The headline sponsor of KioskCom Self Service Expo, Key Technology, is to announce a rebranding, with each of its stable of consumer facing technology groups now coming under the Cammax name.

Set to showcase its range of touch screen and kiosk products at Self Service Expo on 1-2 October, this year’s event is the natural launch platform for this new brand in the kiosk market, as Julian Rooney, managing director at Cammax explains:

“With the imminent arrival in Europe of a number of new retail technology solutions, such as contactless payment and an associated rise in interactive digital marketing, this year’s Self Service Expo looks like paving the way for a strong 2009.  With the eyes of the kiosk world focused on London, the event gives us the perfect environment in which to announce the arrival of Cammax.”

The reorganisation at Cammax follows a successful trading period which has seen a number of high profile roll-outs.  In retail, for example, Orange customers have enjoyed swift service and queue busting through the use of Cammax e-top up kiosks.  Joining these on display at the Cammax stand will be the new remote access kiosks, developed for councils who wish to incorporate ‘old technology’ elements of the telephone helpline with the convenience of a self service document scanning kiosk which emails information in real time – currently in use at a number of local authority customer contact points.

As Julian adds, the name change is a reflection of these successes:

“Over the last twelve months, the three elements of the Cammax group – kiosks and hardware, the software solutions and maintenance division – have all experienced substantial growth.  We hope that this move will enhance our expansion for 2009, with an increased recognition of our comprehensive kiosk design and deployment service.  In terms of new products, our visitors at Self Service Expo will see brand new Cammax technology, such as our retail Chip & PIN units and the unique ‘EQUIP’ system recently introduced to many hospitals, which integrates user friendly triage kiosks with digital signage and queue management.”

The buoyant market in customer-facing technology has led to yet another annual increase in the size of Self Service Expo and, with the added focus for 2008 on digital display provided through its education programme, the event is set to provide a hugely informative look at the latest in self service and marketing technology available.

The mobile online boom opens up new markets and shows potent trends for the future. TAB-Austria registers a high turnover growth with online devices in the 1st half of 2008 The future itself shows how good prognoses for the future are. The spectacular growth prognoses in the mobile online business have also been confirmed at TAB Austria. The internet and the global networking have become a central component of daily life. We can’t imagine doing without Google and Co. and thus also at TAB Austria we have worked for years on the systematic expansion of terminals which are maintained and updated online via the internet. The most important instrument is the continuous further development of our own software OTM (Online Terminal Management), which not only saves a great deal of time but also travel costs for the operators.

Various enhancement stages of OTM and OVP (Online Version Plus) guarantee new exclusive games, online tournaments and also regular software updates of the SILVERBALL and MAX FIRE versions. Since 2002, TAB Austria has invested in this technology in order to gain new customers, develop new markets and above all to set new trends. Thus regular version and game updates can be loaded to all SILVERBALL touch screen terminals and MAX FIRE jukeboxes easily and comfortably, directly from Ansfelden. Also quite simply with the touch of a finger the newest songs and videos can be downloaded directly on the digital video jukebox MAX FIRE. After an intensive test phase, since the start of the mobile online offensive at TAB Austria in April 2008, just under 300 HSDPA* modems have been installed throughout Europe in TAB terminals. This transmission procedure, also known as 3G+, guarantees a quick data transmission of large amounts of data with enormously short latency periods**. This unbroken trend of comprehensive networking is continuing since there are also no expensive roaming fees for the operators.

Mobile online networking entails new technical possibilities and at the same time shows an enormous market potential for the future of the amusement business. Not only through the trend towards online networking, but also through the signing of international contracts with major music labels, the novel download feature “MUSIC TO GO” was developed for MAX FIRE jukeboxes. It allows a direct data transfer of music files and music videos to external data carriers like the MP3 player, USB keychains and even mobile telephones. Via Bluetooth or USB interface, now quickly the newest songs and videos can simply be downloaded at the touch of a finger for mobile use. This absolutely new development and further product novelties will follow. This year in the fall, with great expectations the new features and novel game concepts will be introduced to the world market.

Austrian Gaming Industries GmbH (AGI), wholly owned subsidiary of Novomatic AG Austria, will present an extensive display of innovative gaming equipment at the Entertainment Industry 2008 exhibition in Kiev, Ukraine.

The Entertainment Industry gaming show 2008 will take place from September 17-19 in Kiev, and once again Novomatic and its Ukrainian subsidiary HTL Ukraine will participate with a top selection of new products for the Ukrainian gaming industry and beyond.

