There will be no Daily Email Update today, normal service will be resumed Monday 6th July when we have a couple of big stories for you and throughout the week.

Lou Giacalone, Jr., President of CoolSign told us “CoolSign is committed to the reseller channel and providing them the support they need to be successful in the marketplace. In some regions, such as the Middle East with its rapidly increasing demand for Digital Signage, it became clear that the best way for us to deliver that support is via a regional VAR.”

Teo de Lange, Sales Manager for CoolSign EMEA told us “After 4 years of close co-operation with MxN in the region, we feel they have the requisite knowledge base and resources for sales, service and support to be the regional VAR for CoolSign. Their dedication and proven knowledge of the Digital Signage market and CoolSign made it easy for us to take this step. We’re now well positioned for continuous growth in the region.”

About MxN

MxN provides technology, consultation and content services to clients and customers throughout the Middle East, Africa and Asia. MxN has its corporate headquarters in Dubai’s prestigious Dubai Media City. MxN focuses on providing innovative, robust and flexible technologies that fuel the digital communications industry. MxN delivers solutions giving its partners and clients the ability to effectively communicate with their targeted audiences providing customizable digital marketing tools that include Digital Signage, Digital Ambient Music channels, Self Service Kiosk as well as Queue Management. We also distribute various hardware solutions for video distribution, KVM switches and IP Control Devices.

The MxN Network is powered by the most robust, flexible and scalable digital content management softwares in the market today. MxN designs and develops world class technologies that fuel the emerging digital communications industry. As this industry spans over the reach of many others, we understand that each business has its own individual needs. This is why we have developed all our products using flexible, modular architecture in order to provide powerful functionality with the ability to quickly deploy, modify, and upgrade your systems.

They have quite a nice line up so far, including our good friends Raad Raad (Managing Director, MxN) and Lou Giacalone Jr. (CoolSign).

If anyone is interested they should speak to Anita Milovac, the conference producer for the SIM conferences Digital Signage and Outdoor Advertising and request the ‘Creative Brief for Digital Signage’ and the current program.

Anita.Milovac@iirme.com

This is the second running of the show and will be held in the UAE capital Abu Dhabi from 18th to 20th October 2009 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC).

SIM is a combination of three vertical sectors; Signage, Imaging & Media in the form of an exhibition and three one-day forums providing a platform for manufacturers and suppliers to showcase products, solutions and services.

Focus sectors of SIM includes digital printing, signage, imaging – capture, storage, processing and output, digital media, outdoor media, new media, advertising and entertainment.

Screen media expo Europe are supporting the event this year – anyone interested in a SIM brochure and details of exhibiting packages should call them in the UK on +44 1733 559 461 or email info@screenevents.co.uk

The network’s due to roll out to a handful of new stores over the summer, in addition to the initial batch of installations that have already taken place in Coventry, Oldham, Long Eaton, Blackpool and Brislington and what we have seen to date has been quite good.

The Liquid Digital guys are producing all of
the content and we think supplying their own bespoke software playback engines.

With the demise of Tesco Screens it’s great to see, and important for the industry, to have a successful, well liked digital signage network associated with the retailer.

Anyway the Digital Media: Innovative Materials category recognized Scala and Soft Audiovisuel for their work in the auto manufacturer Infiniti’s showrooms throughout Europe (at the same awards event, Infiniti received the Gold award in the “Automobile” category for its showroom vehicle visualization and configuration I-View system)

The I-View project has been deployed in over 15 Infiniti dealer showrooms in Europe since 2008 and there are plans to reach 35 dealers during the rest of 2009.

Philippe Lemaire, Director, Scala France Sales told us “Infiniti’s implementation of digital media through its I-View showroom project represents a unique blend of the best Scala can offer. This project brings together the power and ease of implementation of Scala’s SaaS offering, the extensive project management capabilities of our partner Soft Audiovisuel, the unique interactive and high-quality content design abilities of Scala partner AS Video, Scala’s international project management expertise, and an experienced network of Scala partners throughout Europe to care for installation and maintenance”.

One thing that we particularly liked was that Infiniti has also emphasized the integration of I-View with specially designed furniture for each showroom which, together with ambient sound, provides a unique, high-quality and pleasant shopping experience for its customers.

About SOFT AUDIOVISUEL

Soft Audiovisuel is one of the principal Audio/Visual companies in the French market. With a national coverage of 15 agencies and an international network of over 300 collaborators, the Soft group offers 35 years of experience and expertise. Soft specializes in the consulting and implementation of services and audio/visual equipment and broadcast, with activities in France and throughout Europe. On the basis of its strong foundation as an Audio/Visual architect, Soft has developed a particular set of solutions for digital signage.

Anyway the business Play Instore that Tommy is involved with was at the In Store Show last week and seemed to make no secret that they are actively targeting Bruno Brooke’s Immedia’s client base.

Play Instore claim also to have a large London top 4 premiership football club about to sign up with them – now we wonder who that could be?

