Netkey Upgrades Industry Leading Kiosk Software Suite
11/27/01
Netkey Software Achieves Global Advantage with Full Multi-language Support and Robust Feature Enhancements
Netkey, Inc. announced today significant upgrades to Netkey Creator, the world`s most popular Web kiosk software suite and Netkey Manager, the industry`s premier e-CRM solution for the management and maintenance of a Web self-service kiosk network. The enhanced software will be generally available on December 10, 2001.
The Netkey Creator 5.5 and Manager 1.6 software upgrades provide improved administration tools, enhanced installation options and full multi-language Unicode support to Netkey`s award winning patented enterprise software platform. These enhancements make the Netkey software suite easier for international organizations such as retailers and banks to use the software as the backbone for their multi-channel sales, marketing and inventory extension strategy.
According to analysts Frost and Sullivan, kiosk deployments are expected to grow at an average rate of thirteen to fifteen percent in Asia, South America, Africa, and the South Pacific. Netkey’s Unicode upgrade will allow the company to respond to this growing demand by supporting the myriad languages of prospective end-users.
The Netkey Creator 5.5 upgrade includes full support for Active X controls. Active X allows for easier integration of third party tools and non-web-based objects into a kiosk environment through discreet units of functionality designed to be incorporated into the overall architecture of the program. For example, many kiosks and self-service devices require advanced video and audio that are not easily supported in a web environment; Active X allows these objects to reside inside a “shell” and operate on the Windows platform while being controlled by Netkey software. This advance significantly reduces the cost and timeframe of projects, while allowing much richer functionality, dynamic graphics, and enhanced integration with databases and backend systems.
“Each generation of Netkey’s innovative software platform delivers the industry’s most user-friendly kiosk management tools on the market to help develop, deploy, and operate self-service networks,” said Rajeev Singh, chief product officer for Netkey. “By upgrading our two major products, Netkey Creator and Manager, in tandem, we can deliver tightly integrated software that offers utmost usability and the most advanced features available in the kiosk industry today for the global community.”
Netkey Software Features
Global Communications
Creator 5.5 and Manager 1.6 include full Unicode support, a binary code setup for text or script characters. Officially called the Unicode Worldwide Character Standard, it is a system for interchanging, processing, and displaying written texts of the diverse languages of the principal written languages of the world, including Japanese, Hebrew, Chinese, and Arabic.
Making Self Service Easier
Netkey Creator is in use on more than 15,000 kiosks around the globe. Creator`s patented and industry-standard technology controls incoming and outgoing Web access, provides rich functionality and URL restriction, keyboard lockdown, and multimedia welcome screens to attract viewing customers. The upgrades allow users greater customization and configuration options than ever before by providing a new user interface that integrates managers side input, more file grouping and greater peripheral devices support, such as currency (bill) acceptors and bar code readers.
Point and Click Administration
Netkey Manager is a comprehensive e-CRM server solution for Web kiosk network monitoring, reporting, analysis and content management. Netkey Manager 1.6 brings the added features of utilizing UI simplification; flexible grouping; and enhanced error reporting. The latest upgrades offer the ability to clone and to delete a kiosk from the Manager system, dramatically reducing deployment time and providing improved management the kiosk network.
Gauging Results
Further enhancements to Netkey Manager include five new report formats. A standout amongst the new reports is the eMe ReportsManager. eMe allows customers to e-mail themselves Web URLs or other information from an in-store kiosk, providing them with an opportunity to conduct product research at home. The latest upgrade introduces new reports including eMe requests to creating a data capture point for customer e-mail and URL requests to gather and analyze CRM data.
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