HP Places Photo Kiosks In Retail Chains Nationwide
HP has entered the $35 billion retail photo printing market with two offerings-the HP Photosmart Studio and the HP Photosmart Express, to be rolled out to top-tier retail chains nationwide.
The HP Photosmart Studio is the first and only in-store solution to allow people to create albums, calendars, CDs, greeting cards and posters with their digital photos in less than an hour. Simple and quick to use, the process does not require people to select, crop or place photos into templates on each individual page. Instead, hundreds of photos are laid out in minutes using proprietary image management algorithms developed by HP Labs.
The HP Photosmart Express station is the most advanced stand alone, self-service photo kiosk dedicated to producing 4 x 6-inch prints in as fast as five seconds. According to permanence testing, these prints will resist fading for well over 50 years -- two to 10 times as long as typical dye-sublimation-based retail systems.
“We’re leveraging our photo-printing leadership in the home to drive down the cost for retailers and to bring consumers more choice than they’ve ever had in stores,” said Vyomesh Joshi, Executive Vice President, Imaging and Printing Group, HP.
HP is working with retail partners to rollout thousands of HP photo solutions in a wide variety of locations such as mass merchandisers, club stores, supermarkets, drug stores, photo specialty stores, electronics stores, office product stores and less traditional photo service locations.
Cingular Places Kiosks In Gigante USA Supermarkets
As part of its ongoing effort to reach the Latino marketplace, Cingular Wireless has formed a partnership with Gigante USA Supermarkets to feature Cingular Wireless kiosks in Gigante stores across Southern California.
Gigante USA is a Hispanic Supermarket chain owned by the Grupo Gigante Mexico.
“Becoming an integral part of the Latino community means being visible and available in places like Gigante, where many of our customers already shop,” said Mauro Martinez, Director of Diversity for Cingular Wireless.
“Gigante is on a growth curve in Southern California and has aggressive plans for the future,” said Jack Deceliere, CEO for Gigante USA. “By featuring Cingular kiosks in our stores, Gigante is providing our shoppers with easy and convenient access to Cingular products and services.”
Electro-Voice Display Microphones
Electro-Voice has offered music retailers this counter display to demonstrate its line of handheld microphones.
Graphics on the display explain the features and benefits of each different microphone, while visually illustrating different applications.
Electro-Voice is a professional audio brand of Telex Communications, Inc., a leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of sophisticated audio, wireless, multimedia, broadcast and communications equipment for consumer, commercial, professional and industrial customers.
DigiTech Displays Guitar Signal Processor
DigiTech has created a unique point-of-purchase Demo Merchandising System to showcase its guitar signal processing products.
The new displays feature a self contained interactive modular tower and shelf that securely houses the DigiTech’s pedals and processors. The double-sided four-tier displays allow music customers to audition each processor. With less than a 10 sq. ft. footprint for the double-tower display and 4 sq. ft. footprint for the single-tower display, the DigiTech Demo Merchandising System can be easily updated as products are introduced.
“Our new merchandising centers are designed to help both our retail partners and consumers by increasing awareness of our complete range of DigiTech guitar processors,” said David Rohrer, Guitar Market Manager.
First Automated Convenience Store, Shop24, Opens In U.S.
All Seasons Services, a leading provider of dining, vending and office refreshment services with headquarters in Canton, MA, unveiled its first Shop24 automated convenience store unit in the U.S. recently at the State University of New York at Morrisville.
Shop24 offers 24-hour access to as many as 200 items, including anything from milk to a six-pack of soda, batteries, iPod download cards, and health and beauty aids, in a freestanding, self-service, outdoor kiosk.
Consumers are able to create a “Shopping List” and purchase products either with cash, ATM or credit and debit cards by entering the product code on an interactive screen. A robotic arm collects the product and delivers it to the ‘take-out’ gate all within 20 seconds.
Mark Bruno, President of All Seasons Services, said, “Shop24 provides a service-driven and exciting ‘self retail’ solution where you can purchase leading brands, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.” Machine activity will be monitored in real-time from a remote location utilizing proprietary technology.
