Interactive Pictures Corp., a provider of
immersive imaging for the Internet, has been selected by Ticketmaster
Online-CitySearch to deliver IPIX images for CitySearch’s city guide Web advertising
packages.
The 360-degree-by-360-degree IPIX images provide the technology for
CitySearch’s “CircleView” ad product for local businesses. Interactive
Pictures’ IPIX technology is an immersive photograph, allowing people to step
inside an IPIX image looking in any direction, from left to right and floor
to ceiling, and feel as if they are actually in the picture.
“Local city guides are a great application of IPIX technology,” said Jim
Phillips, chairman and CEO of Interactive Pictures. “IPIX images help local
merchants market and sell their products and venues enabling consumers to
experience a destination before they arrive, tour a city’s attractions, visit
local hotels, pick a restaurant and even shop online.”
Ticketmaster Online-CitySearch has purchased 33 of Interactive Pictures’
digital camera kits based on the new Nikon Coolpix 950 2.1 megapixel digital
camera to enable IPIX images to be created in seconds, right in front of the
merchant. These solutions enable citysearch.com photographers to capture
restaurants, museums, parks, theaters and any other locale, and create
interactive images that “teleport” viewers to the destination. Spending was
not disclosed.
“This relationship will provide us with a great way to increase the
effectiveness of our merchant Web sites by providing consumers with a tool
that helps them make informed purchasing decisions,” said Carmen Bal, vice
president of product management for Ticketmaster Online-CitySearch.
IPIX images were first used by Ticketmaster Online-CitySearch to develop
virtual tours of arenas and theaters for the My.Ticketmaster Web site.
