We are looking forward to a new year of working together in harmony and good spirit!

It was an important day, like a new dawn, BellMicro and Avnet were beginning the long planned kick-off to a new and powerful company.
Bell Micro/Avnet, an international, value-added distributor of a wide range of high-tech products, services and solutions emerged that morning to become the largest added value sales organization in the world with some 18,000 employees. Providing not only software, computer components and peripherals, but also maintenance and professional services. They are also the world’s largest storage-centric value-added distributors.
With the inclusion now of Avnet, the company is uniquely qualified with extensive technical and application expertise to service a broad range of information technology needs. From beginning to end, a formidable player is a rapidly expanding market. The core mission is added-value, now represented in some 15 countries, an effort that was started 23 years ago.
The plan is that this event to be held annually.

Maximising the Digital Signage Opportunity
First to address an audience of experienced professionals, some who have been in Digital Signage long before it became mainstream, was Dirk Andreas, Bell Micro’s Business Development Director.
Today marked the start of integrating Bell Micro into the existing Avnet business, completion target is end of its fiscal year 12 months from now. Dirk outlined that by merging both organisations and combining their individual values Bell Micro is more than ever now able to bring its business partners a robust selection of products, services and solutions delivered by an experienced, knowledgeable team.

Future of Interactive Marketing
Emphasis on marketing was stressed by Simon Wileyman, Distribution Manager of Intel UK a Partner with the new organisation. Simon spoke of the digital signage market as constantly pushing for cost reduction. Usually this can be found in up-front hardware costs. Intel technology can be found in all three hardware bundles, represented by Entry-level, Mainstream and the High-End. Emphasis is not only in the hardware but the concept of “power down” simply this means to turn the equipment off without fear of the restart. Their website has a power down calculator which brings to point home quickly.
Thoughts of reliability and longevity enter the scene. Time has proven that it is a false economy to control costs by using consumer-grade PCs to power signage. Although this approach can minimize the initial installation cost, it does lead to large expenses down the road.
Replacing failed components is expensive; therefore considerable expertise was engineered into standardization. With standardization, component failures are reduced and lead to less expensive field service. Hardware failures can also lead to complications on the software side.
Hardware changes also mean that it is no longer possible uphold a single hardware build across locations. Instead, locations with the original hardware will use one build, while locations with the new hardware will use a different build. Maintaining multiple builds is a headache, and it adds to maintenance costs. It is these extra costs have been addressed.

Graphics Hardware: Creatives & the Blank canvas
One of the most knowledgeable individuals in Graphics is Rob Moody of Matrox. To listen to him talk of screen placement, format and size is like old time religion. Something so fundamental that even professionals can get it wrong.
Matrox is a Canadian company, privately held, based in Dorval, Quebec, which produces video card components and equipment for personal computers. It was founded by Lorne Trottier and Branko Matić. The “ma” from Matić and “tro” from Trottier, combined with an “x” for excellence, form the Matrox name. They’ve been in business for 30 years now; obviously they know what they are doing.
The targeted user-base for Matrox video cards largely consists of 2D, 3D, video, scientific, medical, military, digital signage and financial workstation users.
Rob says, “Think Wide, Think Tall” with the key to this world beginning with the driver.
The Matrox partnership adds definite colour to the group.

All in one Solution
Bas Smeets, Aopen’s Business Development Manager, outlined their position in today’s market. As a PC components and peripheral distributor, they are an established market leader, from motherboards to monitors, to multimedia add-on cards, and more. AOpen products push the green factor and the control of design, manufacturing, quality from the drawing board to the finished product.
By partnering with BellMicro/Avnet, AOpen becomes a One-Stop Shop. Their extensive and comprehensive product offerings cover all component needs. The Digital Signage element is also a One-Stop equivalent.
All this is backed by 20 years experience.
Their latest offering is the DE45 effectively the smallest player in the market, its most powerful feature is that it can be customized to fit any requirement. Its long life cycle also provides positive ROI when planning an estate.

