Elcotel Unveils Desktop Version of Grapevine(TM), The First Wired Non-PC Public Internet Appliance
Desktop Extends Grapevine(TM) Into Consumer Markets For First Time & Opens New Indoor Markets For Public Communications
SARASOTA, Fla., April 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Elcotel, Inc. (Nasdaq: ECTL - news) introduced today a desktop version of its successful Grapevine(TM) public communications terminal, the first wired non-PC public Internet appliance, that it is exhibiting in the Microsoft Pavilion at COMDEX/Spring 2000 in Chicago, April 18th through the 20th.
The Grapevine(TM) desktop extends e-commerce, personalized information services, and advertising-paid content and sponsor-paid telephony, into a range of indoor markets that will break new ground and create new revenue opportunities for public communications operators. These include hotel lobbies and guest rooms, conference centers, business travel centers, stadium skybox executive suites, upscale executive homes, airline lounges, student centers, executive clubs and more.
``The Grapevine(TM) desktop opens up a broad new vista of markets for both Elcotel and its public communications operators, ranging from lounges and hotel suites to the CEO's home and office,' said Mike Boyle, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Elcotel. ``Grapevine(TM) is designed to be a family of products providing integrated telephony and simple to access Internet content. Today's announced desktop model is Elcotel's initial entry into these consumer markets and will help us continue to execute our plan of offering a range of new communications services and revenues for Elcotel and our partners.'
Grapevine and the e-Prism ``back office' management software integrate the Windows CE 2.12 and Windows NT platforms to create a complete end-to-end Microsoft solution. The Grapevine(TM) desktop uses the same components as the wallmount terminal, already in production and being installed throughout North America. Services to each Grapevine(TM) terminal, whether desktop or wallmount, are delivered and managed on a location-by-location and time-of-day basis from Elcotel's Data Center in Alpharetta, Georgia. Elcotel expects to be in full production of its desktop terminals in the third calendar quarter of 2000.
Grapevine(TM) combines traditional payphone capabilities with e-commerce, personalized information services from the Internet, sponsor-paid content, and advertising in a public access setting. The Grapevine(TM) terminal network is powered by e-Prism(TM), Elcotel's comprehensive system for ``back office' support and content management. This proprietary system manages the terminals and is designed to tailor advertising messages and sponsor-paid content for each individual terminal.
Elcotel, Inc., based in Sarasota, Florida, is a leader in providing public access telecommunications networks and management services for both domestic and international wireline and wireless communication networks. Visit Elcotel's corporate website at www.elcotel.com.
Statements contained in this release may contain forward-looking information regarding the Company's plans, projections, or future performance, which involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those expected by the Company. These risks and uncertainties include the risk of adverse regulatory action affecting the Company and the Company's customers, risk of competition, risk of obsolescence of the Company's products, and other uncertainties detailed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
SOURCE: Elcotel, Inc. |
