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April 23, 2007 - Scala Supports IKEA to Deploy InfoChannel Digital Signage Network
London, United Kingdom. April 23, 2007-- Scala, Inc., the leading supplier of end-to-end digital signage software solutions, announced today that IKEA, the leading functional home furnishing products company, has inaugurated its in-store digital signage network utilizing Scala InfoChannel.
Beaver Solutions, a Scala Certified Partner, delivered the installation of all the key components for IKEA TV. The objective of IKEA TV in the initial phase is to promote the "Hero" product line, to be soon complemented with other initiatives including "Welcoming Customers to the store," "How to shop" and "How to plan an IKEA Kitchen."
"Beaver Solutions is proud to have been selected to provide a brand new digital signage system for Sweden's most famous export," said Barry Thurston, Chairman Beaver Group.
Throughout the UK, 14 stores have been equipped with Scala InfoChannel software to distribute 8 separate channels of content to screens distributed throughout the store in key locations. Each IKEA store uses an average of 8 screens, placed at selected points-of-purchase.
Phase 2 of the IKEA TV Network will see 3 of the stores add 10 additional channels and an excess of 20 screens per store. Phase 3 will expand the digital signage network with the remaining 11 IKEA stores after an evaluation process.
"When complete, IKEA TV could well be broadcasting 250 channels managed by over a hundred InfoChannel licenses," adds Barry Thurston.
Each screen will show a new character developed by IKEA, appearing in a number of animations crafted by IKEA to deliver a specific message to its shoppers. This content is displayed to visitors as they journey through the store. Diversified content including product videos and local store messages is shown, with message variety planned to increase in the future.
Scala InfoChannel was selected among a number of software applications due to its unrivalled control of all areas of the playback at each screen and centralised control via Scala InfoChannel Content Manager. One of the key requirements from IKEA was to provide both local and national control of chosen content, allowing staff in each store nationwide to change messages at a moments notice.
Content is managed centrally by IKEA with Beaver Solutions' support, thus enabling IKEA to update any screen in the network via a web-based content management suite.
"IKEA TV is a very exciting project to plan and develop. We are privileged to count on our partner Beaver Solutions to apply its professional team, its experience, and its relationships in the UK market thus enabling the coordination of seven separate organisations to deliver the solution required by IKEA, on time and on spec." said Oscar Elizaga, Scala Vice President, EMEA. "IKEA is a very forward thinking company with a clear vision of its in-store digital signage objectives, which makes its selection of Scala InfoChannel as the core of the IKEA TV project all the more significant" he added.
About Beaver Solutions.
Beaver Solutions, formed in 1998 are part of The Beaver Group and specialise in delivering digital signage and narrowcast networks to, companies and public institutions. Using the very latest in display and networking technology, Beaver Solutions specify, supply, install, train and support each solution. Through Beaver Design, a sister company Content and network management services are also provided offering a full one stop service to customers We work with various software and hardware manufacturers in the field of digital display to ensure we deliver the best fit for our clients. Clients include IKEA, Ericsson, Daikin, P&O, E.ON, ITV1, The Home Office, Walkers Snack Foods, Department for Transport & Stoke City Council.
About Scala
Founded in 1987, Scala pioneered the Digital Signage industry and today remains the world's largest provider of software for creating digital signage networks, driving more screens than all competitors combined. The company's InfoChannel product line is used for dynamic digital media networks in retail, education, entertainment, government and other industries for diverse applications such as Retail Advertising networks (Retail Signage TV), Corporate Communications (Employee TV), Digital Billboards, Digital Menu Boards, Digital Posters, Community Access channels (Cable TV), Hotel lobby signage and information channels, Gas Pump "toppers", Convention Center Signage, Interactive touch-screens and Kiosks, etc. The Company's cutting-edge InfoChannel software platform powers thousands of digital signs around the world including the digital signage networks of Rabobank, IKEA, Bloomberg, Burger King, T-Mobile, Virgin MegaStore, EuroDisney, Kiwi, McDonalds, Warner ! Brothers, Santiago Airport, Ericsson, The Life Channel, Rikstoto, FuelCast, Repsol, Shell, NorgesGruppen, The Wall Street Journal Office Network and many more. Scala is today headquartered near Philadelphia, PA and has wholly-owned subsidiaries in The Netherlands, France, Norway, and Japan with a direct presence in a number of other locations and countries. Scala's products are primarily sold through an international network of Scala Certified Partners. More information is available at www.scala.com.
Press Contact:
Dick Trask
Director of Public Relations
Scala, Inc.
610-363-3350
