VANCOUVER, British Columbia,
April 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- A new
licensing agreement reached between iSIGN Media Solutions Inc.
(TSX-V: ISD) and RTown Communications is about to change the way
that hotels and advertisers communicate with hotel guests.
Starting in early June 2011, iSIGN
Media's IMS 3.1 interactive messaging software will be installed
into RTown's digital signage network of 27,000 hotel rooms in 346
locations across Canada to
interact directly with guests' mobile devices through Bluetooth™
technology, known as proximity marketing. Through iSIGN Media's
technology that allows digital signs to 'talk and interact' with
guests' mobile devices, advertisers on the RTown's Hotel TV network
can deliver branded content, special offers and coupons, discounts,
loyalty program messages and other rich-media offerings of guests'
choosing directly onto their mobile devices. Roll-out will commence
with integration of iSIGN's technology into RTown's existing
digital signage network in hotels in Vancouver, Whistler, and Kowlona.
"With the largest digital signage and in-house TV network for
hotels and resorts in Canada, we
are very excited to enhance our offering by teaming with iSIGN
Media. We're now able to give our advertisers the ability to
communicate with millions of hotel guests every month via their
mobile phones, while capturing and measuring meaningful customer
data. Our advertisers can now reach hotel guests wherever
they are – in the room, lobby, restaurant, bar or even out on the
slopes. It's the most powerful way for our advertisers to engage
with hotel guests yet," said Don
McQuaid, Founder of RTown Communications.
Smartphone Surge Highlights the Always Connected Hotel
Guest
The surge in smartphone ownership in North America (69.5 million current smartphone
owners according to latest data from comScore) highlights the
increasingly connected and "always on" hotel guest. The joint RTown
and iSIGN offering enables advertisers to reach these
connected hotel guests at maximum moments of influence:
- 98% of hotel guests turn on their television set within 5
minutes of entering their hotel rooms (Hilton Hotels Corp),
and;
- 74% of visitors tune into Resort TV on average 2.3 times per
day (CustomFit Communications).
Hotel Market Embraces New Advertising Technology
Don McQuaid of RTown says that
the hotel and resort market is ready to communicate with guests
using the most effective and immediate channels available. "Over
the past 12 months, we have seen the demand for in-room television
and signage networks grow significantly. Our agreement with iSIGN
enables hotels to send guests targeted, destination-relevant
offerings and event announcements directly to their mobile devices
from our TV network in each room, hotel commerce areas, or even
outdoors."
Anticipated Advertising Revenues, Increased
Engagement
"Advertising budgets are increasingly turning to mobile and
digital-out-of-home channels as they are proving to be so
effective. iSIGN's patent-pending Bluetooth™ proximity marketing
solution gives advertisers the ability to capture and measure data
in real-time to improve campaign effectiveness and achieve higher
ROI, and avoids costs and privacy concerns traditionally associated
with SMS marketing. The advertisers on the RTown network can
connect with guests quickly, cheaply and effectively," said
Alex Romanov, CEO of iSIGN
Media.
With a potential reach of more than 5 million guests per month,
RTown expects to increase revenue by at least 50% during the 3-year
agreement with iSIGN.
To learn more about the new interactive advertising solution
from iSIGN Media and RTown Communications, please contact iSIGN's
Director of Media Relations, Vanessa
Horwell at vanessa@thinkinkpr.com or 305.749.5342 ext. 232,
or visit www.isignmedia.com.
About iSIGN Media
iSIGN is a leading developer of location-based interactive
proximity advertising solutions that deliver rich media, permission
based messages, free of charge to cell phones using Bluetooth®
connectivity. The Company's patent-pending advertising platform
combines the precision of direct marketing and the tracking
potential of the Web to deliver more cost effective and ROI-driven
advertising than is possible via print, radio and television. iSIGN
is publicly traded in Toronto
(TSX.V) under the symbol "ISD". Additional information about iSIGN
Media can be found at www.isignmedia.com.
Media Contact:
Vanessa Horwell, ThinkInk
+1.305.749.5342 x232
vanessa@thinkinkpr.com
SOURCE iSIGN Media