Austria-Kiosk: at the newspaper stand of the era
Digitisation, access to information and economic growth are critical issues as a result of the corona measures. The digital newspaper stand Austria-Kiosk is proving to be a solution that combines a variety of interests, particularly in this phase. APA-DeFacto has now created an exclusive service for the hotel and restaurant industry to provide their guests and visitors with access to more than 400 newspapers and magazines.
There are already signs of development and findings that will lead to lasting changes. The need for reliable information and categorisation is even greater than before the outbreak of COVID-19. The online portals of domestic TV stations and newspapers have recorded above-average access figures in recent weeks. In addition to this, a comprehensive push for digitisation has developed, as there has been a massive gain in momentum for numerous processes that were already underway. And last but not least, there are still economic ramifications to be dealt with. Intelligent solutions and initiatives are in demand, particularly for severely affected areas such as the restaurant and hotel industry.
Austria-Kiosk will now provide an improved and even more easily accessible range of information. Operated by APA-DeFacto, Austria’s largest digital newsstand offers newspapers, magazines and specialist media as digital e-papers. APA-DeFacto has put together a special package for the hotel and restaurant industry. The system behind it is called “FreeLounge“ and has been successfully in use for a number of years. It enables companies and organisations to provide their customers and visitors with newspapers and magazines free of charge via W-LAN.
“Digital media use is playing a major role in the current situation,“ APA-DeFacto Managing Director Klemens Ganner explains. “The need for flexibly available information is particularly significant in difficult times. With Austria-Kiosk’s FreeLounge we have created easy, low-threshold access to newspapers and magazines. That means hotels and restaurants have an easy option for offering their guests further added value and for always having their favourite newspaper on hand.“
“There are already more than 150 FreeLounge locations in Austria and new ones are being added all the time,“ says Ganner, who is delighted about the significant demand. “Austria-Kiosk shows that digitisation can be entirely uncomplicated.“
Via the Austria-Kiosk FreeLounge, more than 400 Austrian and international daily newspapers, numerous magazines and specialist media can currently be read digitally as e-papers, including all domestic daily newspapers as well as many weekly newspapers and magazines. Austria-Kiosk also carries international titles such as “DIE WELT“, “The Guardian“ and “The Observer“.