent says that one of biggest reasons leasing isn't used more often is because most of the companies who are looking to deploy kiosks are large and have their own financing through capital lease lines or predetermined lease options. They borrow the money from their own banks and don't have to go through the kiosk vendor or its leasing partner.
The story for smaller companies and startups is not as easy. Like getting approved for a loan, these companies have to qualify for the lease, mainly because there is so much up-front money involved. Ironically, Kent said that the small companies are usually the ones needing the lease as opposed to buying them outright.
"Usually it's not even a business applying for a lease, it's just someone with an idea," he said. "It's harder to get qualified without business support or capital."
Rent-a-kiosk
For some of those small companies and startups, even financing involves spending too much money. After all, the advice deployers get from vendors is to test the concept before investing in a rollout. One way to go about this is through a kiosk rental outfit.
One such company is Kiosks4Rent.com, a subsidiary of Kiosk Systems, Inc. CEO Glenn Richardson said that most of their kiosks are rented for tradeshows by all different kinds of companies. Kiosks4Rent.com rents all touchscreen kiosks which Richardson said are mostly used for questionnaires, Internet access or registration. The company has rented kiosks to organizers of PGA events and the NASCAR Pepsi 500 in Daytona Beach, Fla.
Renting kiosks does not have the same type of advantages for the kiosk vendors as leasing does. For one, they have to be shipped and returned, which inevitably increases the risk of damage. Kent said that Meridian also rents kiosks, and finds that people don't always package them up well when shipping them back.
"When we do get them back and something is broken, we don't want to be hard-lined and ask clients for $50 bucks for replacement parts after they just spent a lot of money on the rental," Kent said.
Kent also said that Meridian handles a lot of customer service tech calls from kiosk renters because they aren't as familiar with kiosks and often need help setting them up or operating them.
"We also found that rentals don't seem to be as popular because everybody wants something different," Kent said. "The kiosk space is so customized now."
When Meridian gets their kiosks back from clients, they strip the units clean of all the software that was loaded on them and clean the machines inside and out. They also have to remove any external graphics or branding from the outside of the kiosk.
"For us, rentals tend to be just as much work as leasing, but with less revenue," Kent said.
Monday, 27 August 2007
MCLEAN, Va. · USA TODAY turns 25 years this September. As part of its celebration, the newspaper says it will look back at the top 25 travel milestones, from online booking and paperless tickets to TSA screening lines. The travel landscape has shifted dramatically over the past quarter century, says USA TODAY's travel team.
Self-service ticketing kiosks were named the No. 10 milestone. The kiosk officially began cropping up in airports in 1994, although Southwest had a rudimentary self-ticketing machine as early as 1979.
Monday, 27 August 2007
The Charlotte Observer: Loyalty cards are moving higher-tech. Popularized in the 1990s and now a fixture on American keychains, the cards have for years been used by retailers as a way to gain insight into their customers' shopping habits. In return, shoppers are given discounts on store merchandise. Now some retailers are tapping the technology associated with the cards to increase sales and better serve shoppers. San Francisco-based Pay By Touch says it has plans to bring loyalty card kiosks to some North Carolina grocery stores in November. Similar kiosks are eventually expected to appear in Charlotte-area CVS pharmacies.
Read more
Monday, 27 August 2007
The New Zealand Herald: Maryanne Dransfield, New Zealand, director of the Photo Marketing Association, said New Zealand now has "well in excess of 2,000" photo kiosks across the country, the result of the growing popularity of digital cameras and photo-capable phones. And demand is expected to continue, as sales of digital cameras increase by around 20 percent a year.
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Monday, 27 August 2007
The Philadelphia Inquirer: Technical glitches that prevented customers from buying Amtrak tickets at station kiosks or online have been fixed, Amtrak says.
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Monday, 27 August 2007
USA Today: Travelers at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport can now check in and print their boarding passes when they enter the main parking garage. The service is available for fliers not checking luggage if they're traveling on any of five airlines: Alaska, Continental, Horizon, Northwest and United. It may be expanded to other airlines in the future.
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Saturday, 25 August 2007
The Detroit (Mich.) Free Press: Within a few minutes, Howell (Mich.) High School junior Liana Grimes bought a fresh deli sandwich for lunch in a new store concept inside the school that lets students serve themselves. Grimes selected food from an open cooler along the wall of the store. Each item is tagged with radio frequency identification, and self-service check-out kiosks read the tags and accept payments, eliminating the need for cashiers.
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Friday, 24 August 2007
HD NET: Dan Rather Reports presents conclusive evidence of the failure of touchscreen voting machines across the country. The episode, "The Trouble with Touch Screens," is an hour devoted to new information about e-voting. From scientists involved in testing the equipment, to manufacturers in third-world countries that have shipped defective voting machines to the United States, the program shows how defective machines may have altered the outcome of multiple elections.
To watch the video click here.
Thursday, 23 August 2007
World Health Care Blog: Self-service is a growing element of chronic disease management, where patients check their own weight, blood pressure, glucose levels, and other clinical metrics that may indicate progress in getting them under control or a problem that a professional should handle. Enabling patients to use self-service to learn about the risks and benefits of alternative treatments or medications is a way to at least reduce the time professionals spend educating them.
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Wednesday, 22 August 2007
AMSTELVEEN, Netherlands · ICTS International, a provider of advanced security services, has announced its wholly owned subsidiary MITAM-Advanced Specialized Technological Systems LTD has entered into a joint agreement with GE Homeland Protection Inc. for the development and commercialization of the next generation of aviation ID security kiosks.
The ID kiosk will address security and passenger convenience needs. The product's innovation is in its security sensors and the method of those sensors' fusion, as well as the passenger interface.
The joint venture obtained funding for development through the Binational Industrial Research and Development Foundation. The kiosks will use ICTS' security technology and GE's security screening and detection technology.
