[Mississauga, CANADA] KING Products and Photo-Me International (PMI)
have formed a joint venture, VendEstreet, to install and operate a
global network of e-vending machines in public areas delivering
online advertising, products and services.
KING and PMI have contributed equally from their own funds and are
equal partners in the new company.
VendEstreet will provide an Internet portal allowing online
management of content for video advertising and services offered on
the new e-vending machines, with many links to image-based services
such as photography, makeover and video mail.
VendEstreet has also completed market analysis towards other
services, such as ticket printing, e-commerce secure payment and
entertainment applications. Revenues from the e-vending network will
come from the sale of services and from video advertising. User
payment options will include cash and credit card.
Such online delivery, avoiding the necessity to finance, store, and
distribute inventories (unlike, for example, the Amazon.com model)
and assuring immediate payment, is an integral focus of VendEstreet’s
strategy.
Installation of the first 1,000 machines is slated to begin in France
in the third quarter of 2001. Occupying little floor space, many will
be located adjacent to PMI photobooths, in high traffic areas.
Business case analysis for installations in the USA and elsewhere in
Europe will be completed during the first quarter of 2001.
KING Products (CDNX:YKK) provides access to the Internet and online
services from public areas, using interactive multimedia terminals and
payphones.
It is a Canadian subsidiary of the Swiss telecom technology company,
Ascom Holding, which had 1999 revenues of more than US $2 billion
with 11,000 employees.
http://www.kingproducts.com
http://www.photo-me.co.uk
