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friendlyway breathes new life into tired large-scale screens

Munich, 10 September 2001. As announced by the Munich-based friendlyway AG, the new friendlyway Multimedia XXL product was unveiled for the first time to the public this week. Using the Multimedia XXL product, multimedia advertising displays, which have been passive hitherto, will become interactive. To this end, a special control device was developed enabling media content on the large-scale displays to be controlled from one of the friend@public computer columns (information terminal) standing in front.

This new technology combination is geared, above all, to meet the requirements of product presentations, sales consultancy and animation as well as banking and trade services. In the future, Multimedia XXL units will also be employed predominantly in banks, department stores, multi-storey car parks, airports and cinemas.

The Multimedia XXL unit works in the following way. An interactive friend@public design-infoterminal is set up in front of the large-scale display to be controlled. Using the terminal’s touch-sensitive screen, videos, for instance, can be called up, which can be shown either identically on the large-scale display or in an adapted form that remains confidential.

Klaus Trox, board member and founder of friendlyway AG, explains that this innovation has solved two problems. ‘First of all, the passive advertising displays were, admittedly, becoming increasingly popular. However, customers were unable to satisfy their desire to buy aroused by the advertising. Generally, there was no opportunity to buy the product at the advertising display.

Secondly, interactive shopping terminals were also becoming increasingly popular. However, they were often not attractive enough to make the customers curious about the offer.

The combination of both types of technology awakens customers’ curiosity straightaway, advertises the products and enables customers to satisfy their wish to purchase directly at the infoterminal", says Klaus Trox of friendlyway.

The friend@public plug and play system can deliver rich online and offline content including e-commerce, internet, intranet and e-mail as well as sophisticated interactive multimedia. Other advanced features include friend@mediaÔ software, which allows trade show attendees to view and interact with live broadcasts of events and offers exhibitors a simplified way to blend, distribute and display all forms of “rich” media.

On May 9, 2001, Microsoft used friendlyway’s Intelligent Internet StationsÔ at the product launch event for its Windows XP operating system. Fifteen stations were set up to demonstrate Microsoft’s new software to VIPs and press. BMW used friend@public units to debut its new flagship “7 Series” automobiles. The Intelligent Internet StationÔ is the best-selling information station in its category in Europe and in April of 2001 was honored with the “Product With Personality Award” at the KioskCom Conference in Orlando Florida.

About friendlyway Inc.
friendlyway, Inc. develops and markets products, services and intelligent solutions for companies in retail, banking leisure, media and other industries to deliver web content to their customers all over the world rapidly, reliably and engagingly in a user friendly manner. In 2000, friendlyway won the prestigious McKinsey “Start-up of the Year” competition over more than 1,300 companies. In 2001, NetInvestor billed friendlyway as best “on-line off-line mix” and one of the twenty-five most innovative companies. friendlyway’s customers include Bertelsmann, BMW, Dresdner Bank, E-Bay, Intel, Microsoft, Nokia, SBC Communications, Texaco, and The Industry Standard. friendlyway markets globally and has operations in Europe, America, with plans to launch Asian operations in Singapore. For more information on friendlyway, please contact us at 1-866-KIOSK4U or visit us on the Web at www.friendlyway.com.