DailyDOOH

A touch of Schadenfreude for the Friday (and probably Le Weekend) and maybe a tad of Monday too!!!

We wouldn’t normally sent you to a competitive site but try browsinghttp://www.aka.tv/

Domain Name: AKA.TV Registrar: ENOM, INC. Whois Server: whois.enom.com Referral URL: http://www.enom.com Name Server: NS1.INFOGRATION.COM Name Server: NS2.INFOGRATION.COM Status: ACTIVE Updated Date: 19-mar-2010 Creation Date: 18-mar-2004 Expiration Date: 18-mar-2011

When choosing a name registrar, make sure that: -

1. they warn you via email of impending expiration
2. You pay attention to those emails!!!!!

‘Del Digital Signage’ has a good ring to it and following on from our PolyCom story yesterday, news reaches us, thanks to our intrepid readers, that Dell could, as well, be “getting into digital signage in a big way”.

Dell, we are told are staffing a new division in Austin TX.

Visix Inc., Atlanta, has launched MeetingMinder 1200i, an interactive room sign line.

The product has a 12″ surface-mount option with touchscreen capabilities, event scheduling support for Dean Evans & Associates EMS Software, Microsoft Exchange and support for multiple operating systems.

The MeetingMinder 1200i is a sleek, surface-mount display with an attractive low-profile depth of 1.02-inches and weighs less than four pounds. Surface mounting eliminates the need to penetrate the wall, install a UL-certified back-box housing, and recess the room sign. (Plenum air space requirements are no longer a factor in surface-mount applications, thus reducing the cost of the deployment.)

Visix offers a full range of architectural accessories to complement MeetingMinder room sign installations, including decorative covers and recessed wall enclosures in a variety of colors and finishes to complement clients’ décor.


The products replaces a 10.4” model which, says Ellyce Kelly, Visix public relations spokesperson, which did not have a UL-certified mount. Kelly says that the 12″ model is also thinner and lighter weight. The browser-based interface allows users to create and manage content from any PC or browser-compliant device on the network or via the web. A single Visix Enterprise server is capable of supporting up to 4,000 MeetingMinder room signs.

The company is targeting the new 12″ model mainly at the corporate, hospitality, higher education and healthcare markets.

Minneapolis-based Wireless Ronin Technologies reported revenue in 2009 of $5 million compared to $7.4 million for 2008, blaming the 32% decline due to certain customers choosing to directly source displays and media-players, as well as lower revenue generated from Chrysler and BBDO Detroit, at that time the advertising agency for Chrysler.

The decline was partially offset by a 24% increase in sales of the company’s RoninCast software. The company’s net loss in 2009 totaled $10.2 million compared to $20.7 million in the prior year. The improvement in the company’s net loss from 2008 to 2009 was primarily the result of the company’s cost saving initiatives, which started during the fourth quarter of 2008 and continued to be implemented through the first half of 2009.

James Granger, president and CEO, Wireless Ronin, says, “2009 was a year of significant challenge as most of our customers were dealing with very constrained capital budgets during the economic downturn. We knew we had to focus on operational execution to position ourselves for growth in 2010, so in 2009 we laid the groundwork by focusing on several aspects of the company.

“We significantly reduced our operating costs and quarterly cash burn and expanded our customer base. We also shifted our sales strategy to concentrate on selling higher margin offerings to improve our gross margin percentage and greatly increase our recurring revenue base, which grew fivefold from January to December of 2009. Lastly, we strengthened our balance sheet by successfully raising $6.9 million of cash in a registered direct stock offering and, in March, 2010, we secured the availability of a $2.5 million line-of-credit with Silicon Valley Bank, giving us $12.7 million of cash and zero debt at the end of 2009.”

Looking at the fourth quarter of 2009, Wireless Ronin reported revenue of $1.5 million for the fourth quarter of 2009, a 19% decrease from $1.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2008. As of Dec. 31, 2009, the company had received purchase orders totaling approximately $1.1 million for which it had not recognized revenue, including a $0.5 million order from Chrysler. The decline in revenue year-over-year was primarily the result of lower revenue generated from Chrysler and BBDO Detroit.

During the fourth quarter, the Company received and recognized revenue on a $0.4 million order from a major food service provider which included approximately $0.1 million of the RoninCast software. The Company received the $0.5 million order from Chrysler for additional product enhancements for the iShowroom web-based system – expected to be delivered over the first half of 2010.