The main features of the ID Kiosk are expected to include:
- Integration of data and operations into a complete system and new concept of operations
- Quick processing of standard and non-standard travel documents
- Document forgery detection
- Integration of state-of-the-art explosive trace sampling and detection
- Quadruple resonance shoe explosives detector capability
- Robust passenger identification based on image analysis
Wednesday, 22 August 2007
Crave at CNET: Modiv Media is creating the next generation of grocery stores. Shopping at the grocery store is a weekly task that hasn't really been improved since its inception. Modiv Media is finally combining technology with one of the most common tasks we do today. Built by Motorola, the Personal Shopping Assistant (PSA) gets checked out from a kiosk at the entrance to the store and is linked to your rewards card for the store. It features an LCD screen to show you what is in your cart and make recommendations as you shop and scan.
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Wednesday, 22 August 2007
SALT LAKE CITY · An advertising partnership that will place promotional programming content on media-on-demand kiosks around the United States has been announced between The NBC Agency, the in-house promotion and marketing services arm for NBC Universal, and Mediaport, a leader in music/media burning and digital download kiosks.
Customers downloading music on Mediaport kiosks, called Mediaport ATMs, at hundreds of retail locations will now see advertising content from NBC promoting programs from Late Night, News and MSNBC. The e-media "vending machines"� hold one million tracks that can be easily downloaded to a portable listening device, memory stick, mobile phone or CD. Mediaport was the first company to obtain all major music label content for distribution on music kiosks.
Frank Radice of The NBC Agency, says the partnership offers "an ideal way" to reach digital savvy 18 to 28-year-olds.
Tuesday, 21 August 2007
 ROLLOUTS installs - thousands of sites across the US and Canada - on timelines others consider impossible - over 500,000 kiosks, digital signage, POS systems, ATMs and other network devices. Remember ROLLOUTS - its what we do.
Tuesday, 21 August 2007
 P3 Services is a nationwide on-site electronic equipment service provider located in downtown Billings, MT. While Montana may be in a remote area, our reach is nationwide and spreads into metropolitan Canada.
P3 Service network of highly qualified electronic technicians number more than 700, all experienced and qualified to service kiosks. Prompt service delivery is available in any area of the United States as well as Canada. P3 Services can manage all of your service needs, including roll out management, preventative maintenance or one service request, depending on your needs. Each client is assigned an Account Manager as a single point of contact for all of your service needs or questions, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Our expertise in on-site technical services assures your customer is completely satisfied and our coverage areas assure a timely response with minimal cost.
Tuesday, 21 August 2007
 Scala, the world's leading provider of software for digital signage software used in retail, education, entertainment, government and other industries, is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2007. With its roots in the Cable TV industry, Scala has evolved to become the global leader in digital signage software. Over the years, Scala created a cutting-edge multimedia software platform that powers thousands of digital signs around the world including the digital signage networks of Tesco, the Paris Palais de Congrès, Best Buy, T-Mobile, La Grande Récré, ShopRite, Hertz, Virgin MegaStore, EuroDisney, Bloomberg, Burger King, Kiwi, Futuramedia, Azizia-Panda Supermarket, Carrefour, McKee Foods, Muvico, Santiago Airport, RaboBank and many others. Since InfoChannel® is proven, scalable, and easy to manage, it is the platform of choice for many digital display networks ranging in size fro! m one to thousands of screens with uses including advertising displays, touch screens, retail TV, LED billboards, lobby signage, digital menu boards, interactive kiosks, and more. Scala pioneered the industry of digital signage in 1987, and is today headquartered near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America with offices in California, the UK, France, Norway, The Netherlands, China and Japan.
Tuesday, 21 August 2007
FREMONT, Calif. · ISTS Worldwide Inc. has developed applications for the retail storefront on the Verifone MX870. The applications have been developed for the retail and payment industry - creating effective customer engagements, resulting in improved customer satisfaction for retailers, especially in small form factor kiosk applications.
Verifone MX870 is a multimedia enabled 1/4 VGA, PCI PED approved terminal that goes beyond traditional PIN pad. It's ideal for payments, kiosk, loyalty, gift and value-added applications to deliver branding, promotion and advertising.
Verifone MX870 integrates with VeriFone's VisualPayments suite, a set of server-based software solutions to provide a single point of control for payment, signature, device and content management.
Tuesday, 21 August 2007
New Orleans City Business: Touchscreen kiosks have been installed at the New Orleans Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau. The kiosks offer information about topics ranging from live music and restaurants to religious services and museums. Visitors can access maps and directions to attractions and even place free calls to establishments they've clicked on for more information.
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Tuesday, 21 August 2007
BEAVERTON, Ore. · Planar Systems Inc. has announced the addition of three widescreen LCD desktop monitors to its PX product line. The new 26-, 24- and 22-inch PX widescreen displays increase productivity and performance by providing up to 82 percent more screen space than a standard 4:3 19-inch display.
Planar's new displays were developed to sustain high-end graphics and other demanding applications required by specific specialty markets, such as graphic design, video-editing and computer-assisted design manufacturing, and finance, as well as for use by advertising and marketing professionals. Widescreen displays, such as the PX line, are capable of displaying multiple application windows, Web pages or documents simultaneously, which limits the time spent switching between windows and programs.
Planar's PX monitors are capable of displaying two full pages, side-by-side, with toolbars and software palettes. Planar's PX displays also support the latest operating systems. The monitors also can be bundled with a widescreen laptop.
The largest vocational school in Ohio, Miami Valley Career Technology Center, recently enhanced both its AutoCAD and MAC labs on campus by installing PX2210MWs.
"The new PX2210MW 22-inch widescreen display is ideal for education, since much of the curriculum and educational websites are now in widescreen format," said Randy Schmidt, technology coordinator at Miami Valley Career Technology Center. "Planar's widescreen displays increase our students' ability to be productive during the limited time they have in the labs."
Tuesday, 21 August 2007
The Hindu (India): For the first time in India, residents can book bus tickets online at kiosks. Conceived and executed by the Bangalore-based travel service company Via, the kiosks offer a host of other services, too, including air ticket booking, car rentals and hotel booking.
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Tuesday, 21 August 2007
The Globe and Mail (Canada): Author Margaret Atwood's unlikely invention, the LongPen, is moving into a record store and several bookstores in Canada, the United States and England for a trial run that could bring fans and their idols closer together. Its makers are courting notables in the world of music, sports and film to start using the remote-controlled pen, which allows people to sign autographs from anywhere in the world and chat with others via video conferencing using a kiosk.
