iSIGN Media (iSIGN) is a proximity marketing company headquartered in Richmond Hill, Ontario,[1] with R&D and customer support operations in Vancouver, British Columbia and Tampa, Florida. The company uses Bluetooth, mobile, WiFi and location-aware technologies to deliver rich-media, permission-based messages at designated locations or at events,[2] such as Super Bowl XLVII.[1] The company installs smart antenna technology to enable customers to deliver commercial offers while protecting consumer privacy.[3]

iSign Media Solutions, Inc.
TSX-VISD
Founded2006
FounderAlex Romanov
Headquarters,
Canada
Key people
Alex Romanov CEO (2006-2013+)
Websitewww.isignmedia.com

History

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iSIGN was founded in 2006 by Alex Romanov, who has served as president, chief executive officer and director for the company. iSIGN began as a digital signage company offering location-based proximity marketing from signs to handheld mobile devices. It went public in 2009 on the TSX Venture Exchange, then began trading on OTCQX under the symbol "ISDSF" in June 2012. Following an agreement with Mac’s Convenience Stores,[4] iSIGN reportedly became the world's largest interactive digital signage network with 6,000 digital signs in over 1,400 locations.[5] ISIGN reports identifying 1.5 million mobile devices per day.[6]

Corporate governance

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As of 2013, the company's chief executive officer was Alex Romanov.[2]

Technology

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iSIGN’s Interactive Media Solutions (IMS) mobile messaging product consists of a proprietary IMS 2.0 platform as well as an IMS 3.1 version featuring dual porting for Linux or Windows, multi-lingual capabilities and 128-bit encryption software for security.[7]

The Smart Antenna, rolled out in 2012, uses the same Bluetooth technology as the IMS but also has WiFi capabilities to connect with iPhone users, broadening mobile messaging capabilities. Smart Antennas have a 300-foot (100m) Bluetooth message broadcasting and WiFi accessible content transmission radius. iSIGN’s patent-pending platform collects and organizes metrics and delivers customizable analytics[8] to merchants while protecting consumer privacy.[9][10]

iSIGN launched a Smart Player in August 2013, the first product of its kind that combines digital signage with mobile messaging capabilities via wireless connectivity. The Smart Player is designed to distribute marketing messages to mobile and stationary devices within range of its location.[11][12]

Customers and Partners

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Canada

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iSIGN Media customers include Mac's Convenience Stores and Couche-Tard outlets (from 2012),[2] and the BC Sports Hall of Fame in Vancouver, British Columbia.

United States

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Smart Antennas have been installed in several Florida cities, including Safety Harbor, Dunedin,[13] Orlando and Clearwater. In 2012, Smart Antennas were installed in the New Orleans tourist attraction Mardi Gras World.[1]

Partnerships and Licensees

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Partners include: AOpen America Inc., TELUS, Keyser, and IBM, with solution distribution by BlueStar Inc. iSIGN holds licensing and distribution agreements with GraphicMedia.[14]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Staff (30 January 2013). "iSIGN Covers Super Bowl with Proximity Ads; Rich Media Message-casts". mediacaster. Business Information Group. Archived from the original on 3 February 2013.
  2. ^ a b c Krashinsky, Susan (26 February 2012). "Advertising that reaches out and touches". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 19 December 2015.
  3. ^ Bourque, Andre (5 April 2012). "Proximity-Based Mobile Advertising - Interview with iSign CEO, Alex Romanov". Technorati. Archived from the original on 1 November 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
  4. ^ "Questex Acquires Digital Signage Expo, Aligns with Questex's Focus on the Experience Economy and Growth Strategy". 25 March 2021.
  5. ^ "ISign Rolls out Massive Signage Network with Mac's". 6 February 2012.
  6. ^ "Drive-By Couponing: Gas Stations Ping Nearby Mobile Phones with Offers". 30 May 2013.
  7. ^ "iSIGN About Us". www.isignmedia.com. Archived from the original on 2012-10-14.
  8. ^ "Proximity Marketing Promises New Harvest of In-Store Data and Targeting".
  9. ^ "IT in Canada - Canada's Only Integrated Social Media News Network". Archived from the original on 2013-06-24. Retrieved 2013-06-10.
  10. ^ "iSign's Mobile Proximity Marketing Shows Deals Without Compromising Client Privacy | BlackBerry Cool". www.blackberrycool.com. Archived from the original on 2012-10-14.
  11. ^ "iSIGN Announces Launch of New Smart Player Solution - MarketWatch". www.marketwatch.com. Archived from the original on 2013-10-19.
  12. ^ "New Smart Player from iSIGN combines digital signage, mobile marketing | DigitalSignageToday.com". Archived from the original on 2013-09-27. Retrieved 2013-09-27.
  13. ^ "ISign Media Brings High Tech to Safety Harbor". 5 September 2012.
  14. ^ "iSIGN Media Unaware of any Material Change". CNN. 30 April 2020. Retrieved 16 December 2020.