RoninCast software sales were up 47% in the fourth quarter of 2009 from the same period a year ago. The Company also reported a fourth quarter net loss of $2.2 million compared to a net loss of $6.9 million in the year-ago period.

The year-over-year improvement in net loss for the fourth quarter of 2009 primarily resulted from reductions in the workforce taken in the fourth quarter of 2008 and other cost saving initiatives instituted during the first half of 2009.

The full report for Q4 and 2009 is available on Wireless Ronin’s website at www.wirelessronin.com.

In a major introduction that extends advanced 3D technology to cinema environments of various sizes, XpanD, Los Angeles introduced the XpanD ONE 3D solution at ShoWest 2010, the motion picture industry convention, this week in Las Vegas.

Designed for theaters with a maximum capacity of 150 seats, the XpanD ONE system gives owners of intimate cinema exhibition spaces and fully digitized multiplexes the opportunity to offer customers the same groundbreaking 3D technology found in the world’s largest and most popular multiplexes.

Maria Costeira, CEO of XpanD, says that the XpanD ONE system fulfills a specific need for smaller theaters.

“We understand that more intimate cinema venues are investing in 3D,” says Costeira.. “With an amazing lineup of 3D movies to be released in 2010, we also expect fully digitized multiplexes to increase their programming flexibility by adding a few small, 3D-ready theaters inside their multiplexes. The introduction of the XpanD ONE system now means that our revolutionary 3D technology is available to all exhibitors, regardless of theater size.”

The XpanD ONE is a single cable, plug and play IR controller and 150 pairs of XpanD active 3D glasses. The XpanD ONE can easily be moved from one theater to another in a fully digitized multiplex, turning all the secondary halls into 3D theaters, as movie programming requires. Like standard XpanD systems, XpanD ONE does not require a silver screen, provides the brightest 3D images, works with all DLP cinema projectors and is widely acknowledged for its theatrical 3D presentation.

Since introducing the X101 active 3D glasses in early 2009, XpanD has sold more than 2 million pairs around the world to some of the world’s most prestigious cinemas. The X101 Series glasses are based on XpanD’s ‘pi-cell’ technology, and feature environmentally friendly repeat usage, a power-saving auto on/off mechanism and solid construction for long-term, fully hygienic usage. With an extended product life of 5,000 shows per unit, XpanD provides exhibitors with the best return on investment with their 3D systems.

X6D Limited is a global company based in Ljubljana, Slovenia. whose products and services are marketed under the XpanD brand name. XpanD was created by industry veterans in theatrical exhibition, entertainment, film production and distribution, and specialty film and digital technologies. It is funded by a European investment fund. XpanD technology is used by over 2,700 3D cinemas in more than 50 countries and is the default 3D solution for many post-production houses, educational and professional 3D applications.

XpanD ONE is available for immediate sales.

The industry response to this week’s JDevents announcement that the event(s) formerly known as KioskCom Self Service Expo and The Digital Signage Show are to be renamed Customer Engagement Technology World and the April event moving from Las Vegas to San Francisco in 2011 in the Moscone Convention Center (the New York events in November will stay in the big apple) seems to have been overwhelmingly positive.

Dave Haynes was first to comment, writing over on his blog Sixteen:Nine “I agree with the observers about this being a smart move. I don’t think the Digital Signage Show thing really ever stuck, as most people just called it Kioskcom because it was quicker. … Technologies are converging and what the kiosk world calls an attract loop is a playlist in the digital signage world, and the interactive touch apps of the digital signage sector are the kiosk interfaces of that sector. This handle allows JD Events to get more squarely focused and also draw in complementary sectors like mobile and social media”

Ken Goldberg wrote on his blog “Getting out of Las Vegas will be a positive for the event, in my opinion. It is difficult for many companies, mine included, to justify running back to Vegas just a few weeks after DSE, which gets the jump on the annual calendar”

He continued “Changing the name is also a positive, as I never understood KioskCom, and The Digital Signage Show is generic, a mouthful”

The new name will start, beginning November 2010 in New York and the event will focus on the expanding role of customer engagement in business success and improved ROI; addressing topics that are more reflective of what the industry has become and where it is going.

