CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 24, 1998-- Avalon Group, Inc.
today announced its new line of Internet-ready, interactive multimedia
kiosks being launched under the brand name X-po!(TM) . The kiosk is a
state-of-the-art touchscreen terminal that uses standard personal computer
architecture and Internet communications/network protocols. This product
provides a direct link between a consumer and specialized information, or
encourages the intelligent purchase of products and services by the
consumer.
X-po! is being marketed to distributors, systems integrators and to
customers across a variety of vertical markets. Applications include:
airline ticketing in airports; dissemination of health information in
physician and hospital clinics; member services in fitness centers and gyms;
parts catalogs and automotive retail stores; product catalogs in shopping
malls; and other high-traffic or targeted retail locations.
Initial kiosk units already have been sold and discussions with potential
customers have been underway for several months. Many customers see the
kiosks as a way to increase sales of products and services and/or reduce the
amount of time that their own employees need to spend with customers for
routine inquiries or transactions.
X-po! kiosks are designed as an all-in-one unit with the computer and the
flatscreen monitor housed in a single, portable casing. X-po! terminals
provide a competitive advantage by offering a smaller, less obtrusive
footprint that is ideal for desktop or wall mounting in locations where
space is at a premium such as hotels, physician clinics, gas stations,
retail stores, pharmacies, etc. The modular system design allows for
expansion through the addition of peripheral devices and display enclosures,
if the units are placed in larger environments where space is not a concern
and higher visibility is important to attract attention.
X-po! kiosks are capable of displaying full-motion, full-screen video and
stereo sound with enough storage to contain three full-length digitized
movies or millions of pages of text and graphics. Since the units are
Internet-ready and carry a wide variety of built-in network capabilities,
they offer added flexibility over other, similar units on the market today.
Other advantages offered by X-po! include proprietary hardware and software
technological advancements and aesthetic enhancements such as a patented
ceramic composite housing, which enables the Company to offer customized
shapes, colors and finishes at a significantly lower cost than traditional
plastic or metal housings.
The company has launched the product range at a cost-competitive price,
linked with a subsidized business model that allows customers for the kiosks
to participate in revenue sharing programs.
"This Internet-ready, interactive kiosk is the right product at exactly the
right time for today's business marketplace," says Ron Green, Avalon Group,
Inc. president & CEO. "The launch of the X-po! product line permits Avalon
to begin a determined sales and marketing effort over the medium and long
term to build revenues for the company.
"Although the kiosk market in general has had a varied history over the past
few years, newer technologies, improved communications and lower price
points are fueling a renaissance in kiosk adoption by a wide variety of
customers.
"We believe that the much-reported boom in the kiosk market is large enough,
and durable enough, to support a number of kiosk vendors. Avalon has
positioned itself to be one of the first companies to combine all of these
features and customer-focused needs in one product line. Even a market share
of less than 1 percent of the estimated North American kiosk shipments over
the next few years will allow the Company to achieve its business
forecasts."
Avalon Group, Inc. has recently reorganized its resources to be able to
concentrate on the introduction of the X-po! product line. Originally
intended for the healthcare market, the X-po! terminals received so much
attention from developers and potential customers in other markets that the
Company decided to exploit this interest by placing more attention on
selling kiosks, content and related sponsorship opportunities in a more
generic form. The Company is currently developing relationships with a
number of large strategic partners to complement its own sales and
technology teams. This shift in emphasis places Avalon Group, Inc. more in
the role of a technology company than its previous direction as a healthcare
publishing company. This significantly broadens the market opportunity and
revenue potential for the Company.
Stock symbol: OTC Bulletin Board(R): AVAL
X-po! is a trademark of Avalon Group, Inc.
CONTACT: Henry Russell Bruce Public Relations, Cedar Rapids
Jim Thebeau
Phone: 319-298-0242
E-Mail: Thebeau@hrb-ideas.com |
