Film Journal International surveys the latest innovations and conveniences from the leading movie ticketing companies.

Fandango
Fandango, the leading moviegoer destination representing more than 16,000 U.S. screens, continues to extend its reach with a number of new applications. In March, the company introduced a free iPhone and iPod touch application, which has been downloaded more than 2.5 million times. The iPhone app enables fans to access movie and theatre information “on the go,” watch trailers, view fan ratings and buy tickets in seconds. It has ranked as high as number one among free entertainment applications in Apple’s App Store.

In 2009, Fandango also developed ticketing and information applications for the Palm Pre, the Verizon Hub, DISH (an interactive TV application) and HP (for their Web-connected printer). On the mobile side, Fandango is “on-deck” with the three largest U.S. wireless carriers: Verizon, AT&T and Sprint. The company’s mobile efforts helped Fandango rank as one of “The Top 5 Mobile Commerce Sites” in July, according to Nielsen/NetRatings. (www.fandango.com)

Mobiqa
Mobiqa, world leader in mobile barcode technology, recently launched their comprehensive mobile product suite specifically for cinemas and their customers. Mobiqa’s innovative and convenient mobile services are designed to support film fans at every stage of their cinema-going experience.

Mobiqa’s core products include mobi-ticket™ and mobi-coupon™—secure, barcoded tickets and coupons which offer significant benefits to both cinema operators and their customers. These include minimized queues at the box office; reduced printing, handling and distribution costs; increased coupon redemption rates, and a reduced carbon footprint.

Along with mobi-ticket™, Mobiqa offer pre-film services such as mobi-alert™, where cinema operators can use the mobile channel to communicate offers and new releases to their customers; mobi-web™, which enables the cinema’s existing website to be clipped and optimized for display on a mobile device; and mobi-txt2buy™, which allows cinema-goers an additional channel to conveniently purchase their tickets using their phone. (www.mobiqa-cinema.com)

MovieTickets.com
MovieTickets.com, world leader in online movie ticketing, provides for an enhanced moviegoing experience. While on the go, you can access showtimes and ticketing from any Internet-enabled device at mobile.movietickets.com or from your iPhone at iphone.movietickets.com.

MovieTickets.com enables consumers to buy tickets online for movie screens across the United States, Canada, U.K and Argentina. Its elite collection of partner theatres consistently represents over 50% of the top 50 and nearly 50% of the top 100 grossing theatres in North America on any given weekend. The MovieTickets.com exhibitor group, which includes 160 theatre chains, is more than seven times the amount of its nearest competitor. (www.MovieTickets.com)

National Ticket
Established in 1907, National Ticket Company has been supplying tickets to the amusement and entertainment industries, offering quality, accuracy and excellent service to worldwide clients. Gift cards, customer-loyalty cards, preferred-customer VIP and membership cards are just a few of the many cards which are a cost-effective alternative to gift books. Plastic cards are available with magnetic stripe or variable-imaged with a barcode for better accountability and control. Other features include scratch-off, hologram, signature panel, embossing and thermal imaging. Plastic cards are available with low or high-density magnetic stripes, barcodes, built in RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) chips, holographic foils and more.

High-quality, fan-folded, machine-issued Thermal Point-of-Sale Ticket Stock is suitable for all types of automated box-office and admission systems. Pre-printed stock is available. Enhance your tickets by adding your company logo or offset the cost by adding a sponsor’s logo. Thermal wristbands are also available. (www.nationalticket.com)

Omniterm
Omniterm announces the addition of an integrated Digital Menu Board application to its Integra Theatre Management Software solution. Capture the attention of your customers with multimedia graphics. Increase sales by creating eye-catching promotions. These digital displays offer the ability to continually up-sell while enhancing the entertainment experience.

Omniterm’s ABO6300 ticketing kiosk handles one of the most important functions of your theatre. With the ability to accommodate a fan-fold printer or a roll printer, this kiosk is at a price point to satisfy every theatre owner. Customize the kiosk with a graphic overlay. The simple yet robust design offers an automated ticketing solution that will suit any environment. (www.omniterm.com)



Radiant Systems
The Radiant P1760 and P1560 Point-of-Sale terminals are the newest members of the Radiant Systems family of open retail platforms which utilize Intel’s latest Mobile Technology. The energy-efficient Intel® Core™2 Duo or Celeron M processor offers outstanding performance and system responsiveness, but with lower power consumption and less heat for a more reliable design than standard desktop processors. Highlights of the units include: standard Intel architecture; multiple industry-standard storage options including SATA hard drive and USB solid state; disk (USSD) or compact flash card; high-performance industry-standard DDR2 memory and PCI Express expansion slots; mini-card expansion slots and USB/RS232 connectivity; multiple operating systems including Windows XP, XP-Embedded or Vista Business; and OPOS drivers available for peripheral connectivity. (www.radiantsystems.com)

Retriever Software
Every theatre manager knows that the film line-up is the focal point of exhibition; the success of the theatre depends on it. With Retriever Software, when your manager changes the film schedule on the Point-of-Sale computer, your ticketing stations, theatre signage, theatre website, Internet ticketing page, movie schedule for newspapers, on-screen advertising partners, and even your newsletters are synchronized automatically with current information.

Retriever Software makes it happen. With their Point-of-Sale system and Web Tools, the manager simply updates the film schedule, and the Retriever system does the rest, automatically. Retriever Software brings it all together with connectivity to everything from real-time sales updates to a managed website. With all of your theatre resources in line with the current schedule, you can be assured that your entire operation is focused on doing business and generating profits. (www.RetrieverSoftwareInc.com)

Splyce
For 2009 and 2010, Splyce is rolling out several new upgrades that are both responsive to and in anticipation of the changing landscape of today’s progressive cinema. The greater spectrum of services offered at cinemas today is part of a revolution. Basic concessions are growing into full-scale restaurants. Patrons are spending more time in the venue and buying more items and services. Among Splyce’s various box-office improvements to how films are scheduled, tickets created and sold comes a host of upgrades for selling complete restaurant fare items. They range from prepared meals and wines sold in various methods to complex table management, multiple dining areas, seat-side/in-theatre dining and more. Best of all, they’ve created it in-house and maintained their integrity as a complete solution, eliminating the need for using multiple software providers. (www.spyce.com)

Titan Technology
Titan’s WebTixs software now includes a SelectYourSeat component that allows theatre operators to offer both general admission and reserved seating options. Visitors looking to purchase tickets online are given the opportunity to view a layout of the designated auditorium with real-time seat availability. Patrons then have the ability to choose their own seats using the SelectYourSeat feature. Not only will they be guaranteed seating upon arrival, they can also opt to sit in a specific row, in the center or on the aisle. Once the tickets are purchased through the secure site, delivery methods include print-at-home, kiosk or will-call fulfillment. (www.titantechgroup.com)

Vista Entertainment Solutions
Vista’s Facebook Application allows customers to look up showtimes, purchase tickets, make bookings with their friends and check their bookings, all from their Facebook page. The Vista Facebook application is easy to add, with users simply searching for the application or accepting the application invite.

Gathering a group together for a night out at the movies is super-easy with the Vista Facebook application. Once the application is added, they simply select the friends they want to invite, and press “send.” The application will then reserve a block of seats for the number of friends who have accepted the invitation. Payment can also be completed online, with each Facebook user paying for his or her own ticket.

A unique feature of the application is the “Wish List.” Facebook users can add upcoming movies to their “Wish List” and can then invite friends to go to the movies, who also have that movie on their “Wish List.” (www.vista.co.nz)