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Tuesday, 21 August 2007
Las Vegas Sun: Nevada regulators don't allow slot machines that accept gamblers' debit cards, for fear they could quickly drain their bank accounts. But they are considering allowing the next-closest convenience · or danger: allowing gamblers to put their debit cards into nearby kiosks for cash-equivalent-vouchers that can then be inserted into slots.
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Tuesday, 21 August 2007
The Cincinnati Post: Horse racing tracks, handed a defeat last year on a ballot measure to allow slot machines at the parks, have begun installing kiosks similar to slots in anticipation that Attorney General Marc Dann will lose his court fight to outlaw the games. Racetracks in Cincinnati and Columbus have begun bringing in the machines despite the ongoing legal battle between the state and the games' manufacturers.
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Tuesday, 21 August 2007
TORONTO · iGotcha Media, providers of turn-key interactive digital signage solutions, has announced the launch of Toronto's first interactive window display at Roots at 100 Bloor St. West, an unofficial celebrity hangout during the 32nd Toronto International Film Festival. Established in 1973, Roots is Canada's leading lifestyle brand. Real World Communications will manage the installation and maintenance of the Roots application.
The Roots interactive window display consists of a 60-inch image projected onto an interactive touch foil affixed to the inside of a window. This advanced foil provides a touchscreen interface and makes the application responsive to touch from the outside. When not in use, promotional video content is displayed.
"We are very pleased to be launching iGotcha's interactive touchscreen at our flagship store," said Michael Budman, Roots co-founder. "As a retailer who is always looking to enhance the in-store experience for all our consumers, we recognize the importance of technology. The majority of our customers are very active online and we believe that they will appreciate this new medium."
Monday, 20 August 2007
Domain-B (India): For the past year, T.S. Ranganathan, chief executive of Giri Digital Solutions Private Ltd., has busied himself with developing a music kiosk that enables music buffs to burn their own music CDs. With all the teething problems sorted out, Giri Digitial's project is set for commercial launch. At the kiosks, branded "anytime digital download kiosk" or simply "addkiosk," users can search for music with multiple combinations, browse, hear and download music as ring tones or full songs on to cell phones, CDs, iPods or smart cards.
Read more
Monday, 20 August 2007
Kingston (Canada) This Week: Going to the movies may have cost some Kingston, Calif., residents a lot more than they realized. Banking information, including debit card numbers and PINs, has been lifted by thieves after a card reader was installed on a kiosk at the Rio Can Centre movie theater.
Read more
Monday, 20 August 2007
CHICAGO · PROVISIO, a developer of kiosk software solutions, has announced a new version of its SiteKiosk Software for kiosks and public computers. The latest release (Version 6.6) is compatible with Windows Vista, in addition to a host of other upgrades.
Some of the upgrades include the integration of Vista parental controls and a Russian translation of the software.
PROVISIO also released a new company Web site, which is available in English, French, German and Russian.
Monday, 20 August 2007
The scene at the University of Delaware banking center was a mess. Behind the counter, employees scrambled to process individual checks while students filed into the doors of the branch like they were at the Delaware-Lehigh football game.
After numerous complaints from bank employees and students, the bank began looking for a line-busting solution that would also improve customer experience at the branch. The answer for UD was a self-service payment system that was integrated into the bank's existing ATMs.
The University of Delaware is one of many colleges and universities that are making a move to introduce more self-service machines on its campuses. The motive to add the kiosks is similar to that of any other business: they automate simple tasks and cut down on customer wait times.
The Wilmington Savings Fund Society operates the student branch of their bank at UD's Perkins Student Center, located on campus in Newark, Del. WSFS operates private student accounts that are linked to the university student account system that allow students to pay for tuition, books, food on campus, etc. These accounts are accessed by a student ID card with a magnetic strip on the back, essentially making it a multi-purpose ATM card.
UD's problem was that too many students were cashing checks and making simple transactions at the branch, such as adding or withdrawing money from their accounts. The result was slow processing time behind the counter and long lines in front of it. The bank also had to hire extra staff members to handle the traffic.
WSFS enrolled a self-service payment system that involved kiosks and a plan to drive more students to use those terminals.
Changes at the UD bank
When the kiosks were first deployed there were an equal number of transactions between the branch and the kiosks. WSFS started charging students a fee to cash checks or make deposits at the branch but not the kiosks. After that the ratio of transactions between the kiosks and the branch became 4:1.
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A check-image receipt from the NCR kiosks.
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Following a movement in the ATM industry, the WSFS kiosks began to offer no-envelope transactions, where students could directly insert their checks into the kiosks or ATM.
"The kiosks offered the check-image receipts, giving the students positive feedback that the check went through," said Bill Allen, marketing director of self-service for NCR, supplier of the kiosks and ATMs for WSFS. "After that the usage jumped to eight kiosk transactions to every one branch transaction."
Shipping it out
College campuses are now like mini-cities, in the sense that all the resources students need can be found on campus. At some schools, like Elmhurst College near Chicago, students don't even have to leave their dorm building to go to the neighborhood post office.
As the U.S. Postal Service began removing postage stamp machines from student activity area, Elmhurst deployed Pitney Bowes' Mailing Kiosks on its campus, giving students access to a one-stop location to mail packages. The kiosks were installed this summer.
"Students expressed the need to have a convenient way to process their mail and packages without having to go off-campus to the post office," said Greg Kendall of Elmhurst. "Through meetings with the college's services manager, dean of students and the VP of Financial Affairs the decision was made that the kiosk would be a good fit."
"In the university market, if you look at the top five facilities in the campus that students are unhappy with, generally mailing is one of them," said Brian Leary, the director of business and market development, Internet and retail solutions for Pitney Bowes.
Based upon what has occurred in earlier experiences at other universities, Kendall says the adoption and utilization rate is very high among university and college students. After placing a test unit at Emory University last year and through the early part of this year, the Mailing Kiosks immediately began to have 30-40 transactions per day, which was a significant up-tick right out of the box. Kendall and other found that students really appreciated the 24/7 convenience, the intuitive user interface and the location of the kiosk which was right in the heart of the Student Union area.
