News and Views

I’m delighted to announce that a new guide on 3G / 4G Cellular-based Digital Signage is now available from Digital Signage Today.  As the recognized leader in cellular digital signage, MediaTile has been the proud sponsor of this whitepaper for the past 5 years.

The new 2012 edition includes an expanded section on 4G services and additional information on the growth of M2M (machine to machine) initiatives from worldwide cellular carriers.  Given all the recent interest in, and growth of 4G networks, I expect that this new edition will be equally, if not more popular, than last year’s.

Last year, this whitepaper made the “Top 10 list of most popular downloads” each and every month from the Digital Signage Today site.  Another clear indication that there is tremendous interest in 3G and 4G-based digital signage solutions.  At MediaTile, we believe 4G is truly a “disruptive technology” as it has leveled the playing field between cellular networks and tethered LAN-based networks in terms of bandwidth.  You can now grab the equivalent of 3 to 5 T1 lines right out of the air.

For anyone interested in how 4G wireless broadband networks are expanding the addressable market for digital signage, download the “3G/4G Cellular-based Digital Signage” guide.   As always, we’re delighted to share our expertise in this dynamic and growing market.

This just in…  Our HumanKiosk has been recognized by the CMO Council as an emerging technology solution that can help brands and businesses localize their marketing programs to optimize sales effectiveness. Check out the full announcement.

Today’s news follows the CMO Council’s release of its “Localize to Optimize Sales Channel Effectiveness” research report, announced on Monday. It reveals that 86% percent of national marketers surveyed intend to look for better ways to modify, adapt and localize their marketing content, messaging and prospect engagement practices. Highlighted in this research were the “preferred” marketing mediums to achieve “localization,” which include interactive digital signage along with electronic messaging, and social networks over broadcast television, local magazines and other traditional B2C communications.

This is an important milestone for our industry, for MediaTile and our HumanKiosk and MediaCast Video Presence solution, as it highlights the core “needs” and business value which is driving the high demand and interest in the HumanKiosk digital signage solution. Simply stated, businesses (and brands) are being driven by both profitability and competitive positioning needs to deliver marketing programs that increase customer relevance and direct engagement.

For example, 67% of companies participating in the survey indicated that localized marketing strategies and programs would help them achieve greater customer relevance, response and return; while 40% reported they desired better customer conversations and connectivity.

Donovan Neale-May, executive director of the CMO Council, had this to say: "The HumanKiosk solution is a perfect fit for today's innovative brands and businesses seeking to localize their marketing efforts by connecting directly with consumers where and when they are making a considered purchase decision. The CMO Council's research, compiled from more than 300 member interactions across leading industry sectors, indicates that brands are moving to more targeted, personalized, interactive and measureable forms of local engagement - and the HumanKiosk does just that."

Here is the link to the CMO Council’s press release, and to their research report (fee based).   Click here for more information on the HumanKiosk Solution andMediaCast Video Presence.

Mike Foster
CMO and Co-Founder, MediaTile

Today, in a joint press release with Verizon Wireless, we announced support for 4G LTE on the commercial release of the HumanKiosk solution, powered by MediaCast Video Presence.  Since 2004 we’ve been working with Verizon Wireless to bring the advantages of “cellular digital signage” to our customers and partners – today we’re excited to have Verizon Wireless on board as an official eco-system partner for our revolutionary HumanKiosk and MediaCast Video Presence solution.

By leveraging the 4G LTE network, MediaTile extends its lead in delivering innovative, interactive digital signage solutions that transform traditional B2C communications into B2Me engagement.  The HumanKiosk does just this – it is the fusion of interactive digital signage with on-demand, virtual experts and face-to-face interaction.  With the integration of Verizon’s fast and reliable 4G LTE network, the HumanKiosk supports secure, high-definition, two-way face-to-face video conversations with nothing more than a power source on site.

You can read the full release here, but here are some quick facts about Verizon Wireless 4G LTE and the HumanKiosk from the announcement:  The Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network is the nation’s fastest, most reliable 4G network, covering more than 165 markets and providing speeds up to 10 times faster than Verizon Wireless’ 3G network.  The HumanKiosk is a result of collaboration fostered at Verizon Wireless’ LTE Innovation Center in Waltham, Mass. The LTE Innovation Center and the Verizon’s Innovation Program (www.innovation.verizon.com) provide an environment for diverse companies to work together to develop innovative products that leverage 4G LTE technology.  

