Today RMG Networks CEO Garry McGuire delivered the keynote remarks during the 2011 Customer Engagement Technology Worldwide (CETW) Conference at San Francisco’s Moscone Convention Center. McGuire’s speech entitled “Engaging Your Customers, Out-of-Home, Along the Path-to-Purchase” provided a snapshot of today’s media landscape and talked about how advertisers are using innovative technologies to engage people throughout their lives as they work, shop and play.

In addition to providing insight into this quickly evolving industry, Mr. McGuire used the stage to unveil some big news at the Moscone Center. Four groundbreaking announcements were included in his keynote:

First Ever NFC-Enabled Place-based Media Network with Blue Bite

Making use of the emerging Near Field Communications (NFC) mobile technology, RMG and technology partner Blue Bite launched a first-of-its-kind place-based media network that exists entirely on mobile devices. Test locations for this new media network have been deployed around San Francisco with roll out to New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and Boston in the second half of 2011. Search giant Google is pursuing a similar platform as NFC is incorporated into its Android phones but the RMG/Blue Bite offering combines the power of digital out-of-home media to activate consumers at the point of purchase with the exciting new NFC technology that enables them to act. Inaugural sponsor HOTELS.COM has signed on to prove the effectiveness of this new platform.

“We are enthusiastic about the launch of mTag and our NFC capability with RMG Networks, staying true to our core belief in the innovative use of leading-edge technologies to increase value for consumers, our advertising clients and our partners,” said Mikhail Damiani, CEO and Co-Founder of Blue Bite.

RMG and Groupon to Bring Daily Deals to DOOH

Leveraging the power of place, and the context of time, RMG has partnered with Groupon to deliver timely and relevant offers to millions of active consumers when they are away-from-home and making purchase decisions. This first-of-its-kind affiliate relationship in the DOOH space will bring daily Groupon offers to over 75,000 digital screens and reach 35 million viewers each month. Consumers will be able to act on daily deals using RMG’s recent deployment of mTag NFC technology. The RMG Groupon offers will roll out across the company’s media networks including: NYTimes.com Today, Fitness Entertainment Network, Point-of-Care, and Executive Media Network. RMG locations will begin launching Groupon deals on May 16th, 2011.

First National Rollout of Location-Based Services for DOOH with LocaModa and Foursquare

To deliver even greater utility for venues and new customer engagement opportunities, RMG taps into the power of social media technology to help venue owners grow their businesses. Along with social media partner LocaModa, RMG is launching a location-based service (LBS) using Foursquare that is designed to filter social streams and allow advertisers to further engage with customers at the point of purchase. This new product is re-thinking location-based services as a platform and helping venues and marketers grow their businesses.

LocaModa CEO Stephen Randall added, “RMG’s leadership position in the digital out-of-home industry and their continued expansion of place-based social media across their networks, is helping to define the future of the digital out home industry. The marriage of place-based screens to social media in a venue-safe manner, makes it much easier for venues and advertisers to derive utility as well as engagement.”

New Interaction Capabilities: Use Your Mobile Device to Control the Screen in Real-Time with Screen Reach

Through a technology partnership with Screen Reach, RMG is able to create new opportunities for people to use mobile devices to engage with the DOOH screen. In the coming months this partnership should result in campaigns that turn passive media viewers into engaged participants. The Screen Reach platform allows marketers to deploy marketing programs that encourage people to play games, post pictures, and participate in quizzes and polls. RMG will even be able to reward people with instant prizing, coupons, vouchers and gifts. The possibilities for this platform are endless and present an exciting new frontier for customer engagement.

“RMG is working with best-in-class technology partners in both mobile and social to offer the most innovative and engaging technology options for consumers, advertisers and venue partners,” said Mr. McGuire. “With today’s announcements on the heels of the recent acquisition of Executive Media Network Worldwide, Reach Media Group continues to gain momentum towards its mission to make digital out-of-home an essential part of any advertising media plan.”