One Mailing Kiosk can handle up to 71 packages shipped in between pick-ups. The kiosks are designed for student and end user convenience, even providing a place for users to set their jackets, purses, etc.
"That's the No. 1 reason people use it convenience," Leary said. "Second is control. People know of all their options, from tracking to delivery confirmation."
Friday, 17 August 2007
WBKO Bowling Green (Ky.): The San Francisco, Calif., airport is launching a registered traveler program, intended to shorten long lines at security. With the new "clear" service, registered travelers can bypass standard security lines. Members swipe a biometric I.D. card for verification at a kiosk and the card stores their data on a smart chip.
Read more
Thursday, 16 August 2007
NORTH CANTON, Ohio · Diebold Inc. has announced plans to create a new structure for its election-systems subsidiary that will allow it to operate more independently, since efforts to sell the subsidiary have been unsuccessful.
The company said Aug. 16 that it is revising its full-year revenue expectations associated with the elections business.
"As a result of the rapidly changing political environment and pending legislative initiatives related to electronic voting, several large anticipated orders for electronic voting systems have moved from 2007 into 2008 and beyond,"� Diebold said in a statement. "Competing federal legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate, both related to the use of specific elections technologies, has created uncertainty amongst the jurisdictions that make purchasing decisions. In addition, several states have initiated separate, independent reviews of voting technology within their jurisdictions."
The company is lowering its full-year revenue expectations for the elections business by approximately $120 million. Diebold estimates the revenue adjustment will adversely impact its full-year earnings per share by approximately 27 cents. Previous full-year guidance for the business had been between $185 million and $215 million.
Because of the regulatory flux surrounding elections systems, Diebold says it has postponed efforts to divest the company.
Diebold Elections Systems will have a separate board and a new management. Dave Byrd is expected to remain president of the elections-systems business. A formal name change also is expected.
Diebold also says it has not ruled out the possibility of divesting a portion or all of its ownership in the realigned elections company.
"Given our concerted evaluation of all strategic alternatives available to us at this time, this is the most appropriate course of action for Diebold and all its stakeholders," said Thomas W. Swidarski, Diebold's president and chief executive. "While we plan to fully support this business for the foreseeable future, we feel a more independent structure should allow it to operate more effectively. Establishing the elections business as a separate entity will also allow our senior management team to fully focus our efforts on Diebold 's core global businesses in financial self-service and security."
Thursday, 16 August 2007
MSNBC: The next 10 years will bring major advances in the field of biometrics, including the use of face-reading technology, as well as fingerprint and iris scanning, to safeguard security and personal information. Some kiosks already offer that type of personal protection.
For a look at the future of biometrics, click here.
Thursday, 16 August 2007
Picture Business: Between August and November 2007, Sony teams will set up interactive, educational kiosks to explain the benefits of the Sony Alpha system. The kiosk will be placed on-site at soccer and indoor field-hockey tournaments throughout the Midwest and Southeast. Sony hopes to inform Gen-X moms along with the more photo-challenged masses about the advantages of digital photography.
Thursday, 16 August 2007
Computer Business Review: Home retailer Argos says it expects to roll out kiosks to more of its stores through a new deal with Retec Digital and IBM. The order is for more than 300 kiosks, although Retec chief executive John Cole hopes Argos will eventually install kiosks in all 700 of its stores.
Read more
Thursday, 16 August 2007
ABC News: When it comes to air travel for most Americans, low cost means no frills. But billionaire entrepreneur Richard Branson hopes to change that. He's betting that the bells and whistles on a new plane, created exclusively for Virgin America, will make the airline America's choice. One of the best frills, he says, is allowing passengers to order food via a touchscreen personal entertainment system.
Read more
Thursday, 16 August 2007
Belfast (Ireland) Telegraph: Music and film lovers across the world are hooking up to a Belfast company's entertainment downloading device. Ripfactory's CD2 retail kiosk is available in Europe, the United States, Canada, South Africa and Dubai. The company develops hardware and software solutions for transferring digital music and films from CDs and DVDs to MP3 players and home entertainment systems.
Read more
Wednesday, 15 August 2007
TEL AVIV, Israel · McDonald's Singapore will leverage SMS-controlled digital signage technology developed and deployed by provider C-nario to draw customers into outlets across Singapore. In the initial phase of an Asia-wide program, 67 out of 127 Singapore restaurants have already been outfitted with digital signage networks.
Diners can interact by sending text messages from their mobile phones to be displayed for all to see on an array of 42-inch screens strategically deployed throughout the chain's restaurants. In the digital-signage enhanced McDonald's environment, guests can engage one another in chat-like conversations, respond to running content or live feed, and even generate classified ads that run on a news-like ticker. Every Saturday and Sunday, sports fans can watch five-hour long video and audio streaming of sporting events in better-than-broadcast-quality.
"This initial roll-out of an Asia-wide, digital signage-based campaign not only enhances patrons' dining experience, but establishes a sense of community in McDonald's restaurants," said Rami Bahar, C-nario's Vice President of Sales and Marketing. "We are thrilled that McDonald's has chosen C-nario as a partner in this venture."
C-nario's digital signage network will feature advertising spots rotated at intervals to maximize exposure based on the measured average times spent in the restaurants sitting areas. Touch-screen kiosks linked to restaurants' points-of-sale will issue coupons to eligible customers notified via the digital screens. Points can also be redeemed and gifts retrieved later at the cash register. Music selected based on predetermined parameters, will be streamed across various locations.
The McDonald's deployment is a result of a partnership between global digital signage provider C-nario, Singapore-based content provider At-Life and ABI Digital, an integration and operations company.
Tuesday, 14 August 2007
Mobile Choice Magazine: Prepay mobile users can now top up their phones at handy new self-service kiosks. Payzone has joined forces with The Hub to launch a network of self-service kiosks that allow consumers to quickly top-up their prepay mobiles.
Read more
Monday, 13 August 2007
ABERDEEN, N.C. · Meridian Kiosks announced they have teamed with Tyco Electronics' Elo TouchSystems to provide self-service ordering stations in restaurants and convenience stores.
