Headlines: May 5th, 2005

A new service has been launched to use digital entertainment and games technology to bring information to local communities across Britain. The ‘mylocal’ system will be running on 7,000 kiosks by the end of this year and that number is set to almost treble by the end of 2006.The system, developed by Inspired Broadcast Networks, provides access to Directgov, which offers users a wide range of Government information and services. It is being expanded and will soon also offer local maps, a business directory, news and weather as well as local information, all free of charge.

The easy to use touch screen service will be available on local authority kiosks in Dudley, East Sussex, Gosport, Nuneaton, Sefton, Torfaen, Barking, Dagenham, Greenwich, Hackney, Havering, Lewisham, Newham, Redbridge and Tower Hamlets. Together they will host 70 kiosks.

Other access points include 3,000 ‘itboxes’ in local pubs and members’ clubs and 4,000 mylocal kiosks in sub-post offices, leisure centres, libraries and hospitals. The plan is to have 18,000 kiosks running the service across the UK by the end of next year.

Inspired is regarded as the UK’s leading provider of digital entertainment and gaming content and a market leader in technological innovation. The company was awarded “Best Use of Technology in Business” at the Growing Business Awards in December and the following month was named the overall winner of the Media Momentum Top 50 Fastest Growing Companies Award. It provides content and software to over 12,000 pay-to-play terminals in pubs, clubs, shops, licensed betting offices, bingo halls, motorway service stations, universities and casinos.