Architectural Products By Outwater LLC has introduced motorized TV Lifts and complementary accessories to accommodate all formats and sizes of commercially available LCD, DLP and Plasma Screen Televisions and Computer Monitors. The TV lifts are useful for many display and exhibit applications.
For more information, contact Architectural Products By Outwater LLC, 24 River Road, P.O. Box 387, Bogota, NJ 07603; (Tel) 800-835-4400, 201-498-8787, (Fax) 201-498-8788, (Web Site) www.outwater.com.
The MediaTile Co. has introduced Digital-Sign-In-A-Box, a turnkey digital signage network solution that provides marketers with a jumpstart into “narrowcasting.” The unique promotional system integrates MediaTile “Smart Sign” digital displays with the Verizon Wireless EVDO™ broadband cellular network to instantly reach consumers with multimedia content at the point of decision. With Digital-Sign-In-A-Box, narrowcasters simply plug a MediaTile digital display into any power outlet and the system is instantly network connected through the Verizon Wireless BroadbandAccess network and controlled over the Internet through MediaTile’s secure web-based broadcast portal. The system requires no technical expertise, computer configuration or network setup. For more information, contact The MediaTile Co., 5900 Butler Lane, Scotts Valley, CA 95066; (Tel) 877-881-6900; (Web Site) www.mediatile.com.
Showcraft
P.O.P. Broadcasting Co., has announced the IntelaShelf,™ which reaches shoppers in a store with wireless advertising. The IntelaShelf is triggered by a shopper walking down the aisle to play a 10 second ShelfAd commercial. The devices run on a battery and operated by a remote server. Units may be placed on shelves, floor displays, coolers, etc. The IntelaShelf™ devices are interactive. Shoppers can be prompted to use their cell phone to dial a brand marketer directly to receive advice, product information or sales incentives. P.O.P. Broadcasting Co.’s real-time management system allows marketers to specify particular stores, choice of languages and times for the playing of commercials. For more information, contact P.O.P. Broadcasting Co., 410 Pierce Street, Houston, TX 77002; (Tel.) 866-767-7170, 832-476-9245; (Fax) 832-553-1087; (Web Site) www.popbroadcasting.com.
Avitra Corp. offers the PFDMR60 picture frame incorporating a field recordable digital message repeater that records and plays up to a 60-second message that will be stored in its internal memory. There are no moving parts in this unit; hence, no degradation of quality due to mechanical wear and tear. The message can be activated by a built-in push button switch. The unit operates on batteries. The unit is 10.25" (L) x 9.0" (W) x 1.75" (H). This unit can also be shipped with more memory for extended recording and play time. The unit may be hung on a wall or placed on a counter. Avitra Corp.
Also offers custom design and fabrication services. For more information about the PFDMR60 picture frame/digital message repeater, contact Avitra Products, 1567 South Cora Street, Des Plaines, IL, 60018; (Tel) 847-803-4832; (Fax) 847-699-3116; (Web Site) www.avitra.com.
IntelliMat Delivers Digital Ad Messages On Retail Floors
IntelliMat is a new patented, portable floor display that delivers video advertising messages to consumers at the point of their decisions.
The IntelliMat is a wireless computer embedded in a very thin mat made of a lightweight thermoplastic alloy with four LCD screens, creating a 30-inch diagonal display with full multi-media capability.
In addition, because each IntelliMat display is capable of becoming part of a network, it represents a new media network opportunity to reach consumers out of home.
For more information, contact Debra Saunders, Marketing Director, IntelliMats LLC, 3959 Electric Road, Roanoke, VA 24018; (Tel) 540-904-5670, (Web Site) www.intellimat.com.
Kodak Introduces Retail Printing System
Eastman Kodak’s newest retail printing solution, the KODAK Digital Picture System 900, gives retailers an affordable way to offer onsite printing of both digital and film media, thereby tapping into the rapidly expanding digital market, while also retaining important revenue from film customers as the market transitions.
