IMAGIC INFOMEDIA TECHNOLOGY: CNN News now available free to Hong Kong's
PowerPhone users
(M2 Presswire; 07/17/98)
M2 PRESSWIRE-17 July 1998-IMAGIC INFOMEDIA TECHNOLOGY: CNN News now
available free to Hong Kong's PowerPhone users (C)1994-98 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD
-- Multimedia payphone system maintains innovation edge with addition of CNN
News Updates
iMagic Infomedia Technology Limited and Turner International Inc. today
signed a joint licensing agreement involving CNN Interactive, the world's
leader in online news and information, and PowerPhone, iMagic's multimedia
enhanced public payphone and information system. Through this first-of-its-kind
agreement, the public can now access CNN Interactive content for free on the
touchscreen interface of PowerPhone units installed in the new Hong Kong
International Airport -- the world's first airport to provide an interactive
touchscreen multimedia payphone service.
CNN Interactive will offer PowerPhone users a variety of reports and
features, including Asia Pacific, world, science and technology, and
entertainment news, a continuous headlines ticker; and access news summaries on
the 335 PowerPhone units throughout the Hong Kong International Airport.
The introduction of the award-winning CNN Interactive's content on the
PowerPhone interface is the latest addition to the value-added services offered
on PowerPhone, which include: local and long distance calls; advertising;
electronic directories; home direct operator service; and detailed information
on its latest site provider, Hong Kong's new 516,000 square metre airport.
PowerPhone provides all-in-one payment capability, including coin as well as
credit card, smart card, contactless card, and prepaid calling card payment
methods.
"We are very pleased to provide another innovative, value-added service on
PowerPhone," said Dorothy Tsang, chief executive of Magic. "With the addition
of CNN, the world's leading news brand, PowerPhone becomes even more beneficial
for the travelling public. Already, PowerPhone in the new airport serves as a
mini-business centre, with its combination of telephony and e-business
applications like fax, e-mail, and a datajack for a laptop and PC connection.
This is another step we've taken in creating a single point of access for the
convenience of busy travellers.
"The iMagic PowerPhone is an excellent new medium for dissemination of CNN's
news," said Mark Bernstein, vice president and general manager, CNN
Interactive. "The key locations of the PowerPhone units make the latest news
available to our users when they are travelling.
"We are excited that CNN is delivering its excellent content on this
groundbreaking distribution platform here in Hong Kong," said Kevin Cohen, vice
president, network distribution, North Asia for Turner International Asia
Pacific Ltd. "This affiliation with iMagic confirms CNN's leadership in
providing news content to new distribution platforms and is a strong example of
the far-reaching possibilities of news distribution in the future."
The Hong Kong Government Bureau of Information Technology and Broadcasting
has expressed appreciation of the development of the innovative PowerPhone
payphone system by the locally based iMagic. In addition, the Bureau was
pleased to learn of iMagic's new business development with Turner
International.
"The joint licensing agreement with an international news agency to provide
up-to-date information on what is happening around the globe is a clear
demonstration that we are an integral part of the global village," said K. C.
Kwong, secretary for IT and Broadcasting.
In Hong Kong, iMagic has granted New World Telephone (NWT) the exclusive
right to deploy PowerPhone as a public and infomercial service. Since adopting
PowerPhone, NWT consistently won highly competitive bids for major sites.
PowerPhone is the exclusive payphone service available in the Kowloon-Canton
Railway stations and the new Hong Kong International Airport. The newly opened
airport at Chek Lap Kok is expected to be one of the world's busiest airports,
with a capacity to handle more than 35 million passengers a year. PowerPhone is
also available in the Mass Transit Railway stations, Hong Kong Convention and
Exhibition Centre, and at key tourist locations throughout the Special
Administrative Region.
Editor's Notes
About iMagic Infomedia Technology Limited
iMagic Infomedia Technology Ltd. is an innovative leader in the multimedia
payphone industry. iMagic's mission is to merge technology with creativity to
deliver customised multimedia strategies to. corporations around the world.
iMagic strives to provide customers with cost-effective solutions that generate
greater sources of revenue while providing users with greater ease of use and
enjoyment. Developing products and services of superior value for both clients
and users, Magic has selected a leading ISO 9001 certified OEM manufacturer in
Japan to provide manufacturing support.
About New World Telephone
New World Telephone is formed jointly by New World Development Group and
INFA Telecom of Hong Kong. Fusing the formers powerful corporate resources with
the latter's marketing and technical excellence, NWT provides a comprehensive
range of telecommunications services including fixed, mobile, local and long
distance communication services to individuals and corporations.
About CNN Interactive
CNN Interactive produces six of the eight CNN Web sites, as well as
distributing CNN news content via other distribution platforms such as PageNet
pagers, PointCast and AirMedia. The CNN Web sites generate more traffic and
attract more unduplicated Internet users than any other company's general news
and information Web sites. The CNNWeb sites, which averaged 85 million page
impressions per week during June 1998, consist of CNN.com; CNNfn.com, a unit of
CNN financial News; CNNSI.com, a joint sports site with Sports Illustrated;
AllPolitics.com, a U.S. political news site produced in conjunction with TIME
magazine; CNN CustomNews, a personalised news service operated with Oracle
technology; CNNenEspanol.com. CNNemPortugues.com; and Svenska CNN, a Swedish-
language news site produced with Telia.
About Turner International
Turner International is the arm of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. (TBS)
charged with the sales and marketing of the Company's news and entertainment
programming outside the United States. TBS Inc., a subsidiary of Time Warner
Inc., is a major producer of news and entertainment around the world and the
leading provider of programming for the basic cable industry in the United
States.
CONTACT: David Kim, iMagic Infomedia Technology Ltd Tel: +44 (0)118 966 8421
e-mail: [email protected] Kirsty Tewes/Alex Miller, The Weber Group Europe
Tel: +44 (0)171 240 6189 e-mail: [email protected]
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