Let’s just say that sneak peaks, rumour, inside knowledge and hey! even gossip don’t come from embargoed press releases. If you want real insight, knowledge and opinion you know you need look no further than DailyDOOH

Earlier today we were the first to tell you about Neo Media Group’s new business eyeDooH out of China – that’s raised a lot of interest and a lot of consternation amongst (typically geographically focused) folks who specialise in this market sector (judging by emails and phone calls we have received).

Furthermore we reckon that STRATACACHE have at least THREE really big announcements happening shortly – these are ‘biggies’ and will really upset the apple cart in a number of places. Watch this space.

People are still very much interested in the Barco scoreboard on Centre Court and we receive a lot of Google search results for our story (this story as it happens – originally posted almost 12 months ago to the day).

Back in May 2008 in our post entitled, “W.i.m.b.l.e.d.o.n..S.c.o.r.e.b.o.a.r.d” we wrote…

… we are not happy that the organisers of Wimbledon are replacing a couple of the traditional dot-matrix scoreboards (picture shown) with giant video screens …. At the moment it is only the dot matrix scoreboards on Centre and Number One Courts that will be replaced but seriously, you can take this digital video lark too far!!

Actually on television, we haven’t got to Wimbledon AGAIN this year the new LED screens don’t look too bad – though we still think it is a shame that something traditionally very English and well known world-wide has completely disappeared.

Anyway for those interested in the new technology it’s Barco and very good it is too …

Barco keeps the score at Wimbledon

KORTRIJK, Belgium, 27 June 2008. Barco, a leader in visualization technology, is proud to announce that its OLite 612 LED displays have been selected by Creative Technology to replace the dot matrix scoreboards on Centre Court and No.1 Court at this year’s All England Lawn Tennis Championships at Wimbledon. From 23 June until 6 July, Barco’s LED screens will not only keep tennis fans on both courts abreast of on court scores but also entertain them with Hawk-Eye replays and other additional match information.

Last year saw the introduction of the Hawk-Eye system at Wimbledon and Barco’s OLite 612 LED screens were installed on No.1 Court to allow spectators to see the replays and judgment calls of the new electronic line-calling system. Following the successful trial in 2007, the 122nd Championships at Wimbledon will see the traditional scoreboards on both courts replaced by full color LED displays. The displays will not only replicate and expand upon the existing and familiar Wimbledon Scoreboard format, they will also display a variety of statistics, player profiles and as well as showing the all important Hawk-Eye replays.

The Championships will feature a total of 10 displays using Barco’s OLite 612 LED panels. In addition to the 4 on court scoreboards, 4 IBM ball speed indicators will also be upgraded using the same full color OLite 612 LED panels. The traditional IBM “Match Information Displays” outside Centre Court and in the newly redesigned Tea Lawn Area overlooking the new Centre Court balconies will also use the Barco OLite panels.

“We selected the Barco OLite 612 following a year long appraisal and testing process,” says Dave Crump, Business Development Director at Creative Technology, who have been a supplier to the All England Club since the mid 90s. “During the testing, Barco proved to be the best in overall performance,” continued Crump. “Among Barco’s OLite 612 main advantages were the superb graphic image quality, virtual silent operation and the unique modularity of the tiles enables us to build custom screens to exactly match the tight physical constraints of the venue”

The Barco OLite 612 LED display is a multi-purpose display suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. With a 12mm pixel pitch, 6,000NIT light output and 15 bit processing, the OLite 612 delivers an extremely high quality image. The use of SMD technology enables wide viewing angles and superb uniformity at very short viewing distances. Thanks to it outdoor IP65 rating the OLite panels can be used in all weather conditions. With its modular design, screens can also be customized to everyone’s unique requirement.

About Creative Technology

Creative Technology (CT) is the world’s leading supplier of LED display technology to international sporting events.Founded in London in 1986, CT has developed a global business with locations in the UK, USA, Germany, Dubai and China, providing state-of-the-art equipment to numerous high profile events.

About Barco

Barco, a global technology company, designs and develops visualization products for a variety of selected professional markets. Barco has its own facilities for Sales & Marketing, Customer Support, R&D and Manufacturing in Europe, North America and Asia Pacific.
Barco (NYSE Euronext Brussels: BAR) is active in more than 90 countries with about 3600 employees worldwide. Barco posted sales of euro 747 million in 2007.

On Sunday 19th July EnQii’s EMEA President, James Abdool is going to abseil 450 ft down Guy’s Hospital Tower, err the tallest building in London (that can be abseiled) to raise some well deserved funds for the Evelina Family Trust for their home away from home for families who have a child needing long-term treatment at Guy’s & St. Thomas’ hospital…

Ronald McDonald House – Evelina Family Trust Ronald McDonald House – Evelina Family Trust

The Ronald McDonald at Guy’s is an independent children’s charity providing free accommodation and caring support for families whose children are in hospital. Their stay can be from a few days to many months. The House provides a ‘home from home’ for parents with kitchen’s playroom and a secluded garden.
Charity Registration No 294248

James has already been pledged just under GBP 6,000 so he is well above his target but more sponsorship would not go amiss, see http://www.justgiving.com/jamesabdool

Good luck from all at DailyDOOH