Sharp NEC Display Solutions

CHICAGO - June 1, 2010 - NEC Display Solutions is taking a bold step to accelerate the growth and success of the digital signage industry by making its full VUKUNET digital signage software management platform available, free of charge starting today, to any network operator.

The VUKUNET Content Management System is a robust Software as a Service (SaaS) solution that is fully hosted, managed and supported by NEC. Developed by NEC, the VUKUNET CMS meets or exceeds the capabilities of dozens of commercial SaaS digital signage solutions, but has none of the start-up or substantial monthly subscription fees that keep many networks from profitability.

"NEC is making it easier for companies to run digital signage networks by empowering them with tools that take out costs and help grow their businesses," said Pierre Richer, President and C.O.O. of NEC Display. "We are trying to simplify the complexities of the signage market and drive this industry forward with a free CMS solution. The fragmentation of this industry is the biggest obstacle to growth, and those days are finally over."

Launched in November 2009, the CMS solution is part of a suite of software products that comprise the VUKUNET platform. VUKUNET also includes a universal ad-serving solution with modules that enable network operators to make money through advertising, with no sales effort and minimal technical effort. The VUKUNET solution creates a sophisticated advertising marketplace that bridges ad buyers with networks, and largely automates the ad scheduling, playback and report process across hundreds or thousands of screens and networks.

When VUKUNET was first launched, the CMS solution was made available to networks that registered for ad-serving and to clients buying NEC Display products. Those restrictions have now been removed and any network, regardless of what display panels they use or whether or not they will make programming time available for VUKUNET-served ads, can take advantage of the free CMS.

"We strongly believe VUKUNET helps networks and the industry as a whole to succeed by offering a reliable, free solution that lets networks put their operating expenses instead into critical areas like content development," explained Richer. "And then we offer a very simple way to generate new ad revenues, with NEC doing all the selling, execution and admin work for them."