Unified Media Cloud enables integrated multi-channel,
multi-format, multi-mode entertainment services

Las Vegas, NV. –XONA Media, an advanced technology and services provider for entertainment kiosks, and Jaman Networks, a leading supplier of turn-key platforms for premium movies and online video, today launched the Unified Media Cloud (UMC) Platform, the first turn-key system for retailers and content owners to provide seamless access to media entertainment online, on-device and in-store.

Retail and content brands can offer premier branded experiences without the massive investments in media technology required in the past. This white label solution allows media and retail brands to be anywhere, in any format.

Unified Media Cloud Platform – unprecedented capabilities:

“Consumers have increasingly high expectations for portability and flexibility with their digital media. For media and retail brands, this means if you’re going to be digital anywhere, you have to be digital everywhere.” said Steve Harnsberger, VP of Jaman Networks. “Teaming with XONA Media allows us to extend our vision of universal media access from the cloud to an in-store presence as well, delivering the best in hybrid kiosk solutions, combining DVD rentals with a complementary digital option”.

“It’s been said that anybody can make something simple look complicated. Real creativity is making the complicated look simple,” said Pete Popcke, COO of XONA Media. “Jaman Networks and XONA Media share this priority to make digital entertainment accessible, seamless and simple for consumers. An integrated, modular platform tackles a big obstacle for retailers.”

XONA Media and Jaman Networks will demonstrate these commercially available technologies at the January 7-10th CES Show. To schedule a demonstration, contact Steve Harnsberger or Pete Popcke.

———————————————————————————————————-

About Jaman Networks
Jaman Networks is a leading technology provider delivering premium entertainment e-commerce solutions for content owners, retailers, ISPs and CE companies. The Jaman Networks platform enables end-to-end, worldwide internet distribution of Hollywood movies, independent film and television content to any web connected device including PCs, Macs, TiVos, set-top boxes, HDTVs, iPhones & iPods and digital kiosks while supporting multiple monetization models including subscription, pay-per-view, download-to-own and ad supported streaming. A diverse range of Jaman Networks’ platform tools are available for license including an adaptive recommendation engine; patent pending mood based movie finder; studio approved, multi-platform content protection and DRM; advanced social and community development tools; PC/Mac and TiVo player and media manager and Facebook Connect. For further information, go to www.jaman.net.

About XONA Media
XONA Media is a privately held media technology and services company providing innovative systems to link brick-and-mortar retailers to the web, and bridge physical media and digital delivery formats. With a team of retail and media distribution experts from Hollywood Video, Sonic Solutions, DVD Play, Premier Retail Networks and Zoom Systems, XONA Media leverages consumer insights and future-forward technology to dramatically reduce the costs of retail operations while creating transformative consumer experiences. Additional information is available at www.xonamedia.com.

XONA Media DVD+Digital kiosks deliver
most advanced movie rental capabilities at 1/3 the cost.

(DECEMBER 21) SAN FRANCISCO, CA. – XONA Media, an innovative media technology company, announced today the immediate availability of the MK3 DVD+Digital Kiosk, the world’s most advanced and cost effective entertainment kiosk platform.  With an unprecedented combination of power and price, the MK3 kiosk creates new retail markets and disrupts the economics of today’s entertainment kiosks, which are limited to only the highest-traffic retail locations.

3X the Capabilities, 1/3 the Cost

With unmatched capabilities, the MK3 DVD+Digital Kiosk is the only system capable of renting DVDs, Blu-ray discs and disc-based games; supporting secure, instant, digital movie downloads to flash-based storage or burning on-demand to recordable DVD; and even enabling Netflix-type subscription rental programs including online reservations and the capability to rent-at-kiosk and return-by-mail.

The MK3 also sets an important new price point – with systems starting under $5,000.  Much like “Moore’s Law” has driven down computing costs year-after-year, this 3^rd generation technology platform utilizes cutting edge advancements to dramatically reduce costs from the $15,000-25,000 of older, legacy systems.

New Markets

“DVD rental kiosks have quickly gone from novelty to necessity, but with more than 300,000 ATMs in the US, it’s easy to see that today’s 30,000 DVD kiosks are just the tip of the iceberg,” remarked Pete Popcke, Chief Operating Officer of XONA Media.  “With years of experience from Hollywood Video, Sonic Solutions, DVD Play, Premier Retail Networks and Zoom Systems, our team set out to engineer a new platform, built from the ground up to deliver the lower costs and increased flexibility that the next wave of movie retailers require.”

“First-generation DVD kiosks were really just modified VHS-tape systems developed in the 80’s” noted John Osborne, founding President of kiosk leader The New Release (now Blockbuster Express).  “At TNR, we began with these first-generation kiosks and then added second-generation systems from NCR.  We quickly learned that these large, cumbersome systems were very profitable, but only in the largest grocery stores.  The industry needs to embrace next-generation technology to reach its potential 100,000+ US kiosk locations, and ultimately deliver the convenience consumers expect.”

