Sprint and Digital Caddies Offer Innovative Technology Solution for Golf Courses
May 07 2013 - 11:00AM
Business Wire
Sprint (NYSE: S) a leader in the burgeoning field of
Machine-to-Machine (M2M) technology, and Digital Caddies, Inc.
(OTCPK: CADY), a 10-year-old, golf technology pioneer based in
Scottsdale, today announced a venture where Sprint will provide
wireless coverage and Android tablet hardware for the new Digital
Caddies “Players Network” tablet-based technology platform.
Digital Caddies Players Network is a caddie, a concierge and a
course marshal all in one. Players Network tablets easily install
on golf carts and wirelessly connect to the Web through Sprint’s
nationwide high-speed network. This new technology is a powerful
tool for golf course operators as it improves their guests’
experiences, builds guest loyalty, increases course revenue, and
lowers operating costs. Digital Caddies is able to offer its new
Players Network technology platform at no cost to qualifying golf
course operators.
Benefits to Golf Courses
The Digital Caddie Players Network delivers an improved guest
experience by providing instant and accurate yardages, along with
real-time communication with the golf shop and staff directly from
the cart. It will also soon include other content golfers can use,
such as live delivery of news, sports scores and stock market
updates. Course operators can increase revenue by promoting
merchandise, food and beverage specials, lessons, repeat rounds or
whatever they’d like to sell through promotional videos or
graphics.
Connecting on the Greens
With more than a decade of experience in telematics, Sprint
provides a robust portfolio of transportation solutions through
collaboration with some of the most experienced and innovative
application providers for fleet operators, automotive manufacturers
and auto insurance providers. This extensive ecosystem enables
customized solutions to meet each company’s unique requirements,
including design, implementation and support. Additionally, with
Sprint’s all-new network, known as Network Vision, 3G customers can
expect better wireless signal strength, faster data speeds, and
fewer dropped/blocked calls. The network build is progressing
across the country, and Sprint expects to cover the majority of its
existing network footprint with the improved 3G service by the end
of the year, with the remaining build-out forecasted to be
completed by early 2014.
“We are delighted at the opportunity to collaborate with Digital
Caddies on this exciting endeavor,” said Kimberly Green-Kerr,
regional vice president, Sprint. “The Digital Caddies solution
extends Sprint’s existing connected vehicle focus to a recreational
environment where it makes perfect sense and adds to the pleasure
of golfing. It provides a unique business model and value
proposition and offers a fresh new experience for the golfing
enthusiast. Golfers can now enjoy similar features on the course
that Sprint enables for automobiles and commercial fleets
nationwide.”
The content provided through the Players Network is specifically
designed to promote interaction between the golfer and the device
throughout their round and thus provides an excellent opportunity
for golf course operators and advertisers to interact directly with
golfers in ways that have never before been possible.
“Our relationship with Sprint is a big key to the success of our
launch,” said Digital Caddies President, Mike Loustalot. “Together,
Sprint and Digital Caddies will provide golfers and qualifying golf
course operators easy-to-use technology that also helps lower
operating costs by better tracking golf car inventory,
understanding driver behavior, and monitoring agronomy issues.”
The first complete installations of the Digital Caddie Players
Network will take place this summer throughout Arizona, Southern
California, Nevada and Florida.
“The new Digital Caddies tablets are great,” said Daryl
Crawford, general manager at ASU Karsten Golf Course. “Our
customers will love them because they’re easy to use and provide
quick and accurate yardage information. We love the tablets because
they’re sleek, unobtrusive and help us better communicate with our
guests during their round.”
“We’re excited about the customer service and golf course
management tools that the new Digital Caddies system provides,”
said Tom Shultz, JDM director of operations for Wigwam Golf and the
Arizona Biltmore Golf Club. “The tablets and service are free to my
golf courses and my customers, which is awesome. The technology,
graphics and ease-of-use are all phenomenal. The Digital Caddies
system will help us to better manage our golf car fleet, pace of
play and on-course food and beverage operations.”
About Digital Caddies
Digital Caddies was founded in 2003 and has since established a
solid reputation and customer base using a low cost, easy-to-use,
easy-to-implement GPS service. The company is now transitioning to
a new business model by providing golf courses a wirelessly
connected tablet-based platform that is installed on golf cars. For
more information about Digital Caddies please visit:
www.digitalcaddies.net
About the Sprint Emerging Solutions Group
Sprint is a global leader in Machine-to-Machine (M2M) services,
including solutions for the automotive, insurance, retail,
transportation, utility and healthcare industries, among others.
Sprint M2M capabilities include solutions that allow for more
efficient vehicle operations, as well as solutions that help reduce
distracted driving. Sprint’s M2M leadership has earned prestigious
third-party validation, including Connected World’s 2013 CW 100
list of the most important and influential providers of M2M
services for the ninth straight year, and the Machina Research M2M
Leaderboard, where Sprint ranks ninth among the top 20 global
mobile network operators (MNOs). Sprint also was honored as a key
technology enabler in two Connected World Value Awards in 2012. To
learn more about Sprint’s M2M offerings, visit
www.sprint.com/m2m.
About Sprint Nextel
Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and
wireline communications services bringing the freedom of mobility
to consumers, businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel served
more than 55 million customers at the end of the first quarter of
2013 and is widely recognized for developing, engineering and
deploying innovative technologies, including the first wireless 4G
service from a national carrier in the United States; offering
industry-leading mobile data services, leading prepaid brands
including Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, and Assurance Wireless;
instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a
global Tier 1 Internet backbone. The American Customer Satisfaction
Index rated Sprint No. 1 among all national carriers in customer
satisfaction and most improved, across all 47 industries, during
the last four years. Newsweek ranked Sprint No. 3 in both its 2011
and 2012 Green Rankings, listing it as one of the nation’s greenest
companies, the highest of any telecommunications company. You can
learn more and visit Sprint at www.sprint.com or
www.facebook.com/sprint and www.twitter.com/sprint.
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