Press Release
May 1, 2001
BEAVERTON, OR -- Veicon Technology in Oregon announced that it completed the installation of V-Link(TM) Internet
access terminals for hotel guests in Silver Cloud Inns in Oregon and Washington. These terminals allow hotel guests
and visitors to check email, browse the Internet, and access standard office applications from Microsoft without
carrying laptop computers. Silver Cloud Inns recently completed a successful three-month pilot project to prove
the functionality, system integrity and users' acceptance of the V-Link terminals from Veicon Technology, Inc.,
of Beaverton, Ore. All Silver Cloud Inns in Oregon and Washington, except three properties, have at least one V-Link
terminal at each property.
``The V-Link pilot project was a success because hotel management really wanted to provide their guests and visitors
with a tool to make them more productive while staying at the hotel,'' stated Dr. Chong Lee, executive vice president
of Marketing at Veicon Technology. ``Silver Cloud Inns set up the pilot project on their own network, testing to
make sure all traffic went very securely to our server. They believed in our technology, and now the Silver Cloud
Inns offer unique public Internet access service with this innovative solution.''
Unlike standard PCs, which require a lot of maintenance, Veicon's V-Link Internet terminals are diskless display
units tied to a special computer server. This ``thin client'' environment is much more stable and allows Veicon
to provide Internet access in public environments with minimal down time, while maintaining maximum security. Another
major benefit, which has been well proven during the V-Link pilot project, is that the hotel IT staff did not have
to be involved in the V-Link installation and service, as Veicon Technology took care of all aspects of project
management, including service and support, preserving the IT staff's valuable time for their primary hotel duties.
``We are happy with the service, as the V-Link Internet terminals require virtually no maintenance. Based on the
heavy usage of the V-Link terminals in our hotel lobbies and business centers, which exceeds five hours per day
per terminal, we are now seriously considering adding V-Link terminals in high-end guest rooms and offer the service
to our guests with the convenience of in-room Internet access,'' said Mike Williams, director of Information Technology,
Silver Cloud Inns.
The V-Link Internet terminals, which consist of a display monitor, a full-sized keyboard and a computer mouse,
are more secure than PCs because they contain no hard disk, so no trace of the user's visit remains on the system
once the user logs off. Veicon's software also ensures that no artifacts of the visit remain anywhere in the system
or on the server.
Veicon Technology, Inc. develops, markets and supports the patented V-Link public Internet access software and
terminals (US patent number: 5,958,007, other patents pending), which are installed in convention centers, airports,
hospitals, hotel rooms, business centers, libraries, retail outlets and other public places. The V-Link terminals
provide secure access to the Internet and office productivity software for the general public and mobile professionals.
Recently Veicon's V-Link Internet terminals were featured at the HIMSS 2001 conference in New Orleans, and the
terminals were used by approximately 10,000 people during the four day conferences. More information can be found
at www.veicon.com.
Silver Cloud Inns is a leading regional hotel chain in Washington and Oregon. The Company has twelve properties
now, and two additional properties are being built now. The Company started with one property in 1980 in Tukwila,
Wash., and has been growing and expanding steadily since then. The Company's reputation speaks of its original
management philosophy of offering the guests ``Cleanliness and Friendliness,'' and the Company's guests return
again and again. More information can be found at www.scinns.com.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Contact:
Veicon, Beaverton
Dr. Chong Lee, 503/645-1551 ext. 247 (Press)
chong@veicon.com
or
New Ideas in Comm.
Paula Jones, 650/967-3711 (Press)
paula@newiic.com
or
Silver Cloud Inns
Mike Williams, 425/637-9800 (Business)