News

NETSHIFT DELIVERS E-GOVERNMENT SOLUTION FOR KENNET DISTRICT COUNCIL E-INFO PROJECT

June 17, 2002

Leading public access network solution provider, NetShift has recently completed implementation of an e-government installation for Kennet District Council's e-info@kennet project, in the market towns of Devizes and Marlborough, Wiltshire.

The installation, comprising a kiosk and public access PC network in Devizes Visitor Centre and Marlborough Local Information Point, was part of a joint project set up by Kennet District Council, through Pathfinder funding. It enables information from public services to be accessed by anyone via the Internet. The Devizes Visitor Centre kiosk offers access to limited sites for information while the PCs enable searches on the world wide web.

NetShift delivered a solution that was fully tailored to Kennet District Council's tight briefing guidelines, in particular that the system had to be simple to use to ensure that there were no barriers to use for people from all walks of life. The brief also called for a solution that would provide secure access to Kennet District Council's information systems and would protect against possible misuse of the system. Although there would always be an assistant available at the sites, Kennet District Council also wanted a low maintenance system to ensure low running costs for subsequent years.

NetShift's solution was implemented within just two months of selection from the tender process and was delivered both on time and within budget. The solution provides a simple graphical user interface for both the touchscreen kiosk and PC systems allowing users to easily navigate around the system. The interface links directly with Kennet District Council's existing website and directs users to the correct page, saving them from having to navigate around the main site.

User feedback is encouraged either on-screen or in writing to enable fine-tuning of the system and Kennet District Council is using NetShift's Enterprise solution for reporting on system usage. So far the kiosk and PC terminals have proved highly popular with young and older users alike as well as casual tourists in Devizes Visitor Centre.

Commenting on the system, Catherine Hasted, Kennet District Council's Policy Officer, said: "We are very pleased with the smooth implementation of this project. From concept to delivery was a mere four months and the system has met and exceeded our expectations. The project has enabled us to reach customers in a sparsely populated, rural District and it will significantly contribute to our Community Planning process. The success of the project has been such that another area within Kennet District Council, Pewsey, has already requested a further licence for the e-info@kennet system."

John Curtin, senior account manager for NetShift, commented, "This has been an exciting and challenging project for all concerned and demonstrates how teamwork between customers and suppliers can deliver real results against very tight deadlines and budgetary constraints."

About NetShift

NetShift is among the leading solution providers of public access/self service kiosk technology in the world. With a deployed base in over 70 countries, NetShift and its global network of resellers are providing solutions and professional services to organisations producing and operating kiosks, ATM's, multimedia payphones, gaming devices and many other self service devices. NetShift solutions are available for individual devices and networks of thousands of devices for information (route planning, tourist information, museum guides etc.), communication (Internet, email, vmail, SMS, telephony etc.) and entertainment (gambling terminals, fun games, online tournaments etc.). NetShift solutions can be seen in leading organisations worldwide in markets as diverse as eGovernment (City Of Rhode Island, Library Of Congress, UK Post Office), Retail (IBM, Macy's), Transport & Tourism (Ordnance Survey Mapping, UK National Trust), Financial Services (Merrill Lynch, Charles Schwab, HSBC, JP Morgan), Hospitality (Marriott Hotels, Hilton Hotels, Hyatt Hotels), Telecoms (Cable & Wireless, France Telecom) and much more. See http://www.netshift.com for further details.

For further information, please contact: John Purcell, VP Marketing, NetShift, Kennet Side, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 5PX, UK.

Tel: +44 (0) 1635 568800 Fax: +44 (0) 1635 568850

e-mail: john.purcell@netshift.com

Web site: www.netshift.com

US office: NetShift, LLC, 3335 North University Drive, Suite 7, Davie, FL 33024, USA.

Tel: +1 (0) 954 433 8838, Fax: +1 (0) 954 433 1383.