Turning point to export success
E-zine Issue 1
An innovative transport sound system, "Soundscape", produced by Sittingbourne Hub client Turning Points Ltd, has been purchased by Norway’s second largest transport company, Tide coaches, for its Bergen-based sightseeing operation.
The first installation was completed in June and Tide expresses itself delighted with the system's ease-of-use and error-free performance. TIDE is now looking to extend its use of the system for the 2008 tourism season whilst MAN says that it has no reservations in recommending Soundscape to other coach operators.
The deal brought together Turning Points, European coach manufacturer MAN and leading Norwegian telecommunications specialist Nordialog in what is hoped will be the first of many more similar co-ventures. Turning Points MD Ian Walsh commented, "with the aid of an external strategic specialist we have, in the last couple of weeks, embarked upon a thorough-going review our opportunities both domestically and internationally. With strong interest in Soundscape now being expressed by potential partners in Europe and the USA on both business to business and consumer levels we feel it's important to be clear about where our strengths and priorities lie and how we can best serve our chosen sectors. The success of those license agreements already established in parts of Norway, Denmark and Sweden will certainly help to shape our future direction."
"Soundscape" uses GPS satellite technology to calculate a vehicle's location, direction and speed of travel, and then delivers audio content accordingly. The idea is that the system will trigger commentaries simultaneously in eight languages to passenger headsets at the correct location and also allows the client to manage their own commentary library for themselves.
MD Ian Walsh says, "This formula of robust, reliable hardware along with the authoring license is proving successful for us. It’s good to see how quickly clients become confident and use the system’s flexibility to be creative with their commentaries."
Hub Director John Dodd said, "Turning Points have made huge progress since winning our Start Up Challenge in 2003, where they gained cash and intensive business support from the Hub and sponsors. They have a customer-focused product that can be easily rolled out across several markets internationally and is very much an idea whose time has come."
For more details contact Sittingbourne Enterprise Hub on 01795 411 501 or email:
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Author: SEEDA
Created Date: 05-12-2007