Danna Vetter, associate vice president, ARAMARK Marketing Services was quoted in the official press release as saying “This evolution is a natural progression that many have been looking for and it’s encouraging to see JD Events come forward to drive the migration towards a more outcome-focused offering”

Lawrence Dvorchik, general manager for KioskCom Self Service Expo and The Digital Signage Show “For more than 14 years, we have educated individuals and organizations, stressing that kiosks, digital signage, mobile, and future applications will only find long-term success by delivering meaningful engagement to customers, creating stronger ROI”.

Bradley Walker, president and CEO of Nanonation, Inc. said “I think this is a very strong strategic move by JD Events. The new name and venue will breathe new life into the digital media conference arena because they both speak to where our industry is going and what we, as an exhibitor, need”

About JD Events

JD Events is dedicated to the creation of targeted and innovative industry-leading events that deliver unmatched results. The company brings together highly qualified buying audiences, education-rich content and high-level networking opportunities — all geared toward increasing business transactions in the markets it serves.

Rosh Ha’ayin, Israel-based TTI Team Telecom International Ltd., a global supplier of Operations Support Systems to communications service providers, will implement its Service Management solution at Mobile TeleSystems Russia, enabling the operator to anticipate service quality degradations before their effects reach the end user.

Mobile TeleSystems (MTS) is the largest mobile phone operator in Russia, servicing more than 91.33 million subscribers and providing mobile communications in Russia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Armenia and Belarus, with a total population of more than 230 million.

Vertigo Digital Displays Inc., Toronto, and Esprida Corporation, Weston, Florida-based pioneer in the field of remote device management, have announced a collaboration whereby, by embedding an Esprida Agent within the Vertigo Master Control Unit, network operators gain centralized access to functions relating to ambient light, temperature, power management, system performance, service issues and connected applications.

Vertigo designs, manufactures and delivers integrated media systems for ruggedized, digital signage solutions deployed in a variety of environmental conditions, including advanced display enclosures, as well as world-class street furniture, transit shelters and digital information kiosks. (See our Feb. 18, 2010 article, Ed.) With screens exposed to the effects of extreme cold and heat, direct sunlight, precipitation and vandalism, Vertigo’s remote management capabilities offer its customers a solution tailored to the unique requirements of out-of-home digital signage.

As an Esprida-powered platform, secure, role-based access can be granted to partners, clients, service companies and program management. The net result is a highly adaptive digital signage network that optimizes operational overhead and provides customers with a complete centralized view of its operations.

“With Esprida-integration, Vertigo will reduce maintenance costs and provide feedback to stakeholders about all aspects of the solution, further demonstrating Vertigo’s commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction,” says Anila Jobanputra, president and founder of Esprida Corporation. (Esprida software supports some of the largest self-service deployments in the world, including Kodak and Aisle7.)

Brad Gleeson, CEO of Vertigo Digital Displays, says that the Esprida Remote Management Business Solution extends Vertigo’s industry leading capabilities, allowing it to offer a more adaptable, scalable and comprehensive solution than ever before.

Those who listened to Wireless Ronin’s investor call today may have been struck by the “wonderful relationship” that they claimed to have with NEC/Vukunet.

The folks we spoke to have all been scratching their heads trying to figure out which company is damaged most by their association with the other?

WE THINK IT’S A TIE!!!

On another note we came across a RNIN reseller today looking for a new solution; he told us that the RNIN tools are so hard to use that RNIN throws in their own manual labour to do it, but their people are so inept that nothing ever works.

DLF Emporio is undoubtedly one of India’s Most Luxurious Shopping Destinations, located in New Delhi it houses 80 specialty retailers…

There is a large Barco LED, 9 large screen (17′ x 3.5′ made up by a number of 46″ Samsung LCD panels) and a myriad of Samsung 46″ (LED backlit) screens in portrait mode.

Software is Scala, won we are told against ‘free’ – that’s right, local supplier TruKnox pitched free we believe but Scala won (now that’s impressive – even more so for India, so hats off to Scala and their brand for reliability / quality and no doubt great local support).

Locals tell us that the response within the Mall has been very good – tenants like Hugo Boss are not surprisingly organising videos to go up on the video wall.

TDI International India Limited will be selling advertising on the digital network.