Business Editors/High-Tech WritersWideRay today announced that it has developed the hardware, software and network infrastructure necessary to deliver broadband, contextual information to handheld devices. The company launches today with a comprehensive, patent-pending technology infrastructure, multiple partners and several high profile customers including Metreon - A Sony Entertainment Center.
"WideRay has carefully addressed the needs of both the information provider and the end user, breaking down cost and usability barriers that have, until now, stood in the way of effective wireless content delivery," said Saul Kato, co-founder and CEO of WideRay. "We offer handheld device users a completely new and useful way of interacting with the world around them, from retail stores to trade shows and conference rooms."
WideRay's first product, the Jack, is a small book-sized caching server that delivers customized, rich content and applications directly to end users at broadband speed. WideRay's customers are businesses seeking to provide contextual, localized information to their users, customers, employees or business partners.
"We've built a rock solid wireless caching and delivery infrastructure and have integrated it with tools that are central to people's daily life -- their handheld devices. Our enterprise customers now have a new cost-effective channel for communicating with their audiences -- end users who want to receive valuable and useful content and applications tied to their environment," added Kato.
Rich, Dynamic Content and Applications
Mobile users with any common handheld device (Palms, Pocket PCs, and cellular handsets) can receive rich, dynamic content such as interactive guides, color catalogs, product reviews, coupons, news, transportation schedules, real estate listings, audio/video clips and more. Business users can access and distribute relevant content such as reports, presentations, sales tracking, inventory information, product collateral, trade show exhibit information, and more.
Easily Deployable Solution
The Jack is a portable, self-contained, wireless device that can be placed in physical stores, venues, signage, counter tops, conference rooms and information desks. Jacks also integrate into outdoor marketing (e.g. billboards, bus shelters), point of sale displays, company lobby/entry ways, and trade show booths.
Intuitive and Free for End-Users
Users simply point their handheld device at the Jack, and in seconds they receive a high-speed infrared beam with WideRay's browser software and free, timely information tied to the world around them. WideRay's solution does not require a wireless modem connection or any pre-installed hardware or software on a user's device. Users receive a sustained high-bandwidth, low-latency datastream that provides an interactive, media rich experience without paying expensive recurring monthly airtime costs.
Premiere Customer -- Metreon - A Sony Entertainment Center
WideRay's installation debuts at Metreon in San Francisco this week. Metreon, which receives over 10 million visitors per year, features 350,000 square feet of entertainment with 15 theatres, a SONY IMAX(R), several restaurants, many regular and one time attractions and shopping in a collection of exclusive stores. WideRay has partnered with Metreon to provide valuable content beamed to the handheld devices of Metreon visitors. When a Metreon visitor holds out their handheld device to a WideRay Jack they receive rich interactive content, such as movie listings, store, restaurant and attractions, as well as the dynamically generated events of the day.
"Having WideRay's Jacks at Metreon gives guests a whole new way of interacting with our unique entertainment destination," said Lynn Wallace, Metreon's Director of Entertainment Marketing. "This is such a perfect fit for Metreon, where most of our guests are already technologically advanced and looking for new and entertaining technologies and experiences each time they visit. We are excited that because of our relationship with WideRay, we can offer Metreon information to our guests in such a convenient way."
Third Parties Leverage the WideRay Infrastructure
WideRay has created an end-to-end wireless, transactional, content publishing and caching system designed to address the growing need for mobile non-voice information at a fraction of the airtime and device costs of cellular systems. Deploying content to devices is as easy as uploading an HTML web page or SQL database to a secure partner website. WideRay also provides the necessary radio reference design and embedded software for companies seeking to embed wireless content reception into their own hardware devices and systems.
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