Tags: Custom Kiosks, Entertainment & Gaming
8/16/11
 
Santa Monica, Calif.-based Digiboo announced today that its "pioneering new service allowing consumers to rent or purchase DVD-quality movies by simply downloading from a touchscreen kiosk to a fast USB device will be available to the public sooner than expected" after the company received several million dollars in funding from Norby Corporation Inc.
In addition to the funding, Norby will have an equity stake in privately-held Digiboo. Specific amounts were not disclosed.
In making the announcement, Digiboo CEO Richard Cohen said, "This new funding means we can move significantly more rapidly with our rollout of kiosks in key airport locations nationwide. We are pleased to have Norby Corporation as a business partner as well as a financial resource in moving forward to aggressively implement our rollout."
Digiboom says its "compact and easy-to-use" movie download kiosks "are the fastest, easiest movie purchase and rental option available to customers today." Most standard definition movies can be downloaded in less than 30 seconds and can then be watched on any PC, TV, laptop, tablet or netbook, according to the company.
Digiboo plans to install an estimated 7,000 movie-download kiosks worldwide over the next three years.
Norby President Aleksandr Shapiro said his firm sees "great global opportunities and potential in Digiboo's penetration of the digital download entertainment market with its unique kiosks and target demographics. This investment is evidence of our confidence in Digiboo's bright future prospects and its experienced management team already in place."
Earlier this year, Digiboo announced an agreement with PFU Systems Inc., the North American subsidiary of PFU Limited, a Fujitsu company, under which PFU became exclusive supplier of custom kiosks worldwide for Digiboo. PFU has also made strategic cash investment in Digiboo, partnering with the company as it plans to grow internationally.
Initial funding for Digiboo was provided by Digital Revelations, the technology investment arm of Morgan Freeman's and Lori McCreary's Revelations Entertainment.
For more information on custom kiosk deployments, go to our Custom Kiosk research center.