Allin Corporation Selected by P&O Cruises as Interactive Television Provider
Pittsburgh, PA: Allin Corporation (OTCBB:ALLN) announced that it has secured an agreement with P&O Cruises to install the Allin DigiMix(TM) interactive television solution on Ventura, the new superliner designed for Britain that will join the P&O Cruises fleet in April 2008.
"After an extensive review of interactive television offerings available to both the hospitality and cruise industries, we found Allin's ITV solution to be the best fit for the P&O Cruises brand," said Neal Martin, director of hotel services and entertainment for Carnival UK/P&O Cruises. "We feel that the Allin Interactive platform provides a tremendous opportunity to expand and enhance the entertainment and information provided to our passengers and we are confident that all on board Ventura will appreciate the flexibility and excitement generated by our ITV system."
John Troutwine, director of business development for Allin Corporation commented, "Ventura is a fantastic example of the intent of P&O Cruises to deliver the latest advances in on board technology available to passengers and we are elated to be a part of the entertainment offered on this beautiful new vessel. This new agreement with P&O Cruises affirms our long and successful relationship with Carnival Corporation while expanding the reach of Allin Interactive services to the British cruise market."
At 115,000-tons, Ventura will be the largest ship in the P&O Cruises fleet and the most family friendly superliner sailing from the UK. She is being built at Fincantieri Monfalcone shipyard (close to Trieste). The arrival of Ventura in April, 2008 will increase P&O Cruises capacity by some 30% and ensure the line's continued market leadership in the UK. Ventura will be based in Southampton from April to October, offering holidays of between two and 16 nights in duration in the Mediterranean, Baltic and Atlantic Isles. From October 2008 to March 2009 she will offer 14 night Caribbean fly-cruise holidays from Barbados.
Ventura's itineraries have been designed to have broad appeal, especially for newcomers to cruising and families. Ventura will offer a wide choice of dining, entertainment and relaxation options. Two of Ventura's three main restaurants will be dedicated to 'Freedom Dining' (dine when you like with whom you like) and her other dining highlights include a restaurant created by Marco Pierre White, a casual family restaurant, Ramblas tapas restaurant and balcony dining - also by Marco Pierre White.
Ventura will have an array of evening venues to rival any cosmopolitan city. These will include Metropolis with its 20 meter floor to ceiling plasma wall showing different city skylines in 'real time', Cuban-inspired salsa bar Havana, a comedy club and seven other bars and clubs. There will also be Fortunes casino and The Arena - a 785 seat theatre featuring state of the art production facilities and flying performer capability.
There will be a number of at sea innovations in family entertainment, including a 3D cinema, Scalextric at sea - a giant four car digital race track with Grand-Prix events, Cirque Ventura - a contemporary circus skills school with bungee trampolines, juggling, stilt walking and trapeze, and Rock School - where teenagers can perform and record their own songs.
Ventura will also be the UK's largest floating art gallery, with almost 7,000 pieces of modern art from 40 British artists. The collection, which will be displayed in the ships public areas and passenger cabins, will be worth over £1 million and will reflect the best contemporary art in the UK today.
"Our selection of Allin and our investment in ITV technology on Ventura reflects our commitment to deliver to our passengers the latest in entertainment, services, and convenience in the comfort of their cabins," explained Mette Soderberg, general manager - fleet commercial activities for P&O Cruises. "In addition, Ventura will provide the perfect environment to develop new and innovative programs that we can deliver to our passengers via the Allin ITV platform."
About Allin Corporation
Allin Corporation is a leading provider of solutions-oriented application development and technology infrastructure consulting and systems integration services. Allin specializes in Microsoft-based technologies. In July 2007, Allin received the worldwide award, Competing to Win Partner of the Year: Search at the 2007 Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference for superior technology and innovation with Microsoft Search technologies. During 2007 and 2006, Allin has also been recognized as Partner of the Year by Microsoft's West and East Regions. Allin's operations are centered on four practice areas: Technology Infrastructure, Collaborative Solutions, Business Process and Interactive Media. Allin leverages its experience in these areas to work with clients through a disciplined project delivery framework to ensure that solutions are delivered on time and on budget. Allin delivers these services through the trade names Allin Consulting, Allin Interactive and the CodeLab Technology Group. The Company maintains offices in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Ft. Lauderdale, Florida; Wakefield, Massachusetts; and San Jose and Walnut Creek, California. For additional information about Allin, visit the Company's Internet sites on the World Wide Web at www.allin.com and http://www.codelabtech.com/.
About P&O Cruises
P&O Cruises has been operating cruise ships for more than 170 years and combines innovation, professionalism and unrivalled experience on its fleet of five ships dedicated to the British market. P&O Cruises offers passengers the most stylish and contemporary holidays afloat with destinations including the Caribbean, South America, Scandinavia, Mediterranean, Atlantic islands and round the world cruises. Ventura, the largest and most innovative ship to be built for the British market launches in spring 2008. An as yet unnamed 116,000-ton newbuild is scheduled for delivery in spring 2010.