At the Novomatic booth number A-402 visitors will find a selection of highly market-specific Multi-Games 4 You™ Coolfire™ I game-mixes in the popular Duo-Classic™ cabinet, the latest Coolfire™ II multi-game mixes in the Super-V+ Gaminator® cabinet as well as the Super-R+ Gaminator® featuring a great blend of video and reel games. On display will be the gripping Super-V+ Gaminator® with extra wide screens for maximum player attraction, most elegant style and top quality standards and Super-R+ Gaminator® with modern Hybrid Technology featuring three giant mechanical reels to complement the top selection of Coolfire™ II video games.

Visitors will also discover the Novo-Vision™ Slant Top I cabinet that brings sophisticated style and exclusive comfort to any casino floor. It features a 22” bottom touch screen plus a giant 26” top screen for a new dimension of gaming excitement. The innovative flip-screen feature allows players to switch their main game from the bottom to the top screen to play in their preferred and ergonomically perfect position.

Jens Halle, Managing Director AGI, appreciates the economic value of the Ukrainian trade show: “The Ukrainian market presents excellent business opportunities for our diverse business divisions. The Kiev gaming show has firmly established its position as a central meeting place not only for the local gaming industry but for the whole region. In its previous years this show was a great success for us and presented an ideal arena to display our products and innovations. We are looking forward to an even better result this year!”

The AGI team is looking forward to welcoming its guests – partners, customers and visitors – at the Entertainment Industry 2008, booth no. A-402!

Money Controls strengthens sales and service support in Italy

Money Controls’ continuing success in the Italian amusement market has been underlined by two significant developments: the signing of a new five-year supply agreement with Maggi Coniature s.r.l. and a partnership with leading service company, Universal Services s.r.l.
Maggi Coniature is today one of Italy’s major suppliers of money-handling products to the amusement and vending markets and has been operating for nearly seventy years. With offices in Milan and in the historic town of Ferrara, the company has been a Money Controls sales and distribution partner for more than 30 years. With the signing of the new agreement, key Maggi accounts are now supplied direct from Money Controls’ Bergamo warehouse with next-day delivery.
Milan-based Universal Services s.r.l. has been operating since 1999 as a one-stop shop for service and repair of money-handling equipment and is renowned for its rapid response, technical expertise and excellent customer service. Following an intensive training programme, the company is now a service agent for Money Controls’ products, both in and out of warranty.
Stephan Rosseneu, Money Controls’ Western European Sales Manager, based in the company’s Milan office, explained the reasoning behind the two agreements: “We have enjoyed considerable growth in Italy in recent years, which led to the opening of our Italian subsidiary last year. The next, logical step was to use this new facility to supply products direct to Maggi’s key account customers, streamlining the distribution process. With our growth in sales we also needed to strengthen our service support. Having worked closely with Universal Services for some time, we were aware of their capabilities and resources, and had no hesitation in appointing the company as our service agent. Check out their details on www.universalservicesrl.it”
With the most comprehensive portfolio of cash-handling products, Money Controls was already a major supplier to the Italian amusement market. Implementation of the Comma 6A legislation has strengthened this position, thanks to the Compact Hopper and Combi Hopper system. Both meet all the technical requirements of the new regulation, whilst providing field-proven reliability and security.
Developed primarily for the Italian Comma 6A market, the Combi Hopper system features a low float, high security and fast payout of €2, €1 and €50c coins from just two hoppers, with no hunting for coins. Launched two years ago, it has already been integrated into machines by major software houses in Italy and is proving to be the optimal Comma 6A payout solution for leading operators.

Storm International is a gaming operator that is always looking for a greater variety of services and opportunities to provide its customers with a better playing experience. They found just the right ingredients with Atronic’s Chain Reaction™ Mystery Jackpot link. 

Seeking new technologies and being open for experiments is synonymous with Storm International, which led to the decision to introduce a new Mystery Jackpot concept into their casino in the form of Atronic’s Chain Reaction™.

Chain Reaction™ is based on the principle of giving customers the feeling of team spirit in that when someone hits the jackpot all participants have a chance to share in the prize and even multiply it for the main winner, as Atronic says, “No jealousy for the winner, just the fun of participating and sharing in the win!”

The Chain Reaction™ installation at Storm International is the first of its kind in Russia. Installed in Storm’s Moscow casino, Udarnik, players enjoy the excitement on eight Atronic e-motion™ cabinets supported by a variety of new game titles from the Atronic library.

The new concept has attracted players’ attention immediately and has started to gain popularity among casino guests. “While guests experience a new way of ‘being a part of winning mysteries’, we get the benefit of added activity on our casino floor,” commented Jose Da Silva Rocha, Slot Director for Storm International.

Atronic Systems´ Sales Director Simon Dorsen added: “Chain Reaction creates excitement on the floor, produces a group feeling among the players and increases the tension during the jackpot hit period. Storm International’s experience along with other casinos has proven the success of this new concept of shared wins.”