Hotel Broadband Access Sees Endless Flexibility, Integration and Revenue Generation with Launch of Acentic's Horizon

By Acentic, PRNE
Monday, July 26, 2010

Acentic Horizon goes beyond simple and fast HSIA to provide a fully integrated content system that increases revenue potential for hoteliers

COLOGNE, Germany, July 27, 2010 - Acentic, a leading supplier of digital interactive TV (iTV) and broadband
systems for the hotel industry, announced today that it has launched Horizon
- its new high-speed Internet access (HSIA) solution for the hotel industry.
The Acentic Horizon broadband solution, combined with Acentic's Panorama(R)
and Vision iTV systems, provides a bridge to the most flexible converged
content strategy available for hoteliers.

Acentic Horizon is already installed in hotel groups throughout Europe,
including Adina Hotels Intercontinental Hotel Group, Starwood, Marriott, Best
Western and Maritim Group.

"With the debut of Acentic Horizon, we are taking our hotel technology
offering one step further, providing not only great connectivity
functionality, but also a global converged content strategy," said Richard
Robinson
, CEO of Acentic. "By bringing together in-room entertainment and
Internet access, as well as full support for mobile devices, Acentic is
clearly providing the hotel entertainment technology and business models of
the future today."

Integration

Acentic Horizon provides tight integration with the IP backend hardware
and existing network infrastructures due to the support of industry standard
hardware from vendors such as Hewlett-Packard, Cisco, Motorola and 3com. This
allows complex cross promotional activities, such as marketing movies and
providing essential guest information, across both the HSIA and iTV
platforms. Guests are identified automatically by the system without having
to give identification. Horizon is also fully compatible with wireless and
mobile devices, allowing guests to access the service without paying for
multiple device use.

Flexibility

Acentic Horizon's flexibility enables hoteliers to answer the demand for
free Internet services with tiered bandwidth. Horizon can be configured to
offer limited free HSIA (based on bandwidth or services), while charging
guests for full bandwidth and unlimited Internet access. This protects the
hotelier's investment in bandwidth, while still complying with brand
guidelines by offering some free Internet services.

Revenue Generation

Acentic Horizon offers a wealth of opportunities for additional guest
revenue, paired with complete guest services. Horizon continues to build on
the successful models for drive-by visitors, in-room guests and conferences,
all of which can be served with just a few mouse clicks.

Acentic Horizon's integration with Acentic Panorama and Vision iTV
systems can also lead to significant guest revenue increases from cross
promotional Internet connectivity and on-demand movie entertainment. In many
cases, hotels have seen a clear increase of more than 20 percent of total
revenue, in addition to the high revenue already generated from connectivity.

Expanded Features

Acentic Horizon offers new features such as mobile printing solutions,
visitor ticket printers, automated VIP pricing, full theme support of captive
portal and individual encrypted wireless network support for security
conscious users. This brings Acentic's comprehensive range of HSIA services
to include the following:

    - Development of individual solutions for each hotel regarding
      connections, security and invoicing
    - Full conference coverage in terms of applications and bandwidth
      management
    - Integrated ISP load balancing devices offering redundancy and greater
      bandwidth
    - Installations over Wi-Fi, Ethernet, DSL and Coax as well as
      combinations of this technology
    - Network design, implementation and administration
    - Installation of the system, software and staff training
    - Unrivaled 24/7 proactive system monitoring, maintenance and support
    - 24/7 guest connectivity helpdesk (B2C) in local and English language

About Acentic Group

Acentic is an international provider of digital TV services to hotels.
Acentic's digital content, technology, support and services deliver
entertainment and revenue generation tools via the hotel television,
providing a unique communications system that meets the evolving lifestyles
of guests. Acentic's digital TV services are in many of the world's leading
hotel chains including Accor, Dorint, Intercontinental Hotel Group, Hilton,
Hyatt, Maritim, Marriott, Movenpick and Starwood in more than 30 countries in
Europe, Middle East and Africa. For more information, visit
www.acentic.com.

    Acentic Media Contacts:
    Smaro Makaronidou
    Acentic
    +1-49-171-6973108
    smaro.makaronidou@acentic.com

    ink Communications for Acentic
    Jennifer Hicks / EMEA
    +1-33-0-6-84-47-80-42
    jennifer@theinkstudio.com

    Alex Crabb / North America
    +1-617-484-3614
    alex@theinkstudio.com

Smaro Makaronidou, Acentic, +49-171-6973108, smaro.makaronidou at acentic.com; or ink Communications for Acentic, Jennifer Hicks / EMEA, +33-0-6-84-47-80-42, jennifer at theinkstudio.com; or Alex Crabb / North America, +1-617-484-3614, alex at theinkstudio.com

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