BLUE BELL, PA and NEW YORK, NY— Unisys Corp.and KoolConnect Technologies have formed a strategic alliance to provide advanced video-on-demand (VoD) and interactive television services to the hospitality industry. The joint Unisys/KoolConnect solution is being offered to qualified hotels with a no-expense, revenue-sharing business model that includes no up-front or ongoing subscription and support costs to the hotel, according to the companies. Key features include fully digital streaming video, DVD/VCR-like functionality, a wide range of content including movie hits from the top studios, and custom branding where the host property may apply its own branding to the system, they said. Under this alliance, Unisys will provide network design, deployment and support services for the new solution. For its part, KoolConnect will deliver application, architecture and content services. Prior to formally introducing the new services at the June Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC) show, KoolConnect has already signed several properties for the new solution, including the 900-room Boston Park Plaza and two properties owned and operated by Capitol Hotel Group. These properties join previous KoolConnect clients, the W San Diego and Westin Detroit Airport, which have been upgraded to the new technology platform and enrolled under Unisys support services.