The DPS 900 builds on the proven technology in Kodak’s Picture Kiosk family. Combining a 35 mm film scanner with Kodak’s Picture Kiosk G4 platform and 6850 and 8800 thermal photo printers, the DPS 900 provides a total photo solution for retailers.
Phil Faraci, President, Consumer Digital Imaging, Eastman Kodak, said, “This photo solution offers increased volume and additional revenue for retailers while providing a high quality printing solution for consumers.”
Xiosk Corp. Deploys Destination Station
XIOSK Corp., Morristown, NJ,-has deployed its new Destination Station to the Nice 'n Easy convenience store chain.
The Destination Station offers high-impact, interactive advertising video and multimedia via a 21" touch screen and stereo speakers as well as a thermal printer for printing on-demand instant coupons.
The Destination Station also provides directions to weary travelers. The user simply chooses a destination, presses the screen to print and goes. In addition to the directions, users walk away with manufacturer’s coupons, contest promotions, games and more, which can be integrated and printed directly from the Destination Station.
For more informationabout the Destination Station, contact Xiosk Corp., (www.xiosk.com) at P.O. Box 9244, Morristown, NJ 07963; (Tel.) 973-975-4122, (Fax) 973-401-1184; (Web Site) (www.xiosk.com)
Shurgard Storage Installs Insomniac Self-Storage Kiosks
OpenTech Alliance, a developer of self-storage kiosks, has deployed its Insomniac self-storage kiosks at Shurgard Storage Center facilities. OpenTech’s kiosks enable customers to rent units, make payments, purchase locks and update their accounts 24 hours a day.
Robert Chiti, OpenTech’s CEO, said, “We believe Insomniac will do for self-storage what ATMs and boarding pass kiosks have done for the banking and airline industries.”
GroundFX Interactive Ad Medium Rolls Out
The GroundFX system from GestureTek, a visual display that enables consumers to interact with advertising, is being rolled out across the U.S. It is being distributed nationwide by Monster Media, which licenses the new system through an expansive media network.
The advertising system draws consumers into each ad by using interactive video technology projected onto an eight foot (or larger) floor display, where consumers use a range of body motions to interact with dynamic animation. GroundFX also integrates sound to further immerse consumers into the environment. GroundFX advertisers have the unique ability to monitor customer reaction to their ads utilizing a proprietary built-in monitoring feature.
GroundFX system will be introduced into sports stadiums, entertainment venues, and convention centers. For more information contact GestureTek, (Tel) 800-315-1189, (Web) www.gesturetek.com; or Monster Media, (Tel) 407-323-1686, www.monstermedia.net.
Mall Food Courts To Feature Video Screens
Ceiling-mounted video screens have been placed in mall food courts across metro New York and Los Angeles, installed by the Clear Channel Digital Mall Network, a joint venture between Clear Channel Malls and Digital Advertising Network (DAN Media), a Montreal, Canada-based provider of large-format, digital screen networks.
The large-format, full-motion, multi-format video screens feature content from Yahoo! and 30-second commercials. A network involving 200 malls in the top 20 markets is planned.
For more information, contact Donna Baker, President, Clear Channel Malls, (Tel) 281-414-1573.
Simon & Smart Sign Launch Media System
Simon Brand Ventures, the business-to-consumer arm of Simon Property Group, and Smart Sign Media, (www.smartsignmedia.com), have launched advanced outdoor digital video systems at Simon Malls in GA and CA.
This mall medium features digital wall signage, entrance marquees and free-standing signs. Content will showcase a mix of mall-specific major brands, events and other mall-messaging. The signs range in size from 9 x 16 feet to 20x 30 feet.
Smart Sign will enable advertisers the chance to target messages to consumers in a variety of formats. The signs, situated at major thoroughfares adjacent to the Malls will be equipped with ‘smart’ technology that detects FM radio signals from passing motorists and adjusts ad messages to specific demographics. The network will also enable consumers to receive coupons via cell phone.
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