AT&T Stores Unveil Microsoft Surface Displays
AT&T is bringing Microsoft Surface(TM) technology to life in a retail environment, giving customers the ability to explore their mobile worlds using touch and device-recognition displays. Customers can experience Microsoft Surface in select AT&T retail locations, in major U.S. cities.
Microsoft Surface is a 30-inch table-like display that gives individuals or multiple people the opportunity to interact with devices and content by using touch, gestures and placement of devices on the display.
AT&T plans to harness the power of Surface to provide its retail store visitors with opportunities to learn about the growing universe of mobile applications and devices. The interactive touch displays will work without a traditional mouse or keyboard. Customers can review features of a particular mobile device by simply placing it on the display. Surface will recognize the device and provide a graphical overview of its capabilities. Customers can place two devices side by side on the unit and easily compare their features. Customers can view interactive coverage maps at the national, state, local or street level. Customers will be able to drag and drop ringtones, graphics, video and more by “grabbing” content with their hands from a menu on the display and “dropping” it into the phone.
“We are thrilled to bring this groundbreaking new technology to our stores so that we can introduce customers to their mobile worlds in a very personal and easy way,” said Ralph de la Vega, president and CEO, AT&T Mobility.
Borders Unveils First Concept Store
Borders has unveiled it’s first new concept store in Ann Arbor, MI, the first of 14 the company expects to open nationwide this year.
Borders Group CEO, George Jones, said, “We’ve stayed true to what our customers have always loved about Borders. Yet, we’ve brought a fresh new look and an exciting interactive dimension to the store with a Digital Center where customers can mix their own custom CDs, download books and music, explore their family history, and create photo books.” “In addition, we’ve put a strong focus on popular categories-including Travel, Cooking, Wellness, Graphic Novels and Children’s- making these sections of the store interactive destinations where customers can use computer kiosks featuring recommendations from our expert buyers, and related video content. There are large in-section LCD screens broadcasting content featuring some highly recognizable names in these subject areas,” Jones continued.
The new Borders is a bit bolder with a modern fascia featuring enormous windows and a louvered construction that evokes images of the pages of a book. Inside the store, curved feature tables highlight the latest book titles front and center. There are large, illuminated drums suspended from the ceiling that feature dazzling graphics and guide customers to destinations within the store.
Loblaw Supermarkets Feature moviecube Kiosks
The New Release is placing its moviecube DVD rental kiosk throughout Loblaw Companies Canadian grocery stores. The New Release (TNR) expects to install kiosks in over 350 Loblaw supermarkets by July 2008.
“moviecube has the dominant position in the grocery channel in the US, so expanding into Canada, where movie rental customers have shown a voracious appetite for DVD rentals, is a much-anticipated move for us,” said Tim Belton, CEO of The New Release.
“Loblaw is driven by innovation and value. moviecube is driven by the same principles and we’re thrilled to be their first Canadian partner, offering a great product at great value for our customers,” said Elizabeth Margles, Loblaw, V.P.
Hollywood Video Introduces In-Store Kiosk
Hollywood Entertainment is using this kiosk to increase the rental rate of each store’s Film Library. When consumers interact with the display, it provide the consumers with a list of suggested rentals from the library.
The use of powder coated metal for the kiosk enclosure allows for a sleek, but extremely sturdy display. The sleek look and ability to interchange the graphic panels allows the retailer many merchandising opportunities.
Movie library rentals have increased by 65% in store using the kiosk.
The Hollywood Video Guidance Kiosk was created for Hollywood Entertainment by Innomark Communications, a Fairfield, OH-headquartered point-of-purchase display firm.
Phoenix Kiosk Helps Renters Lease Apartments
Sequoia Equities and Tempe, AZ-based Phoenix Kiosk Inc. have completed a statewide deployment of self-service kiosks that enable apartment hunters to view area information, and interactive floorplans, and electronically reserve an apartment while in the leasing center.
L. Alan Work, CEO, Phoenix Kiosk, said, “Combining the ability to fill out a leasing application and review floor plans of units available save the renter and Sequoia staff members valuable time.”
Goodyear Tire Debuts Interactive Kiosks
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. is installing interactive kiosks at its nearly 2,000 independent and company-owned Gemini Automotive Care retail outlets. The kiosks, known as Interactive Learning Centers, seek to make complicated automotive systems easier for a consumer to understand. The kiosk employs motion images to demonstrate how major automotive systems operate, explaining the types of service and repair work needed to best maintain the vehicle.
“These kiosks will assist the consumer by clarifying a store’s service and product recommendations,” said Mark Boswell, Gemini program manager. “This system takes the Gemini program to a new level of communicating service needs.” “We expect visitors to these stores will appreciate the openness, and we believe this will result in an immediate improvement in customer satisfaction.”
