Munich, Germany (PROTEXT) - Combination of television, videoand Internet on one screen / Internet controlled by analoguetelevision for the first time / Use in trade and services friendlyway AG, the Internet-based advice systems provider isproud to be the first company in the world to present interactivecustomer television by combining analogue television with theInternet. friendlyway has developed a new kind of software,which enables the use of various communication channels via asingle screen interface. For the first time, analogue television,video, radio and the Internet can all run in parallel or can belinked together to present a seamless multi-media presentation tothe viewer. Also possible, is use of television programming tocontrol Internet pages a on the screen. Using 'flags' orsignals, the television program can now trigger the Internetpages. This innovation from friendlyway will be presented to thegeneral public at CEBIT between 23-28 March in Hanover. Television controls Internet In its own words, friendlyway enables "a completely new kindof communication with the customer": the moment the currenttelevision program is interrupted by a commercial break,friend@media - triggered by the television channel - calls up theInternet website of the company concerned, making it possible forthe viewer to surf the provider's homepage at the same time thetelevision program is being broadcast. The viewer can orderinformation or products, or even join in chat room discussion.The company's complete Internet offering can be used. It is alsopossible to present an analogue television program or video filmwith additional information at the same time. Explanation for complex products The new technology will be useful in the trade for high-quality and complex products or those requiring detailedexplanation as well as in large areas where few personnel areavailable to provide advice. "It means an end to the days ofboring endless video," says Andreas Stütz, founder and chairmanof the board of friendlyway AG. "With friend@media, we areoffering specifically-controlled product information, providingthe customer with top quality information relevant to theirdecision, directly in the shop, when they are considering apurchase." Initial pilot projects near completion friend@media is of great interest for service providers,particularly in the area of financial services. Andreas Stützreports, "The first major pilot projects with industrial tradingcompanies and banks are currently underway." In addition to theprovision of the terminals, friendlyway AG's range of servicesinclude designing and programming of the relevant interface,content management and transmission of content via satellite,cable or the Internet. "At the start we will offer the new technology on ourfriend@media Internet stations," says Andreas Stütz. "But, inthe future it will be possible to receive interactive customertelevision on mobile receivers and desktop PCs." Friendlyway AG: customer communication at POS friendlyway AG, founded in 1998, develops, produces andinstalls interactive advice systems at Point Of Sale and Point ofInformation, which enable better communication with the customerin the public space. According to its own figures, friendlyway,which has already received many awards for its innovations, willhave a turnover of DEM 33 million in 2001. Presently, more than30 per cent of turnover is earned abroad, primarily from Europe.The company has a fully-owned subsidiary in the USA, which isheadquartered in San Francisco, California. Among friendlyway'sprestigious clients are Dresdner Bank, Nokia, Bertelsmann, e-Sixtand buecher.de. For more information: Dr. Udo Nimsdorf, Engel &Zimmermann AG, Agentur für Wirtschaftskommunikation SchlossFußberg, Am Schlosspark 15, 82131 Gauting Tel. +49-89-893-5633,Fax +49-89-8939-8429 e-mail: info@engel-zimmermann.defriendlyway AG, Münchnerstraße 12 - 16, 85774 Unterföhring beiMunich Tel: +49-89-9597-9130, Fax +49-89-9597-9140 e-mail:info@friendlyway.de
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