Urbana.ca Inc. Subsidiary Enersphere.com Announces Beta Launch of Set-top Boxes and Content Applications
ONTARIO, Canada--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 18, 1999--Urbana.ca Inc. (OTC BB:URBA), an emerging Internet and content company providing community-based entertainment and information services, announced today its wholly-owned subsidiary Enersphere.com Inc. (www.enersphere.com) will launch its first pilot site on December 15, 1999 that will include deployment of 100 set-top boxes, hardware that is easily connected to a television set. The set-top box will provide local community-based programming and monitored smoke detection services to specific geographical areas.
During the initial pilot phase, Enersphere will be engaging national and local advertisers to sponsor further set-top box deployment. Its initial rollout of set-top boxes is projected to be 20,000 units with a total of 10 national advertising sponsors and 50 local advertising sponsors. The projected revenues for the initial rollout area are U.S. $6.8 million. Future services such as Video on Demand as provided by USA Video (www.usvo.com) and meter reading capabilities as provided by Eagle Wireless (www.eglw.com) could significantly increase revenue projections. These services will be implemented in Q2 of 2000.
An advisory board has been formed in the pilot area, which includes members from local government, the fire department, the school board, the electric utility department, the United Way, and the Chamber of Commerce. Participants in the test are a public school classroom, a gated senior citizens community and various other demographic segments. The intent of the pilot is to gather data for use in critical content areas of the site such as Homework On-Line, Smoke Detector Monitoring, e-Commerce Bill Payment, On-Line Community Calendar, and the Business Directory.
President of Enersphere.com Inc. Rick Whittaker commented, "Enersphere.com has developed a unique model of providing low cost portal connection for every resident in a geographical area. We have determined that a local community can provide a self-sustaining local Internet service where all residents are given a low cost set-top box that provides exciting, useful community content and services. The results of the beta test will allow us to create the template needed to license and distribute this model throughout North America."
Enersphere.com Inc. is a content company that utilizes set-top boxes as their medium to deliver various Internet and Intranet-based services to consumers. Based in Ontario, Canada, the Company works with government and high profile corporations to create community-based Intranet systems that utilize the Internet to provide residents with movies and entertainment-based content as well as value-added services such as enhanced TV, monitored smoke detectors, automatic meter reading, health and education services, email and Internet access.
Urbana.ca Inc. is an Internet, e-commerce, transaction and content company that provides consumers with community-based entertainment and information services, widely used in all facets of everyday life.
This news release may contain forward-looking statements made pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. While these statements are made to convey to the public the Company's progress, business opportunities, and growth prospects, readers are cautioned that such forward-looking statements represent management's opinion. While management believes such representation to be true and accurate based on the information available to the Company, actual results may differ materially from those described. The Company's operations and business prospects are always subject to risk and uncertainties. Important factors that may cause actual results to differ are set forth in C-3d Digital's periodic filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
CONTACT:
Urbana.ca Inc.
Robert Tyson, 519-740-1343
tysonurbana@yahoo.com |