According to a news release, the first units have been deployed at a number of locations throughout the Midwest.
"The desire for self-service options in restaurants is growing daily as improved accuracy of orders and speed of service are beneficial to both restaurant owners and their customers,"� said Bill Nulf, director of sales for Elo TouchSystems products.
Many of Meridian Kiosks' standard kiosks can be used in restaurant settings and branded to fit the environment. The kiosks can accept credit and debit card payments as well as checks, bills and coins. Overhead signage/displays and dynamic menus are available options.
Monday, 13 August 2007
Information Week: TJX will be glad when this year is over. The $17 billion-a-year parent company of T.J. Maxx, Marshall's and several other discount retail chains has spent the past eight months dealing with the largest breach of customer data in U.S. history. Few details of the TJX debacle have been made public by the company or investigators, but it appears poorly secured in-store kiosks are at least partly to blame for acting as gateways to the company's IT systems.
Read more
Monday, 13 August 2007
Video Business: The largest video rental operator in France has developed a new system for renting movies for extended periods using a portable hard drive that customers can load up at an in-store kiosk then plug into a docking station connected to their TV set.
Read more
Monday, 13 August 2007
SANTA CLARA, Calif. · McAfee Inc. announced that McAfee VirusScan Enterprise 8.5i now supports the Windows XP Embedded operating system. By expanding their protection to Windows XPE, companies can manage security on point-of-sale terminals, including airline kiosks and ATMs, using McAfee's ePolicy Orchestrator security-management software.
"Many of our larger customers, including financial institutions, major retail and airlines, have requested support for this platform," said Rees Johnson, vice president of product management for McAfee. "A more secure retail location enables easier and safer connectivity with customers. McAfee VirusScan Enterprise protects these retail sites from viruses, malware and theft of customer information."
As more companies with remote kiosks, point-of-sale terminals and ATMs move away from proprietary operating platforms to the Windows XPE platform, their exposure to the threats that affect the Windows platform increase.
Monday, 13 August 2007
Ventura County (Calif.) Star: Giving abandoned, neglected and abused animals a second chance has been the mission of the Humane Society of Ventura County, Calif., since it was founded 75 years ago in 1932. Back then, a digital, wireless kiosk that enables animal lovers to make tax-deductible donations with debit or credit cards - or begin adopting pets - would have been the stuff of science fiction. But today it's a technological reality, and the prototype of the Humane Society's new donation-and-adoption digital kiosk is now in use.
Read more
Monday, 13 August 2007
Polo Ralph Lauren touchscreen served up in U.S., England
One of the most recognized innovations in the self-service and digital signage industries in the past year was the Polo Ralph Lauren Interactive Shopping Window. Consequently, it was also one of the most heralded deployments at Self Service Expo (formerly KioskCom) in Las Vegas, taking home both the Best of Competition and Best Retail Deployment Self Service Excellence Awards on April 25.
The window is made up of translucent film with images projected on it from inside the store. The film is touch-enabled and connects to a PC, making it a 67-inch touchscreen controlled from the street side of the window.
David Lauren, senior vice president of advertising, marketing and corporate communications, said the idea came from the movie "Minority Report," in which Tom Cruise interacts with a futuristic computer by moving floating icons and pictures with his hands.
The Polo window was first deployed in August 2006 at Polo's store on New York's Madison Avenue and was launched as part of a U.S. Open (tennis) promotion.
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Polo's interactive shopping window on Madison Ave. in New York.
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The interactivity factor takes the window beyond static digital signage by enabling customers to buy a limited edition of Polo tennis apparel, pay for it with a credit card and have it delivered to their homes. A card slide, the system's only external hardware, is located on the front of the window. And since it is located on the outside of the store, customers can shop 24 hours a day.
The orders are filled by polo.com. Shoppers are contacted the next day by email or phone to check payment information and arrange shipping.
Polo's window received national attention from the media when it was first deployed. Many local news outlets and Web sites wrote stories and Good Morning America featured a segment on the window.
In November 2006, the window was launched at Polo's flagship store on Michigan Avenue in Chicago, this time with an alpine skiing theme. In addition to purchasing Polo ski gear, customers could access live weather and ski conditions, read profile of the Aspen ski patrol and get style advice for the slopes.
The next deployment came in summer 2007, when the window was once again used by Polo as part of tennis promotion. This time, a 78-inch window was placed in the London Polo store and was geared toward the Wimbledon tournament. The campaign was promoted by 1985 Wimbledon champion Boris Becker. The window advertised more Polo tennis wear, gave live score updates from the event and offered tennis tips, one of them being the forehand drive, a diving move that made Becker a star.
Exhibitors vote for USPS line-buster
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The Postal Service has deployed 2,500 APCs since 2004.
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The United States Postal Service was the People's Choice Winner for Self-Service Street, a strip of interactive booths located at the back of the exhibit hall. Unlike the other Excellence Awards, the People's Choice winner is voted on by the Expo's attendees, not the expert judges.
At its Self-Service Street booth, the government agency set up a mock post office branch, complete with a self-service kiosk. The Automated Postal Center (APC) was part of a 2004 initiative by the USPS to integrate self-service to cut wait times. Since 2004, 2,500 APCs have been rolled out.
The APC dispenses stamps, which the USPS says is the overwhelming majority of transactions conducted at post offices. In addition, APC customers can access most of the services available at the counter, including shipment of first class parcel, ZIP code lookup, weighing and rating packages up to 70 pounds and delivery confirmation service.
Prices for shipping and stamps are the same as at the postal counter and there is no additional charge for using the APC.
Michael C. Adams, retail service equipment project manager, said that in the first two fiscal quarters of this year APCs have processed 22 million transactions.
"We have had a lot of success with the Gen X and Gen Y age groups. But even with older people, once they use it, they like it," Adams said.
USPS Delivering and Retail vice president Bill Galligan says APCs could do for postal centers what ATMs did for banking.
Thursday, 09 August 2007
KCCI-TV, Channel 8 (Des Moines, Iowa): This Iowa Republican Straw poll is being challenged. That comes from a national group that is threatening legal action over the voting machines that the Republican Party of Iowa is using.