Brian Higgins, vice president, Network Technology at Verizon Wireless had this to say:  “By combining the advantages of the HumanKiosk with the power and speed of Verizon’s 4G LTE network, in-field marketing and customer service can be changed dramatically.”   For more on the HumanKiosk solution visit our website here.  And if you haven’t yet seen our launch video yet, you can view it on youtube here.

Mike Foster
CMO, Co-Founder, MediaTile

Sprint is showcasing our latest and greatest HumanKiosk solution, powered by MediaCast Video Presence at the CTIA show in San Diego this week.  

Sprint has been one of the carriers supporting our HumanKiosk project – promoting it in their 4G launch events across the country, as a prominent element of their M2M Collaboration Center and in their Enterprise Briefing Center. Now that we’ve officially launched the HumanKiosk, Sprint is one of our eco-system partners helping to get the word to customers through their marketing and sales efforts. 

Yesterday, Sprint issued a joint press release with us, officially announcing support for Sprint’s 4G network with the HumanKiosk digital signage solution. Kevin Kunkel, a regional vice president for Sprint had this to say: “…[this] takes interactive digital signage and kiosks to a whole new dimension.”  While Wayne Ward, Sprint’s VP of Emerging Solutions said: “…[the] HumanKiosk solution is an amazing example of how companies are leveraging the Sprint 4G network to deliver innovative solutions that solve today’s business problems with new levels of efficiency and unbeatable economics.” Great stuff!

In other big news, Sprint announced last week that they will be supporting 4G LTE: “Sprint Accelerates Deployment of Network Vision and Announces National Rollout of 4G LTE”.  This is fundamentally the same technology base that we’ve been supporting through our Alcatel Lucent and Verizon eco-system partners.

If you haven’t yet seen our launch video, you can view it on YouTube.

Another incredible milestone for the digital signage industry, for MediaTile, for Verizon, and for our collective communities – which now officially includes “Susie’s Lemonade.” Verizon Wireless has just released the next installment of their nationwide TV ad campaign featuring Susie’s Lemonade as a growing business – and this ad features MediaTile’s cellular digital signage solution in her store! (Look closely and you’ll notice the tell-tale MediaTile antenna.)

It is really great to work with a company like Verizon Wireless, who completely “gets” the business value of our cloud-based, cellular digital signage solution. We’ve been working closely with Verizon Wireless since 2004, and have achieved numerous industry milestones with them.

With their ever-increasing efforts on M2M (machine-to-machine) business solutions, our 3G/4G Cellular Digital Signage solutions have gone main-stream (or main-street if you think of Susie’s Lemonade business).  Want to read more about the advantages of 3G/4G Cellular Digital Signage? Check out our site, or the industry whitepaper we sponsor with Digital Signage Today, which continues to be in their Top-10 List of most popular downloads, month-after-month.

How did this all come about?  Several months back, we received a request from Verizon Wireless to help them, and their agency, place a MediaTile cellular digital sign into the next Susie Lemonade commercial, and, the rest is history! Take a few moments to watch the entire commercial. 

Every once in a while, it’s a good idea to step back and take in the bigger picture.   Today is one of those days.  Since 2003, MediaTile has been working hard to move “Cellular Digital Signage” into the mainstream market, and today we have more evidence that that is indeed happening.  Here are some recent indicators:

A great article was recently penned by Christopher Hall of Digital Signage Today (DST).  The article chronicles the ever-increasing interest from mainstream carriers, including Verizon, Sprint and AT&T, in 3G and 4G digital signage solutions.  Not only are these industry titans interested in digital signage, but continue to make investments to ensure its success, including go-to-market activities, special websites, and a plethora of M2M (Machines to Machine) programs.   As THE pioneer, and leader in this market space, I’m (we’re) ecstatic about this market momentum.

And, once again, the 3G / 4G Cellular-based Digital Signage Whitepaper from Digital Signage Today (DST) has made the “Top 10” list of most popular downloads.   This paper, which we sponsor, is great for partners, customers, and channel members who need a primer on both the capabilities and advantages which 3G / 4G Cellular Digital Signage has to offer.  You can download a free copy of this paper simply by registering for membership with DST.

As the summer winds down, it’s great to see cellular digital signage picking up.