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Scala InfoChannel Software Communicating General Motors' Corporate Messages.
Detroit, Michigan (August 8, 2000) -- With over 100 manufacturing plants and offices in the United States, General Motors ("GM") knows the difficulties of communicating between facilities and divisions. Yet, the ability to share information quickly has become critical in the highly competitive automotive industry. Enter Scala. With a push of a button, important company information can be sent to GM sites that are online already to receive critical manufacturing and corporate data courtesy of Scala's InfoChannel software and the Hughes Network System.
Currently, GM uses DirecPC, part of the Hughes Network System, to bridge the miles between its United States-based operations and plans to go global in the future. DirecPC is a high-speed, satellite-delivered information service that allows businesses to retrieve or deliver high bandwidth information at fast speeds. Any type of information, from real-time video and audio to software packages, can be delivered directly to a standard PC or network server using DirecPC's satellite technology.
The Scala InfoChannel software is a television-based multimedia communication and advertising solution. It enables users to combine text, graphics, animation and video into multimedia messages that can be broadcast over local network or the Internet to TV or computer-based displays. InfoChannel is commonly used for dynamic signage in stores and hotels, as well as TV channels for cable and corporate networks. Content can be broadcast from single or multiple locations to TV channels, digital signage and kiosks via local or large-scale networks including satellite and multicast-IP networks.
"Our products are uniquely suited to reaching larger networks, like GM," said Jeff Porter, Scala's President and CEO. "Satellite Tracking Systems, the VAR, was the one to put Scala and Hughes together. It is a natural," Porter added.
The technology GM is using is a television-based network that allows GM to communicate to employees who do not have fax or e-mail capabilities. The Scala-Hughes partnership enables information to be targeted to employees at any time within any location. Currently, Scala is hooked up to closed circuit televisions in the break rooms, cafeterias, and other common areas. At the Renaissance Center in Detroit, Mich., GM's corporate headquarters, 85 televisions broadcast the corporate information authored on InfoChannel. This allows GM to communicate to all employees, even those who do not have fax or e-mail capabilities
"The reason why Scala and Hughes technology works for GM is that Scala supports the point-to-multipoint distribution that is essential for GM," Don Cargo of Satellite Tracking Systems said.
The GM corporate media department uses the InfoChannel Reporter to author daily news that is sent to a Scala InfoChannel Broadcast Server connected to the Hughes Satellite Network. Information is then sent simultaneously to the GM sites that are up and running with the Scala software. Local editors can use the InfoChannel Reporter to take the content provided by the corporate media department and add locally pertinent information to it.
"GM is committed to providing significant information to our employees. Scala and Hughes let us do that," Marsico said. "Our next stop is to have the information routed directly to the desktop PC," Marsico said. GM's plans include utilizing the Scala-Hughes system in over 100 manufacturing plants and corporate offices and looking at expanding the distribution of its corporate information to its international plants and offices. "We really have only explored the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the possibilities with Scala. We have a lot more to do," he added.
About General Motors
Founded in 1908, GM has grown into the world's largest automotive corporation and full-line vehicle manufacturer. The company employs more than 388,000 people and partners with over 30,000 supplier companies worldwide. As the largest United States exporter of cars and trucks, and having manufacturing operations in 50 countries, GM has a global presence in more than 200 countries.
About Scala
Scala is a leading international developer of multimedia solutions for dynamic signage, television and web applications. Scala software is used by thousands of corporations, advertisers, cable television operators, educators and consumers to create and broadcast dynamic full-screen multimedia productions via corporate intranets or the Internet to television and computer-based displays. Working with its global distribution network, Scala offers a complete solution meeting its customers' growing needs to reach a diverse audience with engaging content. Scala is headquartered in Philadelphia, PA with US and European sales offices.
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