MK3 DVD+Digital Key Features

• 300 disc capacity, expandable to 700 discs, in four square feet of space.
• Instant Movie Download (XIMD) capabilities protect the kiosk investment by enabling DVD and digital distribution from a single machine.
• Engaging, 22” high definition touch screen interface and support for additional digital advertising screens.
• Configuration options which allow the MK3 DVD+Digital kiosk to be optimized for a wide variety of store locations – placed on a standard retail counter without disrupting sight lines, or converted into a free-standing system complete with integrated light box, digital sign, and retail racking.

USB 3.0 Brings Movie Downloads to Kiosks and Retail Outlets

LAGUNA NIGUEL and SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., December 21, 2009 – Symwave, a leading silicon supplier of system solutions for SuperSpeed USB devices and XONA Media, an advanced technology and services provider for entertainment kiosks, today debuted Instant Movie Download (XIMD) technology which incorporates USB 3.0 and enables consumers to download DVD-quality movies to portable devices in less than 10 seconds.  This breakthrough download speed paves the way for dramatically improved  consumer buying experiences via automated download stations at retail locations and beyond.

The MK3 DVD+Digital kiosk supports downloads to universally available USB 2.0 flash/thumb drives or, for the ultimate experience, to USB 3.0 enabled devices which have transfer rates up to 5 gigabits per second (Gbps).  By supporting these instant digital content downloads, as well as physical DVDs and Blu-ray discs, the MK3 gives retailers and consumers the choice of media and the streamlined buying experience they demand. Additionally, with the introduction of the XIMD instant download technology, consumers benefit from unlimited inventory of movies that are never out of stock and do not need to be returned.

“Now, if you have to ask how long it takes to download that movie, it’s too long. Content delivery at the incredible speeds of USB3 flash storage devices revolutionizes the movie rental experience,” said John O’Neill, Vice President of Marketing at Symwave.  “Consumers can select and download a movie at a convenient MK3 kiosk with the entire transaction taking less time than getting cash from an ATM.  The movie playback is then just as simple as plugging the flash drive device in to any commonly used USB compatible media player including gaming platforms and DVD players.”

“Digital has become synonymous with instant,” observes noted Trendwatching expert Renier Evers (www.trendwatching.com). “Consumers’ ingrained lust for instant gratification is being satisfied by a host of novel, important (offline and online) real-time products, services and experiences.”

“We developed the MK3 Kiosk to be the most flexible distribution platform for both today’s and tomorrow’s markets,” said Pete Popcke, Chief Operating Officer of XONA Media.  “A key design goal was to protect our operator and retailer customers in the coming digital transformation, with a digital download time at retail locations up to 1000 times faster than downloading a movie at home. The performance, security and maturity of Symwave’s USB 3.0 technology was a perfect companion to the MK3 design targets. The 10 second movie download sets a new standard at a wide variety of retail locations including grocery and convenience stores, restaurants, travel depots, and consumer electronics and big box discount retailers.”

Symwave and XONA Media will demonstrate the MK3 kiosk with XIMD technology at the upcoming CES Show in Las Vegas.  Demonstrations will be held at the Hilton Hotel (suite 2900) adjacent to the Convention Center. To schedule a visit, please contact Jim Kappes at jim.kappes@Symwave.com or Pete Popcke at popcke@xonamedia.com.

About XONA Media

XONA Media is a privately held media technology and services company providing innovative systems to link brick-and-mortar retailers to the web, and bridge physical media and digital delivery formats.  With a team of retail and media distribution experts from Hollywood Video, Sonic Solutions, DVD Play, Premier Retail Networks and Zoom Systems, XONA Media leverages consumer insights and future-forward technology to dramatically reduce the costs of retail operations while creating transformative consumer experiences.  Additional information is available at www.xonamedia.com.

About Symwave, Inc.

Symwave is a global fabless semiconductor company developing connectivity SoCs (Systems-on-Chip) and software solutions that enable PCs and other consumer electronic devices to realize the benefits of SuperSpeed USB 3.0. The USB 3.0 standard improves device power management, transfers data tenfold faster and maintains backwards compatibility with the billions of USB ports shipped to date. Symwave’s high-performance analog/mixed-signal products leverage the company’s proprietary technology, IP and silicon design capabilities to bring the benefits of uncompromised speed in low-cost standard CMOS processes. The company is privately held with headquarters in Orange County, Calif., and design centers in Shenzhen, China, and San Diego, Calif. Symwave is backed by top-tier venture capital firms including Kodiak Venture Partners and CMEA Ventures and an investment by SMSC (NASDAQ: SMSC). Additional information is available at www.symwave.com.

A digital entertainment consortium plans to develop a new standard so consumers can play purchased content on any type of device and stream it freely

How do you make digital entertainment more entertaining? A sprawling consortium of Hollywood content providers, consumer electronics companies, and Internet players said on Sept. 12 that its members are planning to develop a standard that will let consumers buy movies and other digital content once and play them almost anywhere, on any type of device, without the onerous restrictions that have hobbled the growth of digital downloads.

The consortium is called the Digital Entertainment Content Ecosystem (DECE). Its members have been working since May to create rules that will let consumers share their purchased content on a number of devices in the home, or stream them over the Internet to laptops, cell phones, or other electronic gear. “No matter where you are in the world, if you previously purchased Spider-Man 3, you should be able to access Spider-Man and stream it,” Mitch Singer, the group’s president, said in an interview.

read more at Business Week