Prestop and Touchscreens
If you’ve used a touchscreen, then most likely it was a Prestop screen. They manufacture the Philips offering.
Now with 20 years under the belt, they have amassed a high-level of perfection and experience in both hardware the driving software.
Not only do they manufacture the touchscreens for Philips, but they also have a fluid sales and rental operation in the Netherlands.
A recent trend in education is the switchover from digiboard to touchscreens. Cost-effectiveness and silent operation allow expansion into this growing market. Their touchtable is also a Microsoft Surface killer.

The Last Mile
With 22 years experience in KVM and extenders, Minicom has become the leading organisation in its field. Minicom handles the dicey issues that evolve in the last mile or last inch, that distance between your player and the screen. A niche, yes, but one of the most critical and often overlooked in it importance. This makes, the company a world leader in advanced media platforms.
Minicom is this year specifically addressing the Digital Signage sector with an infusion of venture capital to the tune of $6 Million. Capitalizing on the knowledge and experience in powering 400,000 displays globally.
They cover all verticals thus gaining insight into many specialties through their solid business relationships with end users.
In essence they allow you to have more control over the coal face of the industry, the screen. Their products are flexible thus being compatible with any player.

Philips
Philips is such a household name that needs little introduction.
As a professional in the market you will happy to note that Philips produces screens and screens only. Therefore there is no competition with an inside product when providing recommendations to a client.
Now the push is cost efficiency in operation. Philips pledges to work with you. Ask for their power consumption spreadsheet.

Summary
It is a welcome sight to see two solid names merge into a formidable partner in the Digital Signage universe. Large rollouts will benefit from the experience banked within this company. Although there are many smaller companies out there, all steeped in experience, there is only a handful in the world that bring it all under one roof.

James van Etten, Executive Editor, CLIPPINGs

The speakers, as well as the opportunity to organize one-on-one meetings with them during this educational/networking conference, are the event’s highlights. Take a look at the speakers and subjects:

• How to maximise the Digital Signage Market opportunity – Dirk Andreas, Business Development Director, ISD, Bell Micro
• The Future of Interactive Marketing – Adrian Whelan, EMEA ESG Embedded BDM, Intel UK Ltd
• Briefing the creative, about the blank canvas – Rob Moody, Signage Specialist, Matrox
• All-in-one DS solution – Bastiaan Smeets, BDM, AOpen
• Flexibility and serviceability of Digital Signage Displays – Mick Duffy, Director, Philips LTd (t/a Mixel Ltd)
• The Last Mile – Ronni Guggenheim, CEO, Minicom Digital Signage

If you are interested, register for the event here

The business climate in the Digital Signage industry has dropped slightly (48 to 44) compared to the beginning of the year. Most notable Europe’s regional Digital Signage market developments have moved further apart than before.

 
(Source: OVAB Europe DBCI report)

Should we get worried? Not so much about the overall result, but about the fact that the four most successful regions from last period (UK, Spain, Scandinavia & Italy)  had a huge drop. But, it is not all that black and depressive, claims OVAB Europe in their latest DBCI report. France is doing more than fine, with the growth over 20 index points, as well as Benelux with 9, and DACH with 2.

The nice surprise in this document was nailing down the Top3 digital signage vertical markets in 2010. According to 200 industry experts, industry should expect the most from retail (non-food and food) and DOOH/Mall Signage (see the graph below). I wonder why is Education at the very end of the list.

(Source: OVAB Europe DBCI report)

Yes, I am talking about ScreenMedia Expo 2010. This time, the participants will have a chance to discuss with the leading digital signage vendors and get valuable insights from industry experts. The Groups will be guided twice a day through the show floor by the industry insider Michal Kraft, supported by a wireless communication system. As Ms. Kraft says,

The Digital Signage Tour is excellent opportunity for both learning and networking. Scala, YCD, Philips, Harris, Quividi’s booths are just some of the stops we will make on the show floor.

