INTRODUCTION

Recognizing the inevitable evolution and growth of Internet-based and self-service kiosk terminals, the company has been in continual development of advanced applications since its inception. These applications include areas of e-commerce, communications, advertising, customer relations, and more. Many of these applications are touch-screen enabled, with no keyboards, thereby rendering the Internet connectivity as completely transparent to the user

IMG'S NETWORK OPERATIONS CENTER

At the heart of the IMG's system is the Network Operations Center, commonly referred to as the "NOC." The NOC, based in Boston, Massachusetts, monitors and controls IMG's entire network of kiosks.

From the NOC we are able to interact with all kiosks in our system individually, regionally, or system-wide. This may be done in a hands-on or automated fashion.

Functions of the NOC include (but are not limited to):

• Performance monitoring of every terminal on the network
• Automatic diagnostics of terminals on the network
• Identification of trouble call scenarios
• Tracking of user activities at each terminal
• Real time transaction processing (credit cards, cash, coupons, smart cards, etc.)
• Transaction verification and authorization
• Screen content broadcasting, both live and automated
• Remote software updating/uploading
• Database management systems
• Interactive call center communication with terminal users

The NOC, as well as individual kiosk stations themselves are, of course, upgradable to keep up with continuing evolvements in computer and network technologies.

Our current system platform is capable of delivering the following areas of (or combinations thereof) functionality:

ADVERTISING/PROMOTIONAL MARKETING

A powerful aspect of any kiosk application is the focused advertising and promotional benefits that may be intertwined with the content. Again, there are a number of ways a marketing message may be distributed throughout the network, and even targeted to individual kiosk users.

WEB-BASED INFORMATION

Any kiosk in the system may display any proportion of free or pay-to-view information. The kiosk content may be web-based, wherein the viewer may access screens that are either live on the web or cached on the system hard drive. The kiosk may be touch screen interfaced, so that the user is interactively touching links to access desired information.

A significant advantage to web-based content delivery is in that the information provider may be remote from the kiosk(s) and the NOC, and is simply publishing web pages (developed with the kiosk in mind) to a server that is being accessed by the kiosk(s). The provider of content may therefore update, change or completely overhaul the kiosk presentation at will, and as often as desired.

AUTO BROADCAST SYSTEMS

The IMG NOC is configurable to pre-schedule content delivery to terminals in the network. Limited time special promotion material may be released to kiosks in an automated fashion. Content may be created and "scheduled" for broadcast days, weeks, or months in advance.

E-COMMERCE

The foundation of the NOC, beyond delivering on-demand pay-to-view public Internet access, was developed for delivery of e-commerce solutions whereby users may shop for products and services and pay for them in real time at the kiosks.

This capability allows for shopping mall and catalog applications from the kiosks. Offerings may include products to be shipped/delivered to the customer, products to be dispensed from the kiosk, gift certificates, purchased information, reservation services.

CUSTOMER LOYALTY PROGRAMS

Kiosks may be used as self-services frequent shopper stations where customers may register for and receive perks such as discount coupons or special promotional information. Surveys, mailing lists, and customer satisfaction data may be captured at the kiosks.

STREAMING ENTERTAINMENT ON DEMAND

The NOC may catalog and deliver databased digital entertainment to individual terminals. This technology could be applied to music or video retailers, offering sample clips, or for something like an airport layover "movie booth."

INTERACTIVE GAMING

Kiosks may tie together any number of players or venues in real time. This could apply to multi-player video games, casino gambling, horseracing, etc.

PRODUCT OR SERVICE TIME DISPENSING

The transactional pay-to-use functionality of the NOC may be applied to buying services or time use of business machines or other electronic equipment. This technology could be applied to complete self-service automated business centers.

CONCLUSION

As you can see, IMG is capable of handling any advanced kiosk project imaginable. We invite you to contact us to get further details on how we can serve your needs in the kiosk world.