Read more
Thursday, 09 August 2007
Dayton (Ohio) Business Journal: NCR Corp. is planning to open a 40,000-square-foot customer-briefing center in Manhattan. Lorraine Russell, NCR spokeswoman, confirmed the company has signed a deal for office space in New York, but plans are still preliminary. The location of the office will be the 35th floor in the rebuilt 7 World Trade Center, according to a media report.
Read more
Thursday, 09 August 2007
The (New Zealand) National Business Review: If you find it embarrassing buying libido-enhancing vitamins, hemorrhoid cream, incontinence products and condoms, you are not alone. A new survey commissioned by NCR Corp. has found those items to rank at the top of the purchase-embarrassment charts. The company says fear of the checkout operator's stare is going to help drive the uptake of its new generation of self-service checkout systems.
Read more
Thursday, 09 August 2007
The Wall Street Journal: When the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport was planning a new concourse, prime tenant Alaska Airlines insisted on a counter-intuitive design: "The one thing we don't want is a ticket counter," said Ed White, the airline's vice president of corporate real estate. So the 447,000-square-foot Concourse C, which opened in 2004, has only one small, traditional ticket counter, even though the carrier's 1.2 million Anchorage passengers checked in through that area last year. This unconventional approach · which uses self-service check-in machines and manned "bag drop" stations in a spacious hall that looks nothing like a typical airport · has doubled Alaska's capacity, halved its staffing needs and cut costs, while speeding travelers through the building in far less time.
Read more (Registration required.)
Wednesday, 08 August 2007
DAYTON, Ohio · NCR Corp. has made a minority investment in Silicon Valley-based ViVOtech Inc., provider of payment terminals and software, to incorporate ViVOtech's contactless-payment and near-field communications systems into its next-generation platforms. NCR says it also will collaborate with ViVOtech for distribution deals of the technology.
According to a news release, ViVOtech's contactless payment systems, combined with its other technologies, including NFC-related mobile payments, promotions and over-the-air provisioning software, allow consumers to make a wide range of contactless payments and identify themselves as they conduct self-service transactions.
NFC technology provides short-range wireless connectivity that enables mobile phones to electronically interact with payment systems for a variety of transactions, including those at the point of sale, ATMs and kiosks.
As part of the deal with NCR, ViVOtech will supply contactless technology and NFC-mobile-transaction software for a variety of NCR's current solutions on a global basis.
Wednesday, 08 August 2007
BENTONVILLE, Ark. · Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Sequoia Media Group announced the launch of myMovieMaker, a new product available at all Wal-Mart stores that transforms consumer digital photos into DVD movies. Consumers can create personalized DVD movies in the store using a photo center touchscreen kiosk.
The solution automatically creates the DVD movie with personalized case cover, DVD label and thumbnail insert.
Developed by Sequoia Media Group, the product line uses themed storyboards. More than 50 movie themes are available.
myMovieMaker DVD productions can contain up to 40 personal photos.
Wednesday, 08 August 2007
BOSTON · Research report "Killer Kiosks: Redefining the Customer Experience Through Self-Service," published by Aberdeen Group, reveals that 88 percent of the companies surveyed for the report improved customer satisfaction by using self-service. Another 63 percent also said customer-conversion rates have improved since the adoption of kiosks.
More than 260 of Aberdeen's Best-in-Class companies were surveyed.
According to the report, customer-service interaction and brand differentiation are the top factors driving kiosk adoption. Aberdeen has identified self-pay, self-order and self-help as the three primary kiosk offerings available for improving customer experiences. Specifically, 56 percent of Best-in-Class companies are enhancing self-service customer touchpoints through a collaborative process of store workflow planning and kiosks.
Ultimately, the primary objective for most companies is to improve revenue by exceeding customer expectations. Results show that 47 percent of the companies surveyed have attained a return on investment within 3 years of deployment.
If you would like a copy of the report please contact Steve DeFusco at Aberdeen: or (617) 854-5318.
Wednesday, 08 August 2007
BEAVERTON, Ore. - Planar Systems Inc. recorded sales of $68.2 million and a GAAP loss per share of $0.24 in the third quarter, which ended June 29, 2007.
"During our third quarter we made some significant progress in pursuit of our strategic goal to transform Planar into a growing specialty display product supplier," said Gerry Perkel, Planar's president and CEO.
Industrial segment sales in the third fiscal quarter were $14.8 million, up five percent sequentially and down 28 percent compared with the third quarter of fiscal 2006. The company has been investing in additional product development, sales and marketing resources to seek out and capture new design wins to slow the decline and ultimately begin to grow sales in this segment.
The third quarter of 2007 represented the first sequential revenue growth in more than a year. The company expects sequential growth to continue in the fourth fiscal quarter and for the full fiscal year in 2008 as sales associated with new design wins increase.
Sales in the Planar's Commercial segment were $19.1 million, up 11 percent sequentially and up 6 percent versus the third quarter a year ago. The increase was due to sales in new product categories including touch monitors and business projectors reflecting the company's strategic shift to higher-margin products in this segment.
In the short term, Planar's expectations for the fourth quarter, ending September 28, 2007, are for sales of $75 million to $79 million and non-GAAP net loss per share of $0.05 to $0.00.
Tuesday, 07 August 2007
MONTREAL · iGotcha Media, providers of turn-key interactive digital signage solutions, announced the launch of an interactive window display at Garage's flagship Montreal store, located at the corner of Peel and St-Catherine streets. Garage is a shopping destination for fashion-savvy girls.
The Garage interactive display consists of a 60-inch image that is projected onto an interactive touch-foil affixed to the inside of the window. This advanced foil provides a touchscreen interface and makes the application responsive to touch from the outside.
Upon touching the window, a menu of interactive options allows the user to access detailed product information, log onto the Garage Web site and contribute to message board discussion groups. When not in use, promotional videos and fashion photos are displayed.
"We are delighted to be showcasing iGotcha's interactive touch screen at our flagship Montreal store," said Anna Martini, president, Groupe Dynamite. "As a retailer catering to teenagers and young women, we believe that this state of the art medium is ideally suited to our market. Our clientele is incredibly active online and we believe that they will respond very favorably to this innovative campaign because it is informative, technologically sophisticated and a lot of fun."