Inwindow Outdoor Launches Motion Detecting Storefront Display For Toyota's Scion tC
Inwindow Outdoor, New York City, has created an interactive window display for the Toyota Scion tC featuring motion detection technology that allows passer-bys to affect the content seen in the window. The display was created in partnership with Monster Media, a digital media company.
The Scion tC is a limited release vehicle designed to appeal to the Generation Y market with numerous standard features and easily added option features. The Inwindow display uses sophisticated motion detecting technology to underscore the elusive nature of these cars, which are floating in bubbles that quickly disperse when a person approaches the display.
Showcraft
SprintStudio Store Designed To Revolutionize Customer Experience
Sprint has unveiled its new, flagship retail store, SprintStudio, a contemporary-designed, interactive wireless store in Kansas City.
Paget Alves, President, Sales & Distribution, Sprint, said, “SprintStudio allows our customers to take time to explore the many compelling ways that Sprint's wireless services can be used-for running a business, running a home or just for entertainment.”
The store features a Digital Lounge, complete with one-of-kind, multi-touch tables that allow customers to interact with animated orbs of light that bubble up to the table's surface, and when touched bring to life the wealth of media content and services available on the Sprint network. Video screens wrap around the perimeter of the store.
“SprintStudio serves as a one-of-a-kind retail experience, designed to bring a more interactive experience to the customer,” said Alves.
MediaTile has unveiled an all-in-one digital signage and kiosk solution with integrated cellular-broadband networking and web-based management. The new system, MediaTile Kiosk-in-a-Box(TM), delivers the full impact of a large screen digital signage system and the interactivity of a kiosk system in one integrated package. Now, in one easy to deploy and use environment, retailers and brands can attract consumers to their kiosk, using video and flash playlists on a high-definition, wide-screen display, while still having all the interactivity required for their kiosk-based application. For more information, contact MediaTile, 5900 Butler Lane, Scotts Valley, CA 95066; (Tel) 877-881-6900; (Web) www.mediatile.com.
NextWindow, Ltd., an international leader in optical touch screen technology, offers its proprietary optical touch technology 2400 Series Overlay, which can turn most large monitors (32"+) into an interactive touch screen without tools and without voiding a manufacturer's warranty. NextWindow also offers a 2100 Touch Screen Kit, which is designed to be incorporated into a client’s custom enclosure. For more information call 1-866-870-9733 or visit www.nextwindow.com.
Madix Inc., has introduced Easel,™ a patent pending interactive shelf front sign channel. The Easel combines both TV broadcasting and interactive selling material in one unit. It can also be used to print coupons, receipts, or shopping lists at the shelf’s edge. The unit is less than 4" tall in normal shelf widths and depths of both odd and even increments. Any combination of electronic devices (touch screen, thin client,computer or media player, speakers, color printer, magnetic card reader), can be utilized. For more information, contact Madix Inc., P.O. Box 729; Terrel, TX 75160; (Tel.) 800-776-2349; (Web) www.madixinc.com.
Focus America Group has introduced the Cash U-Tray using battery sensor technology to promote products at the cash register. Go Green technology with battery operation allows for touch and glow enhancement of client's brand, message, or logo. The touch and glow cash tray allows the consumer to receive money back on this attractive tray. The second the money touches the tray, it begins to glow; take money off tray, and it stops. For more information, contact Focus America Group, 10328 Highlands West Drive, Escondido, CA 92029; (Tel) 1-800-803-8808, (Web) www.focusdisplay.com.
Digital Pro Images offers a variety of banner stands which can be purchased with or without graphics. Digital Pro Images combines state of the art printing capabilities in-house with a wide variety of quality presentation systems, including banner stands, table throws, tabletop displays, back wall exhibits, tension fabric structures, hanging signs, and lightboxes. For more information, contact Digital Pro Images, 390 Winkler Drive, Alpharetta, GA 30004; (Tel.) 678-990-9495; (Web) www.digitalproimages.com.
Artisan Complete has introduced nCAP, a digital merchandising solution with a fully modular design that supports multiple configurations and branding elements; high definition, full motion content on a 24" LG monitor; remote content management and reporting using Broadsign's industry leading digital signage software over a secure Internet connection; flexible interactive content navigation that enables shoppers to choose the information most relevant to them; and revolutionary media impression measurement through facial recognition software from Cognovision. For more information, contact Artisan Complete, 331 Amber St., Markham, Ontario L3R 3J7; (Tel) 905-475-2630, (Web) www.artisancomplete.com.
Unicast, a division of Enliven Marketing Technologies Corp. has introduced Unicast Fusion3D, a high definition digital marketing technology that allows for the projection of freeform three-dimensional holograms for exhibits and events. Fusion3D content can include dynamic animated holograms, 3D objects and live performers, which can interact with one another. The Fusion3D product was specially designed to be a high impact visual medium for marketing in retail store windows, trade shows, conferences, and other marketing venues. Life size hologram presenters can appear and interact with 3D products or animated graphic images to promote a store, product, or brand. For more information, visit the Enliven web site at www.enliven.com.
