NCR adds 'bare disc' tech to digital-entertainment kiosks
July 16, 2008
DAYTON, Ohio — NCR Corp.has announced a licensing deal with Columbus, Ohio-based e-Play LLC to add "bare-disc" technology to its existing self-service portfolio, expanding consumer self-service options for the delivery of digital entertainment.
According to a news release, the new platform allows bare-movie or game discs to be vended and returned, without cases or sleeves, and offers the option of checking discs for quality.
The technology presents added revenue opportunities for retailers and other enterprises through kiosks that can each inventory up to 4,200 discs in a few square feet.The technology also creates a better experience for consumers, NCR says, by improving access to merchandise and providing a self-service option for buying, selling and trading used media, and offering a large number of titles from which to choose.
NCR plans to integrate e-Play's bare-disc technology into its NCR Xpress Entertainment portfolio, which includes a multichannel software platform — allowing consumers to interact via the Internet, mobile devices or kiosks — and hardware options ranging from DVD-vending to digital-download kiosks.
Planned future enhancements include support for other types of digital media.
"The e-Play technology is a great complement and addition to the NCR Xpress Entertainment portfolio, which we launched earlier this year," said Bill Nuti, NCR chairman and chief executive. "This agreement will further expand our portfolio of self-service-entertainment solutions to include bare-disc as well as packaged DVD media."