Tuesday, 07 August 2007
The Manila Bulletin: Self-service banking is slowly but surely getting interest from major Philippine banks, which are continuously looking for ways to improve customer service and increase revenue streams. NCR Corp. executives from an Asia Pacific banking conference in Singapore said self-service banking goes beyond transactions that are conducted over the ubiquitous ATM.
Read more
Tuesday, 07 August 2007
MAITLAND, Fla. · Patients at the Georgia Heart Center, a service of the Medical Center of Central Georgia in Macon, Ga., can now check in for medical appointments using kiosks. The heart center is the first MCCG department to deploy MediKiosk, a patient check-in solution provided by Galvanon, an NCR Corp. company.
MCCG serves the residents of central and south Georgia, with a service area of 28 counties that represents a population of approximately 750,000. The Medical Center has approximately 5,000 employees and a medical staff of more than 500 physicians.
Other prominent MediKiosk deployments have occurred in Texas, Illinois, New York, North Carolina and Florida.
"It is clear that our self-service approach enhances the patient experience," said Jane Gray of MCCG. "When we went live, we received an overwhelmingly positive response from our patients, a majority of whom are senior citizens. In addition, MediKiosk works seamlessly with our existing IT systems, enabling us to streamline the registration process, improve our workflow and collect co-pays at check-in."
Later this year, MCCG also expects to deploy MediKiosk at its new Albert L. "Buddy"� Luce Heart Institute.
Research suggests that MediKiosk decreases registration time by 75 percent and increases patient throughput by 10 percent. More than 90 percent of patients who have used the kiosks nationwide are satisfied with their experience.
Tuesday, 07 August 2007
The Charlotte Observer: The screens will be a little bigger, and the color will be a little lighter. Those are among the small changes that travelers who use US Airways' kiosks at Charlotte, N.C.'s airport may notice the next time they check in for a flight. The 30 kiosks · 26 are being replaced, and four are new · have 17-inch screens, compared with the 15-inch screens used now. The kiosks also will come in a lighter blue to match recently painted jets and new uniforms planned for next year, said US Airways spokeswoman Michelle Mohr.
Read more
Monday, 06 August 2007
CORONA, Calif. · Automated Vending Technologies Inc., manufacturer of advanced vending technology, announced the conclusion of an initial round of comprehensive digital signage field tests. The tests demonstrate a dramatic improvement in sales in the 10 vending systems equipped with AVT's custom personal computers loaded with proprietary digital signage software displaying flash advertisements, including advertisements for Otis Spunkmeyer, 5 Hour Energy and Tropicana.
The featured ads appeared on highly visible widescreen LCD displays. The field tests utilized 20 vending machines filled with identical merchandise but 10 of the systems were equipped with AVT's digital signage software displaying flash advertisements.
"We very closely and consistently monitored the sales of all our vended products by location, season and brand, among other variables. We had significant spikes in sales for nearly every product that was being directly advertised on the 10 LCD equipped vending systems," said Bobbi Church, vice president of operations for Automated Vending Technologies. "We need to look closely at bringing this innovation to all 900 machines we presently have in the field."
Monday, 06 August 2007
 MediaTile is the world`s first provider of cellular digital signage networks that are collectively controlled by centralized broadcast portals. With the MediaTile patent-pending solution you can now easily and cost-effectively create over-the-air commercial networks to influence millions of consumers where and when they make their purchase decisions and brand choices.
The MediaTile solution is a breakthrough for entrepreneurs and organizations looking to build advertising, promotional, or informational networks because it eliminates the number one barrier to building digital signage networks: costly and complex on-site infrastructure.
The MediaTile solution is the only turnkey solution available to narrowcasters, agencies, brands, and retailers for creating and controlling their own on-air commercial network.
Monday, 06 August 2007
Video Business: Independent rental stores are trying new tactics, including lower prices, longer rental periods and more DVDs stocked for sale, in a stepped-up effort to battle the $1 pricing of Redbox and other kiosks.
Read more
Monday, 06 August 2007
The Southern Illinoisan: At the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd in Dallas, parishioners have signed up to give tithes and offerings automatically through a kiosk that lets people swipe credit or debit cards as they're entering or leaving worship.
Read more
Monday, 06 August 2007
After security checks, long flights and baggage claims, the last thing travelers want to do is wait in another line at the airport. Fortunately self-service is making its way to end of the air travel gauntlet in the form of car-rental kiosks.
The company with the most car-rental kiosk deployments thus far has been Vanguard Car Rental USA Inc., operators of the National Car Rental and Alamo Car Rental brands. Vanguard's self-service kiosk deployment earned the company the Industry Deployer of the Year Award at Self Service Expo in April. The award was given at an awards ceremony at the Mandalay Bay convention center in Las Vegas.
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Vanguard's new ad campaign focuses on using kiosks to cut down wait times.
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Susan Palazzese, vice president of business development for Vanguard, said that the company is currently operating 262 kiosks; 152 at Alamo locations and 110 at National locations. The rollout began in November 2006 after several successful market tests in Jacksonville, Fla., Las Vegas and Dallas.
Alamo Rent a Car, characterized by its blue and yellow color scheme, is geared toward families and leisure travel. National's customers are mainly business travelers.
Palazzese said that Vanguard sees kiosks as a way of cutting down wait time and lines to improve customer experience, as well as a way to differentiate the Alamo and National brands in a commoditized market.
Research supports their beliefs. A survey entitled "NCR Queue Review" from NCR Corp. found that waiting in line to rent a car ranked in the top 10 of customers most frustrating waits. A year after the first deployment, Palazzese reports that the kiosks decrease customer transaction time by 25 percent.
Alamo Rent a Car and National Car Rental locations are primarily in airports, where self-service is becoming more of a staple. "Travelers are already used to self-service at airports with online check-in and ATMs," Palazzese said.
Vanguard is the first company in the car rental industry to offer their customers self-service kiosks to completely replace the employee in the transaction. Recently other car rental companies, such as Hertz, have planned to roll out kiosks this year.
