Cityspace celebrates ten years as market leaders in urban digital networks
5 April 2006
Cityspace, the UK's leading provider of urban digital networks this month celebrates its tenth birthday as a pioneer in cutting edge technologies which deliver on-street digital services to the public.
Established by business entrepreneur, Marc Meyohas in the early 90's and incorporated in 1996, Cityspace was originally developed to harness new digital technologies to deliver tourist information through touch screen terminals. The first of 30 such terminals was located at the Natural History Museum in 1997.
Following investment from NEC and Clear Channel the company gained vital knowledge which allowed it to differentiate itself from the competition by developing a rugged, yet stylish outdoor terminal. The network of so called 'iPlus Points' comprises nearly 400 information terminals across the UK's landmark cities and towns, providing local and council information alongside a raft of useful digital services such as free email (Freemail), travel information and journey planners and BBC News and Sport.
Wireless wonders
Cityspace has significantly expanded both its product range and geographical spread over the last ten years with the development of the UK's only established wide area municipal wireless broadband networks (hotzones) in major hubs like Bristol and the London Borough of Islington. Deployed in partnership with the Local Authorities these hotzones deliver high speed mobile access to council services and the internet to anyone with a wirelessly enabled device and wireless connectivity to fixed infrastructure such as CCTV.
Cityspace on the move
In 2003, Cityspace launched its Transport division, wholly dedicated to making it easier to use public transport by providing the public with broadband access to interactive travel services and information. Real-time information and touch screen journey planning services are delivered via on-street 'Smart Columns' and 'Smart Panels'.
In a significant milestone announced earlier this year, Cityspace has entered into a partnership agreement with Advanced Communications and Information Systems Ltd (ACIS), the leading provider of real-time passenger information systems, to deliver countrywide digital services for improving public transport, opening up a valuable new channel for delivering Cityspace travel services direct to UK Transport Authorities.
Global growth
As the company's international recognition grew, Cityspace Sweden was set up to develop indoor transactional terminals and iPlus Networks have been deployed as far a field as Brussels and Moscow.
"It has been an exciting and challenging ten years and I see no change in these sentiments for the next ten," comments Marc Meyohas, CEO, Cityspace.
"Working with emerging technologies and effectively pioneering these technologies to provide public services can be quite a rollercoaster of a ride, but pays great dividends in terms of public usage and customer feedback.
"Our iPlus service, we believe, will continue to go from strength to strength, but we are truly excited by the transport and wireless solutions now gaining momentum with significant government partnership announcements on the horizon."
Marc concludes "our success is a tribute to our people who are the very best in their respective fields - from interactive development to street furniture design, engineering and technical architecture."
With the recent launch of the iPlus Multipoint, which combines interactive services and an ATM, and further developments in the pipeline, Cityspace continues to evolve its offering and is confident it will maintain its status as "the UK's leading provider of urban digital networks", (FT, June 2005).
End.
Notes to editors
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About Cityspace
Cityspace is a UK-based technology company, which has been providing urban digital networks in partnership with local authorities since 1996. It is the market leader in designing and delivering local information and digital services to public spaces through its three divisions; Cityspace Interactive Media, Cityspace Transport and Cityspace Wireless, which each offer pioneering product and service portfolios in their respective markets.
Cityspace Interactive Media's flagship products, iPlus Points, offer free-to-use, compelling content via a touch screen at almost 400 locations across the UK . Useful services include free email (Freemail), BBC News and web search to complement each local authority's digital information services.
In 2004 Cityspace Transport launched a 'world first' digital transport network for Portsmouth City Council, in collaboration with several technology and bus operator partners. Further major projects followed, including the pioneering Kent Fastrack initiative and a collaboration with First Group in York City in 2006.
Cityspace Wireless designs and delivers outdoor wireless broadband networks for mobility, fixed infrastructure and resale. Specialising in wide-area 'hotzones' this year the division implemented the UK's largest such hotzone on behalf of Islington Council, stretching along 4km of the borough's main thoroughfare, from Upper Street to Holloway Road.
Cityspace has developed urban digital networks for over 50 UK local authorities and international implementations include Moscow, Sweden and Brussels. -
For further information, please contact:
Sophia Henri
Cityspace PR
Tel: +44 (0)20 7313 8428
Email:
www.cityspace.com
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