The Top 10 Digital Signage Surprises of 2005

By Lisa Jachimowicz
December 28, 2005

Opinion: What were the most interesting Digital Signage moments in 2005? Here's our list. What “I beg your pardon??-- I never promised you a rose garden” items did we miss?

There is so much Top 10 Digital Signage news, so little time. And when your subject is Digital Signage, the Top 10 options are as varied (and only sometimes as funny) as the top ten lists from late night TV watching (on a big plasma television of course)!

Here at The Digital Signage Forum, it was a tough choice. Should it be "Top 10 stupid reasons to send out a digital signage press release "? Or the "Top 10 Hires made by Digital Signage companies in 2005"? (Too difficult.) The "Top 10 Most Important Digital Signage Defectors"? (Too Easy?) or maybe "Top 10 Reasons for Throwing Caution to the Wind by using Power Point as your digital signage solution"? Or maybe "Top 10 odes to “My player is better than yours"? or “We are the next upcoming Digital Signage leader and we are going to be SO BIG –  that you should partner with us and by the way can you give us free _____ whatever”. You can fill in the blanks depending on where you are in the industry at this particular moment.

In the end, we chose the more or less-traveled (depending on if you are the glass is half full or half empty person) "Digital Signage Forum year in review" road—but with a peppermint twist. We decided to highlight the very top 10 Digital Signage-specific developments that gave us the biggest “Baby what a big surprise” reaction in 2005. (And having watched Digital Signage for more than four years, this Digital Signager doesn’t fall out of her office chair very easily.) ha!

Here's our too hot (in no particular order) DSF Top Ten List:

1. Thomson rises up from a long winters nap and announces the acquisition of PRN Corporation, which has a huge customer base of retailers to Thomson's digital signage customer list. PRN, is a privately-held company based in Rice-a- Ronis San Francisco treat area, and has in-store signage networks in more than 6,000 locations and includes Wal-Mart, Sam’s Club, Costco, Albertsons, Best Buy and Circuit City among the company’s clients. PRN was founded in 1992. Their Grass Valley group has one of the largest digital content servers in the industry called Turbo. Nothing like a little competition!

2. POP goes the sign storey!  SignStorey in-store media networks enters agreement with Meredith Publishing to begin 2006. The top consumer packaged goods companies and advertising agencies have used SignStorey to help sell their products and create awareness at the point of purchase. With headquarters in Fairfield, CT, SignStorey is a full service digital media company providing hardware, installation, and network management as well as video programming and advertising. The customized programs include a combination of store specials, meal ideas, wellness tips, entertainment and advertising, delivered via satellite to the stores. We think it is simply brilliant of them to partner with Meredith for point-of purchase opportunities because they have an extensive Internet presence that includes 32 Web sites and strategic alliances with leading Internet destinations.

3. Focus Media Holdings plays the stock market for there own hoopla in July and makes a colorful fireworks show with a strong NASDAQ debut. We all know once Digital Signage companies are publicly trading people will (and are) starting to pay attention. Focus Media is paving the way for us! BRAVO Focus Media!

4. The mini-series called “Lyle Bunn does it again” because he has produced very compelling, (no ego included, down-to-earth thank-you so much Lyle) simple, understandable articles all year long to tremendously help further the digital signage industry in a way that many users (no matter what their skill level) can and do understand. Last year we particularly liked “New York Signage  Network Offers Lessons” and  His latest glossary!

5.  3M acquires Mercury Online Solutions, a Washington-based digital signage company that markets large-scale networks and interactive kiosks. Mercury had 30 employees and installed the first system in 1996. They have 4,000 active screens around the U.S.  and on of the company’s major customers is AT&T and Mercury has at least 3,000 kiosks and signage displays in 900 AT&T Wireless retail stores (now Cingular), and Mercury helped AT&T bring its online store into these brick and mortar stores.  Their big thing was the FRED nexus software and with the 3m/Mercury acquisition our newest question of the year (to the emotional soap opera tune edited by me  “The days of our digital signage lives”)  for 2006 is  Will FRED live? Stay tuned….

6. I like the company who calls themselves Limelight. Now just because I like the name Limelight probably isn’t the best reason to list them in the TOP ten. The facts are that they are Washington based for one (see! I told you Washington state should be the Digital Signage capitol of the U.S.) and not too mention the company's revenues are derived primarily from a combination of fees received for managing customers digital signage networks that the company sells (whoa! that is awesome and who would of thought?) and they also have an upscale customer called Neiman Marcus who was faced with selling product that has a tremendous amount of detail, which needed to be supported in a more subliminal, tasteful manner. They introduced in-store technology in support of its own brand and some of its merchandise in a low-key, high style way. The company also known as IMPART MEDIA GROUP also announced an open conference call for December 28^th for all interested parties.

7.  One of my top personal favorites on the list as the best way to utilize signage is   KatrinaWish.com and Mediatile.com Narrowcasting System Connected The World to Evacuees! "It is simple human nature to want to comfort those in distress, and KatrinaWish.com facilitates this connection, regardless of the miles between individuals," said Keith Kelsen, CEO of The MediaTile Company. "KatrinaWish.com makes it possible to provide the ongoing emotional support that is so critical to overcoming this type of devastation to one's life while facilitating financial support. Our entire team wanted to help during this time of crisis. We realized that our technology was ideal for this situation because it communicates over cellular networks and only needs power. I encourage everyone to visit KatrinaWish.com and send a digital-wish to those in need. We're prepared to take millions of well wishes and narrowcast them directly to evacuees."  MediaTile is also a highly regarded sponsor of the Digital Signage Forum. Great Job MediaTile!

8.  This company proves that concentrating locally instead of globally can sometimes payoff.  STRANDVISION has a different approach (formerly OnlineKiosks) and has a plan to put video screens showing advertising in lobbies where people wait for appointments. The solution is live and web based and offers a easy way for employees to change content for their businesses message. After reaching the statewide business-plan competition finals, it won the emerging growth category at Eau Claire Area Economic Development Corporation's business awards in October which gave STRANDVISION a whopping $250,000! STRANDVISION was an early adopter and sponsor of the Digital Signage Forum. Great job STRANDVISION! 

9. AGN Professional (AGNPro), a leading provider of innovative digital signage solutions, in partnership with BarNet Digital Inc., based in Toronto, announced the unveiling of a unique and interactive digital signage network that reaches bar and nightclub patrons. While club owners can enhance the bar experience for their patrons, advertisers can reach hundreds-of-thousands of 18-34 year olds right in the heart of their own territory -- the bars and clubs where they choose to enjoy themselves. AGNPRO and Rich Perry is a highly respected forum member who contributes to the Digital Signage Forum and the industry as a whole, plus he helped co-find and support the1^st ever Digital Signage Roundtable in New York City. The office location in NYC is phenomenal along with their planning skills and screens (the screens were really impressive) LCD monitors with black sharp looking bezels, defiantly hip..definatley signagey..AND definitely NYC hip signagey. It was awesome to have an office there to do print outs and tie up loose ends. AGNPro was wonderful! Thank you! 

10. Clear Channel rolls out one of the most impressive outdoor networks in the United States.  All of these screens are set at eye-level just above the subway entrances in Manhattan, Brooklyn and the Bronx to provide a dynamic, unavoidable display.  The success comes from great content and a high frequency from repeated exposures due to a high volume of subway commuters. Billijam Art ran a series of digital artwork spots on LED screens located at over 80 subway stations throughout the month of August, 2005. The screens are part of Clear Channel Outdoor's Digital Street Network system. We were there and we got pictures! Great job Billijam and Clear Channel!