"Everyone is using loyalty and other programs for promotion," Palazzese said. "We wanted to stand out by using technology to offer customers a self-service option."
Although neither Alamo nor National has tracked the incremental profits or losses of having the kiosks, Vanguard reports that the customer response has been very positive. Managers and employees at Alamo and National branches have also been pleased.
"This has been a very quiet deployment," Palazzese said. "We haven't seen a lot of problems."
The deployment may be quiet it is by no means a soft launch. Vanguard, in conjunction with Fallon advertising agency, began a national advertising campaign in March 2007 highlighting their kiosks as a way to skip the lines at their car-rental facilities.
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A scene from Vanguard's Alamo car rental kiosk commercial.
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The "Happy Trails" campaign is a series of TV commercials chronicling the adventures of Al, a beaver and Mo, a buffalo. Al, the smarter of the two, is constantly trying to convince his bovine counterpart to use the Alamo kiosk and reject his herd instinct to wait in line with the others. Like the situation at most car rental locations, Al and Mo are the only ones at the kiosks and while the others form a long line at the counter.
"We have yet to see people put life into kiosks, like we have by using Al and Mo. We are very proud of these new ads and are delighted at the positive consumer reaction," Palazzese said.
Palazzese also said the campaign, including the TV commercials, airport signage and messages at the time of reservation, is designed to make people aware of the kiosks before they go to pick up their cars.
Click here and here to watch Alamo's commercials on YouTube.
The kiosk hardware for the Vanguard deployment was designed and built by KIOSK Information Systems. The model in the deployment is a variation of KIOSK's Stubby model kiosk, said KIOSK marketing manager Cheryl Madeson.
Vanguard's kiosk software was developed in a joint effort by Nanonation and Perot Systems, Vanguard's IT company. The software was designed to make the rental and transaction quick and easy, as Vanguard said its primary purpose it to cut down lines. Each screen has a progress bar for the transaction and a dynamic attract loop. The kiosk also suggests upgrades such as larger class cars, child car seats, GPS units and collision coverage.
Saturday, 04 August 2007
MELVILLE, N.Y. · Arrow Electronics Inc. has announced that it has completed its acquisition of Centia Group Ltd. and AKS Group Nordic AB for approximately $32 million, including the assumption of debt.
"We are excited by the opportunities that the acquisition of Centia/AKS, Europe's leading specialty distributors of access infrastructure, security and virtualization software solutions, brings to our enterprise-computing-solutions business," said Kevin Gilroy, president of Arrow Enterprise Computing Solutions. "This transaction further strengthens our strategic focus on the fast-growing software market segment and diversifies our product portfolio in the European region, just as Alternative Technology Inc. enhanced our capabilities in North America."
Centia/AKS has more than 120 employees throughout Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden. The joint linecard includes suppliers such as Citrix, VMware and RSA. Centia/AKS support value-added resellers in delivering solutions that optimize, accelerate, monitor and secure an enduser's IT environment. Total sales for 2007 are expected to exceed $120 million.
Friday, 03 August 2007
Travel Daily News: The first common-use self-service airline passenger kiosks deployed in Russia have been delivered by ARINC Inc. The nine check-in kiosks are installed at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport. Passengers on KLM Royal Dutch Airlines are already using the new kiosks, and other carriers are expected to join the common-use system in time for the summer travel season.
Read more
Friday, 03 August 2007
Washington Post: As digital kiosks become more user-friendly and capable of handling more complicated tasks, healthcare providers, fast-food chains and other businesses say trading face-to-face encounters for face-to-monitor transactions improves service and saves money. Yet the complexity of human decision-making and service expectations in different industries means any possible self-serve revolution is more likely to be a gradual transition. But opportunity is knocking: Armonk, N.Y.-based IBM's kiosk orders have quadrupled in the past four years.
Read more
Thursday, 02 August 2007
ORLANDO, Fla. · Hertz Corp. says it plans to roll out a new company that puts travelers in the driver's seat.
Simply Wheelz, which will operate under the Hertz brand, offers Web site reservations and a kiosk for car rentals and returns.
According to a news release, Simply Wheelz expected to start accepting online reservations for rentals by Aug. 1 in Orlando, Fla. On Sept. 1, Hertz customers will be able to use kiosks at airports fot book car rentals.
The rental kiosk scans a barcode from the printed Web reservation and scans the renter's driver's license.
Thursday, 02 August 2007
ZDNet: With hundreds of kiosks installed at more than 300 Hilton Hotels, Hilton's chief information officer says Hilton is using self-service to meet customer demands.
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Wednesday, 01 August 2007
ATLANTA · Radiant Systems Inc. and High's of Baltimore Inc. have announced plans to deploy multiple self-service kiosks in more than 50 High's Dairy Stores.
Customers can use the touchscreen kiosks to purchase menu offerings such as breakfast, subs, wraps, soups, salads and hand-dipped ice cream.
According to a news release, Radiant has deployed more than 5,000 self-service ordering kiosks with many convenience retailers in the country, enabling made-to-order sandwich programs, specialty coffee offerings and a variety of menus.
Wednesday, 01 August 2007
OAKBROOK TERRACE, Ill. · Redbox has been named the 2007 Specialist Retailer of the Year by the Entertainment Merchants Association.
According to a news release, the award recognizes outstanding contributions and performance in the DVD and video game industries. This year marks the first for an automated retailer to receive the award.
The award presentation followed redbox's 50 millionth DVD rental, which was checked out July 4.
Wednesday, 01 August 2007
DAYTON, Ohio · NCR Corp. reported revenue of $1.61 billion for the quarter ended June 30, 2007.
NCR reported second-quarter net income of $98 million, 54 cents per share.
"It's an exciting time at NCR," said Bill Nuti, NCR's president and chief executive. "We delivered our third consecutive quarter of 5 percent revenue growth and improved business results, while continuing to work diligently toward a successful strategic separation of NCR into two separate companies, NCR and Teradata."
NCR says it continues to work toward a plan to complete the Teradata spin-off, which is expected to be complete by the end of the third quarter. NCR announced plans to separate the two companies in January.
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