To participate in this free tour sign up now!

Copenhagen City Museum has this saturday (april 24^th) opened a public interactive digital signage “museum”, allowing the public to view, touch and interact with thousand of years of history. Using multitouch the user can surf a timeline and/or geographical map and zoom onto pictures, stories and video clips. You can even add your own recording, if you have knowledge or comments, which then can be viewed by the next visitors to “The Wall”.

It also plays role in one of Copenhagens largest archeological efforts, as the 8-year construction of a new Metro City Ring, hopefully will bring lots of new and exciting finds, which will be displayed on “The Wall”.

Software is being provided by Gibson (New Zealand), content by danish bureau Spil af Tid. Hardware and installation is provided by danish vendor Pro Shop Europe, consiting of 103 inch plasmas and using laser technology to achieve multi-touch on the large displays.

Read more about Minicom Digital Signage future plans and new products announcements exclusively in the interview

Read about it in detail here

Have a look at a local TV footage:

Essen is not far from Dusseldorf and in what the Germans call, “The office of Germany”. I will leave the delights of the cultural aspect to your ability to search the web for that. The focus of this year’s events is a focus on mobile interactivity which will include an “Interactive Museum”. The event is being held by Kiosk Europe 2010 and the Digital Signage Expo 2010. This is where the theme of this article springs to life, “Sharing the Magic”.

Without telling exactly how old I am, I do still remember the days when a mobile phone exuded a form of Voodoo and delight when you received a call on it. In Europe the mobile phone has become a status symbol, displayed by the fact that everybody makes sure you see their phone by placing them in front of you on the table when socialising. Another habit the Europeans formed was the adult pacifier role, most marching around clutching the phone in their hands. But when even the garbage men strutted around with mobile phones, the Glamour departed. Clever marketers from companies like Vertu reinstated the portable status symbol. Their phones were pimped-up by making them out of precious metals, studded diamonds and crocodile skin. Even at £25,000. – plus they sold like hotcakes. In Macao they go out the door in job lot units of 5,000 a pop.

As big swinging-dick sales-reps pound the beat to peddle the latest clever software to power your screens with, the phones in their pockets were covertly snipping at their territory. Advertisers wanted eyeballs, retailers’ cash flow. Software experts worked on innovative ways to gain attention by using reactions to body movements, movements that often needed you to dance as if hit by a Taser. Depending on your target audience it wasn’t always popular. Ok we have touchscreens, but this implied intimacy, which in today’s Swine Flu days wasn’t the answer.

The market wanted interactivity and a targeted audience, agencies debated on how this could be done in countless meeting and seminars. Till one day a mobile phone rang during a high-level power session. Bingo! An advertiser actually reached an executive big-spender with an offer for a test-drive in a Lamborghini! Now that was real magic.

Almost overnight an industry extracted their mobile phones, called in the experts and demanded that OOH screens and mobiles get married. Good idea? Definitely. So how do they do it? Find out in Essen, why? If you are serious about advertising and digital signage you cannot ignore this trend anymore. Find out how to join the “Pocket full of Logos” generation and Share the Magic with over 150 exhibitors. This is the show that will tell you how to reach into your customers pockets and activate the treasures within.

Here the details: KIOSK EUROPE EXPO 2010 and DIGITAL SIGNAGE EXPO 2010: – Two industry leading events on self-service and digital signage solutions with more new events taking place this year from a special focus on mobile interactivity to a dedicated “Interactive Museum” within the show to celebrate Essen being European Capital of Culture 2010. The events will be held on 15, 16, 17 June 2010 in Messe Essen, Essen, Germany, and entrance is free for pre-registered visitors. So pick up the phone and get yourself a ticket, end the winter with some sauerkraut & beer.

James van Etten, Editor of CLIPPINGs