Reactrix And Samsung Launch WAVEscape
Reactrix Systems has joined with Samsung to launch a revolutionary interactive large-format advertising platform - WAVEscape.™ The companies have married Samsung’s LCD digital signage display technology with Reactrix’ immersive interactive technology. The interactive display technology can be triggered from 15 feet away as the display content responds to consumer movement to entice further interaction.
Hilton Hotels & Resorts plans to implement the futuristic interactive flat panel technology at its hotels offering its guests a new way to interact with the hotel's wide array of services.
New Cellular South Store Features Giant Phone
A five-foot rotating translucent Cellular South phone is among the groundbreaking Intava® digital displays showcased at the new CellularSouth.com concept store in Ridgeland, MS.
Intava, Bellevue, WA, provided Cellular South with the larger-than-life phone image, projected onto holographic film with full-motion video elements and 40 dynamic product information screens, or “Digital Fact Tags.” The 7" high-resolution Digital Fact Tag screens show up-to-date information on each Cellular South handset.
Intava’s management platform allows Cellular South to easily update their screens with new product data, images, video and messages.
“Cellular South customers will experience the company’s complete product line like never before,”" said Troy Carroll, Intava CEO. "The giant translucent phone display grabs customers' attention while the Digital Fact Tags satisfy their need for crisp, clear and current product information.”
Provision Launches 3DEO Reward Centers
Provision Interactive Technologies (www.provisionentertainment.com) is rolling out its 3DEO Reward Centers in West Coast grocery stores. The 3DEO kiosks use 3D holographic video to draw consumer attention to featured products and are able to dispense coupons and in-store promotions.
The 3DEO Reward Centers utilize Provision’s Holo™ 3D technology which projects high resolution videos into space. The 3DEO Reward Centers are available in a large large version with a 40-inch 3D holographic display and dual touch screens, and a smaller version with a 17-inch 3D display and a single touch screen.
In addition to streaming 3D videos, the kiosks are transaction terminals where customers can be rewarded with promotions, sweepstakes and coupons.
“Our 3DEO Reward Centers provide advertisers a unique way of breaking through the clutter,” said Curt Thornton, CEO, Provision Interactive.
Tabletop Media Unveils Wireless Device For Casual Restaurants
Tabletop Media (www.tabletopmedia.com) has unveiled a wireless, interactive tabletop device with next-generation pay-on-demand capabilities. The solution offers Dynamic Content Delivery, increasing consumer interaction via digital promotions. It also offers Real-Time Feedback and Infotainment with information, movie trailers and ticket purchasing.
“The capability to deliver relevant content to more than 400 million captive viewers per month, at the point of purchase creates a significant opportunity for our partners,” said Jack Baum, CEO of TableTop Media.
Evincii Provides Search And Ad Platform For Mass Retail Chains
Evincii is a new provider of in-store search and advertising software solutions for mass merchant, drug store, and supermarket chains. Evincii’s proprietary Search Engine in the Store(TM) technology platform recommends relevant products to shoppers in brick-and-mortar stores.
The first application of Evincii's Search Box is PHARMAssist(TM), which guides and advises shoppers in the over-the-counter medicine category. PHARMAssist engages and guides in-store shoppers via an interactive touch-screen. For more information, visit www.evincii.com.
Infiniti Kiosk Ties Into History Channel’s ‘City Of The Future’
Infiniti recently sponsored the City of the Future: A Design and Engineering Challenge in celebration of the History Channel® series, “Cities of the Underworld”. At each of the design competition events, Infiniti offered a cutting-edge “augmented reality” kiosk. Consumers were able to see themselves on the kiosk's display screen, but when they held special cards in front of the screen, they instead saw themselves interacting with a fully rendered 3-D Infiniti EX. The virtual vehicle reacted to their movements while also educating them on key features of this new car.
“We are thrilled to be the first automaker to introduce this groundbreaking, augmented reality technology. What better environment to reveal this futuristic thinking than the History Channel’s “City of the Future” challenge,” said Ben Poore, V.P., Marketing, Nissan North America.
Minute Maid Debuts Squeeze Play Area At Minute Maid Park
Minute Maid, a subsidiary of Coca-Cola, recently introduced a new “Squeeze Play” area at Minute Maid Park in Houston, TX.
Among the experiences are two interactive baseball games provided by the virtual reality entertainment experts at Amusitronix: “Full Count,” a virtual pitching game, and "Swing Away," a home run derby competition.
The “Squeeze Play” area is open to all Houston Astros fans attending games during the baseball season.
Amusitronix (www.theVRguys.com), (Tel) 800-643-0589 is a special events and entertainment rental company specializing in virtual reality and interactive games.
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