Former Disney executives launch the first Internet-enabled picture frame that delivers personalized digital photos to the living room
LOWELL, MA, February 14, 2000 -- ZipLink, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZIPL), a national wholesale Internet connectivity provider, today announced that Ceiva Logic has chosen to utilize ZipLink’s national data network to connect its recently announced consumer web appliance called Ceiva.
Ceiva is the world’s only Internet-enabled picture frame. This new Internet appliance allows users and their friends to transmit digital images directly from the Web into the electronic picture frame. The device was developed by Ceiva Logic and is now shipping. Because the Ceiva operates simply by plugging an electrical cord and phone wire into the wall, there is no keyboard, no mouse or PC operating system to struggle with. To activate the Ceiva, an online account is set up with a user name, password and a buddy list that tells Ceiva from whom it can receive digital images. Authorized senders can then upload their photos to Ceiva’s Web site and each night the frame automatically checks for new images and downloads any that were received. Magically the pictures come to life, featuring ten images from family and loved ones near and far.
Paul Yanover and Dean Schiller, co-founders of Ceiva Logic, noted that "While the Ceiva looks, handles, and feels like a 'traditional' picture frame, it incorporates sophisticated computer technology to deliver high quality images. The network transmitting these images must be as reliable. We are excited that ZipLink’s national data network is a part of our revolutionary offering."
Ron Lipof, ZipLink’s Chief Strategic Officer, commented, "Ceiva Logic’s offering is further evidence of the explosive web appliance marketplace. ZipLink is a leader in this space and we continue to be proactive in connecting revolutionary appliances such as the Ceiva picture frame."
About ZipLink
Headquartered in Lowell, Massachusetts, ZipLink is a U.S. and Canadian provider of wholesale Internet connectivity solutions for the Business-to-Business marketplace including Internet Service Providers, Web Appliance Vendors, PC Manufacturers and Distributors, and e-Businesses. Utilizing a state-of-the-art Asynchronous Transfer Mode network, ZipLink is a significant provider of national dial-up and Digital Subscriber Line services for an expanding base of customers. For more information, visit the company's Web site at www.ziplink.com.
About Ceiva Logic
In addition to receiving new photos from family and friends, Ceiva owners can control their interaction with the frame and the images. The frame itself operates with the use of a single button that enables a manual dial-up function and selects the viewing function, allowing users to choose whether pictures are displayed in a slideshow format or as a specific picture held on the screen. The Ceiva web site offers various tools to enhance uploaded images, such as writing tools that offer a variety of fonts and colors to enable sending a colorful text message along with an image, other background colors are also available for images that are smaller than the frame size. Additionally, Ceiva’s site features timing controls that turn the frame on and off, a hold control that keeps a picture from being replaced and a gallery of special interest images from which users can select new images.
About Ceiva Logi
Ceiva Logic is a Los Angeles-based company founded in August 1999, with Ceiva being its first product. Ceiva Logic’s partner is The Yucaipa Companies, which recently expanded its Internet and technology portfolio to include the entertainment and e-commerce site CheckOut.com (www.CheckOut.com), traditional and digital media distributor, Alliance Entertainment and Scour.net, with equity stakes in Talk City, the Web's leading chat community and GameSpy Industries, creators of innovative entertainment sites GameSpy.com and MP3Spy.com.