The Network Connection Announces Pact for CruiseView(R) Interactive Television Entertainment and Information System
ALPHARETTA, Ga., Nov. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- The Network Connection, Inc., (TNCi) (Nasdaq: TNCX - news) announced today the signing of a letter of intent, with a major international cruise line for the purchase and installation of CruiseView(R), its advanced interactive television entertainment and information system (ITV) for its fleet of ships. Beginning in mid 1998 CrusieView is to be installed initially on two, 1000+ cabin ships at a value of $4-6 million. The two companies anticipate additional installations on board its other ships following completion of the first two projects. Under the terms of the letter of intent TNCi cannot reveal the name of the customer at this time. Today's announcement follows TNCi's recently announced $13 million contract with Fairlines, a French commercial airline, for the purchase, installation and content management for AirView(R), its interactive in-flight entertainment system.
The CrusieView system will support fully digital personal interactive entertainment and video/audio on demand, shopping, multi-player games, gambling, shore excursion/ event booking, live feed programming and business services all simultaneously, independently and with full user control via a television remote control in each guest room. In addition, the system will also simultaneously provide interactive training for the ship's personnel.
''We are beginning to realize success from our long sales cycle efforts in the travel and transportation related markets in winning the Fairlines program for AirView earlier this year and now this CruiseView program,'' stated Wil Riner, Chairman and CEO of The Network Connection, Inc. ''Our marketing activity has increased significantly and we are currently in advanced discussions with other commercial airline, train, cruise ship and resort operators, and manufacturers which are now realizing the advanced features, superior performance and improved quality of service our systems provide.''
''This cruise line is well recognized both within the industry and by the public as an innovative market leader and as experts in offering inclusive vacation experiences. Its selection of the TNCi CruiseView system is a solid vote of confidence in our technological leadership and represents acceptance of our systems for the advantages in delivering the highest quality of service in addition to entertainment,'' said Mr. Riner.
Mr. Riner concluded, ''While many vendors have moved to deploy complex systems based upon broadband architectures, a great need exists to migrate to the simpler, cost-effective, and practical client/server approach using baseband local area network technologies, cabling and protocols, and web browser interface software. This trend was evident at recent airline and cruise line conferences and has been confirmed by the numerous inquiries we have received by companies in both industries for fully interactive systems.'' |
