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Al Barq Digital Signs Exclusive Deal With Whatamap
Published Oct 31, 2010
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Al Barq Digital, the digital media brand, owned and operated by Abu Dhabi Media Digital Out Of Home (AD Media DOOH), a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi Media Company (ADMC), has concluded an exclusive two–year agreement with Finland-based Whatamap, a leading specialist in mobile mapping, to provide innovative mobile wayfinding tools for consumers across the MENA region.
Mobile mapping enables consumers to access and download customized information, such as maps, guides, or special promotional offers, to almost any mobile phone, while visiting malls, exhibition centers and other leisure destinations and public venues.
“We are excited to be at the forefront of development and innovation, and introduce new platforms in Digital Signage and Digital Out of Home media”, said Ricky Ghai, Executive Director, Digital Media at ADMC. “Mobile mapping offers the unique opportunity to link up marketing and accessibility, and is an integral part of the Al Barq line-up of advanced services and solutions”, concluded Ghai.
The company will begin introducing the new Whatamap solution this month in the Dubai Festival City mall, where it has deployed an innovative digital screen network comprising Digital Media Units (DMUs) equipped with dual 22” interactive LCD touch screens - that help shoppers locate and navigate their way to stores and services in the mall, as well as dual 65” high definition LCD digital display screens for mall advertising.
“Al Barq Digital’s aim is to optimize consumer experiences and convenient information and services help make a shopping trip better”, commented Andrew Wood, General Manager of AD Media DOOH. “With the use of Whatamap’s mobile toolset, we will be connecting with and helping consumers at just the right moment and place, which influences their purchasing decisions and return visits, and moreover it has a positive impact on the business of our advertisers and mall property partners”, added Wood.
Integrating mobile mapping into the DMU platform helps Al Barq stimulate the usage of the interactive directory of the malls and presents new possibilities for advertisers to continue the engagement with consumers even after they have left the mall, via their mobile. Whatamap’s technology works across most mobile operating systems and handset types, removing the barrier of proprietary apps that may only work on certain handsets.
"We see huge value in enabling shopping malls to interact with the consumer using our digital and mobile platform, to deliver an enhanced experience”, said Antti Saarinen, CEO of Whatamap.com Ltd. “We are pleased to have a partner with such a high level of commitment and willingness to demonstrate how technology in digital outdoor media can be customized to create unique and meaningful relationships between advertisers and consumers to showcase the true power of this platform”, he added.
Launched in July, Al Barq continues to expand its network of screens and unique interactive Digital Media Units in prominent shopping malls, airports and exhibition centers in the UAE and Middle East, with an estimated 300 screens to be turned on by Q1 of 2011.
To learn more about Al Barq, please visit: www.albarqdigital.com
Posted by
VMD - [Virtual Marketing Department]
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