From Indo-Asian News Service
Chennai, Aug 18 (IANS) The Chennai-based start-up Giri Digital Solutions Pvt Ltd will soon launch a burn-your-own-CD kiosk under the brand Addkiosk and has roped in noted singer S.P. Balasubrahmanyam as the brand ambassador.
The company has plans to install the 2x2 feet touch screen kiosks in shopping malls, railway stations, airports and theatres, apart from the Giri chain of stores, for anytime download of digital music.
T.S. Ranganathan, the chief executive officer of Giri Digital Solutions, said the company hopes to have 100 kiosks installed in high footfall locations by the end of this fiscal.
The business generated by music machines installed in three Giri outlets in Chennai, which sell varied religious items, gave him the confidence for rapid deployment of kiosks.
The easy to use touch screen kiosks enables a person to search using multiple combinations, browse, hear and download music - either as ring tones or as full tracks on to iPods, CDs, smart cards or even cell phones.
It takes around five minutes to burn a CD.
The other unique aspect is the currency validation system of the kiosks whereby the machine's sensors detect the notes or coins inserted and in case of excess payment, a refund voucher is also generated for encashment.
"Around Rs.60 million has gone into the development of software, hardware costs and licence fees to music companies," said Ranganathan.
He said the problem with the existing players in this segment is that either a music company that allows download of its own songs owns the kiosks or the operator does not have a decent song collection in terms of size and mix.
"Addkiosk on the other hand is a brand neutral kiosk with around 100,000 song tracks comprising of devotional, Indian classical and cine music in all the major Indian languages," claimed Ranganathan.
The company plans to include international albums to the kiosks' song library.
