Software as a service (SaaS), often referred to as a hosted application, has proliferated in many business application areas over the past few years—with Salesforce.com as one the earliest and best-known pure SaaS applications. Two years ago, established digital-signage software maker Rise Vision—whose customers include Villanova University, eTrade Financial, and ING Direct—made the decision to “bank [its] business on software as a service” and rebuilt its entire digital-signage content-management system as a hosted application, according to Ryan J. Cahoy, the firm’s managing director. In its latest move, Rise Vision announced a new program allowing third-party resellers to become private network operators of the Rise Display Network service. Digital Signage Update spoke with Cahoy to get his take on the advantages of the SaaS approach and the opportunity for AV integrators to offer their own branded, private-label signage solutions to customers.

Digital Signage Update: Hosted applications have been making inroads into the business world for some time, particularly for data-driven applications that don’t require large amounts of bandwidth. The SaaS approach is not so common in the digital-signage space, where bandwidth requirements for graphics and video are much higher. What convinced Rise Vision that the signage market was ready for SaaS?

Cahoy: Our company had been doing digital signage for 15 years and had a sophisticated system. Two years ago, we took a new look at the whole thing—we said that the Web is coming along, bandwidth and hosted application capabilities are increasing, and Salesforce.com has gained tremendous ground with something as complex as someone’s customer-relationship-management application. So we made a conscious choice to throw away everything and completely rebuilt our functionality for SaaS. Now we believe the industry is moving toward this approach. In conversations 18 months ago, users couldn’t see someone else hosting their signage, but now we’re seeing big shifts in mindshare towards software as a service. For us, it’s reached that critical-mass point.

How difficult was the transition to SaaS? Has Rise Vision reached the level of functionality you were able to offer in a traditional installed-signage application?

We do quarterly releases of our software—our customers can get timed, predictable releases on a regular basis—and six months ago, we hit the critical point in terms of our core functionality. We may not have everything under the sun today, but clients know they are getting more and more functionality with each release.
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Digital Signage Software, Software-as-a-Service

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – August 25, 2008 – Rise Vision, Inc., a provider of a web-based content management system for the control of digital signage networks, has announced that Ingram Micro Inc. is now offering a complete digital signage bundled solution to resellers. This package includes all of the key components that resellers need to install a digital signage solution, from Rise Vision content management solution to displays, mounts and media player. In addition to easing the sale for customers, the all-inclusive bundle is offered to resellers with substantial discounts.

The solution includes the Rise Vision content management system, Rise Display Network; LCD displays from the Samsung DX Series, including 40-inch or 46-inch screens; Peerless Universal Tilt Wall mounts to secure the screens to the customer’s wall; and the AOpen digital media player to drive the display. Offered via Ingram Micro, Rise Vision is offering free initial set-up with this bundle. The bundled solution offers discounts between $1,100 and $1,200 from the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP), depending upon LCD size and other options.

The Rise Display Network is a web-based, Software-as-a-Service content management system operated by Rise Vision. Subscriptions include access to live content such as news headlines, local weather, sports scores, and stock ticker updates. Users incorporate this live content with their own information, including movies, graphics and text, and publish it directly to their network of digital signs.

“Rise Vision is excited to partner with Ingram Micro on innovative bundled solutions because we know it makes it easier for resellers to sell a complete digital signage solution,” says Ron Levac, President, Rise Vision, Inc. “With these top-of-the-line components, this bundle is a great value, and a great way for resellers to introduce digital signage to their customers.”

About Rise Vision, Inc.

Rise Vision, Inc. owns, develops, and operates the Rise Display Network, a web-based, Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) content management system for digital signage that brings live data, custom messages, and content to thousands of displays. The Rise Display Network is a web service that does not require hosting infrastructure; users login from any Internet-accessible browser to update, control, and monitor their displays, or use their smart-phone browser to send critical alerts. Every display needs a message – we believe that it should be as easy as creating that message from the web, anywhere, anytime and knowing that it has been delivered. It’s that simple. For more information, call 877.538.7473 or visit www.risevision.com.
Contacts:

Digital Signage Software, Software-as-a-Service

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – August 22, 2008 – Rise Vision, Inc., a provider of a web-based content management system for the control of digital signage networks, has announced a new program enabling resellers to become Private Network Operators (PNO) of its Rise Display Network (RDN) service. This new program provides a cost-effective way for resellers to develop their own branded digital signage solution to reduce competitive pressures and increase sales conversion. Rise Vision’s PNO program offers volume subscription discounts and a customizable log-in page to extend branding and sales opportunities.

The Rise Display Network is a web-based, Software-as-a-Service content management system operated by Rise Vision. Subscriptions include access to live content such as news headlines, local weather, sports scores, and stock ticker updates. Users incorporate this live content with their own information, including movies, graphics and text, and publish it directly to their network of digital signs. The new Private Network Operator program provides resellers with a personalized log-in page where they can promote branding, cross-selling, and event messages directly to end users every time they access their digital signage networks.

“Rise Vision is committed to making the Rise Display Network reseller’s leading choice for digital signage solution sales. Our Private Network Operator program enables resellers to be in the digital signage business overnight, with a minimal investment,” says Ron Levac, President, Rise Vision, Inc. “Our PNO program enables resellers to sell their own, branded solution, which minimizes competitive bid situations. Coupled with our volume discount program and the ability to push messaging and offers directly to customers, it’s a powerful and cost-effective package for resellers.”

About Rise Vision, Inc.

Rise Vision, Inc. owns, develops, and operates the Rise Display Network, a web-based, Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) content management system for digital signage that brings live data, custom messages, and content to thousands of displays. The Rise Display Network is a web service that does not require hosting infrastructure; users login from any Internet-accessible browser to update, control, and monitor their displays, or use their smart-phone browser to send critical alerts. Every display needs a message – we believe that it should be as easy as creating that message from the web, anywhere, anytime and knowing that it has been delivered. It’s that simple. For more information, call 877.538.7473 or visit www.risevision.com.

Contacts:

Digital Signage Software, Software-as-a-Service