FWIW department:
MagiNet Marks U.S. Market Entry With Announcement of "Concerto," the Next Generation Integrated Digital Video-on-Demand and Internet Services Platform
ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 22, 1999--
Largest Hospitality Industry Technology Player in International
Markets Announces Formal U.S. Market Entry
Premiere properties from Tokyo to Taipei, Sydney to Seoul are already a part of the ever growing list of "MagiNet-equipped hotels." MagiNet, for nearly a decade the largest provider of video-on-demand, interactive services and Internet solutions in the Asia Pacific Rim, Middle East and South African market spaces, announced today its formal intent of "coming to America," via the introduction of its new "Concerto(tm)" product.
Founded in Silicon Valley, MagiNet, a Delaware corporation, grew its headquarters in Manila, Philippines, in order to be closer to its original target market where it now has a market share of 90,000 rooms in 266 hotels in 13 countries.
MagiNet's President and CEO Robert Creager states, "MagiNet's U.S. market entry comes after proven successes in the international marketplace where we have continuously bested our counterparts by being first to market. Unlike European and U.S. vendors who have just now begun to install Internet products, MagiNet Internet TV and MagiNet Laptop Connect have been enjoying hotelier reception and customer success for over a year now. Concerto(tm) will be the culmination of our proven Internet technologies, coupled with digital video-on-demand and cable modem laptop connectivity. Concerto(tm) is certain to change the fabric of in-room entertainment and interactivity as we know it today."
Concerto(tm), announced today for the first time worldwide, is expected to be installed in initial test sites in late Q4 of this year. Features and applications of Concerto(tm) are expected to include: -0- *T
-- Integrated platform of MPEG2 digital video-on-demand and
Internet TV
-- Separate pay and free Internet TV modules
-- Digital audio-on-demand
-- Vitesse(tm), MagiNet's cable modem laptop connectivity
solution
-- "Enhanced TV " capabilities
-- Local storage options
-- Keyboard and Remote Control multi-function
-- Front Desk control of TV on
-- Guest name display
-- Hotel message and email notification
-- Picture Mail / Video Mail / Voice Mail using built-in
microphone
-- In-room device controls via Serial Ports and Infrared
-- VoIP and IP fax
-- Smart Card support
-- Macromedia "Flash" animation, QuickTime video and Java
support
-- USB port for driving peripherals, such as printers, scanners
and cameras
-- Computer games
-- Remote monitoring and remote system upgrade capability *T -0- MagiNet welcomes candidates for Concerto(tm) test sites in the United States.
MagiNet Corporation
MagiNet, the largest provider of video-on-demand and Internet services to hotels in international markets, has now leveraged its experience, core competencies and installed base to become the turnkey, total solutions provider of in-room entertainment, information services and Internet technologies geared expressly to the hospitality industry.
"MagiNet-equipped hotels" now comprise 266 properties for MagiNet Video-on-Demand, 21 for MagiNet Internet Protocol Services, with 118 more hotels already under contract and slated for imminent Internet installation. MagiNet anticipates an installed base of 180 Internet hotels by the end of this year.
Headquartered in Manila, the Philippines, MagiNet is represented via subsidiaries and distributors in Australia, Guam, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Saipan, South Africa, Taiwan and Thailand, the U.K. and the U.S.
CONTACT:
Mika Saitoh
MagiNet Corporation, Makati, Philippines
(632) 818-1166
mika@maginet-intl.com
or
(in the U.S. during HITEC '99)
Hyatt Regency Atlanta, (404) 577-1234
or
Georgia World Congress Center
HITEC Booth No. 1615-1617, (404) 222-5760 |
