Sprint (NYSE: S) a leader in the burgeoning field of Machine-to-Machine (M2M) technology, and Digital Caddies, Inc. (OTCPK: CADY), a 10-year-old, golf technology pioneer based in Scottsdale, today announced a venture where Sprint will provide wireless coverage and Android tablet hardware for the new Digital Caddies “Players Network” tablet-based technology platform.
Digital Caddies Players Network is a caddie, a concierge and a course marshal all in one. Players Network tablets easily install on golf carts and wirelessly connect to the Web through Sprint’s nationwide high-speed network. This new technology is a powerful tool for golf course operators as it improves their guests’ experiences, builds guest loyalty, increases course revenue, and lowers operating costs. Digital Caddies is able to offer its new Players Network technology platform at no cost to qualifying golf course operators.
Benefits to Golf Courses
The Digital Caddie Players Network delivers an improved guest experience by providing instant and accurate yardages, along with real-time communication with the golf shop and staff directly from the cart. It will also soon include other content golfers can use, such as live delivery of news, sports scores and stock market updates. Course operators can increase revenue by promoting merchandise, food and beverage specials, lessons, repeat rounds or whatever they’d like to sell through promotional videos or graphics.
Connecting on the Greens
With more than a decade of experience in telematics, Sprint provides a robust portfolio of transportation solutions through collaboration with some of the most experienced and innovative application providers for fleet operators, automotive manufacturers and auto insurance providers. This extensive ecosystem enables customized solutions to meet each company’s unique requirements, including design, implementation and support. Additionally, with Sprint’s all-new network, known as Network Vision, 3G customers can expect better wireless signal strength, faster data speeds, and fewer dropped/blocked calls. The network build is progressing across the country, and Sprint expects to cover the majority of its existing network footprint with the improved 3G service by the end of the year, with the remaining build-out forecasted to be completed by early 2014.
“We are delighted at the opportunity to collaborate with Digital Caddies on this exciting endeavor,” said Kimberly Green-Kerr, regional vice president, Sprint. “The Digital Caddies solution extends Sprint’s existing connected vehicle focus to a recreational environment where it makes perfect sense and adds to the pleasure of golfing. It provides a unique business model and value proposition and offers a fresh new experience for the golfing enthusiast. Golfers can now enjoy similar features on the course that Sprint enables for automobiles and commercial fleets nationwide.”
The content provided through the Players Network is specifically designed to promote interaction between the golfer and the device throughout their round and thus provides an excellent opportunity for golf course operators and advertisers to interact directly with golfers in ways that have never before been possible.
“Our relationship with Sprint is a big key to the success of our launch,” said Digital Caddies President, Mike Loustalot. “Together, Sprint and Digital Caddies will provide golfers and qualifying golf course operators easy-to-use technology that also helps lower operating costs by better tracking golf car inventory, understanding driver behavior, and monitoring agronomy issues.”
The first complete installations of the Digital Caddie Players Network will take place this summer throughout Arizona, Southern California, Nevada and Florida.
“The new Digital Caddies tablets are great,” said Daryl Crawford, general manager at ASU Karsten Golf Course. “Our customers will love them because they’re easy to use and provide quick and accurate yardage information. We love the tablets because they’re sleek, unobtrusive and help us better communicate with our guests during their round.”
“We’re excited about the customer service and golf course management tools that the new Digital Caddies system provides,” said Tom Shultz, JDM director of operations for Wigwam Golf and the Arizona Biltmore Golf Club. “The tablets and service are free to my golf courses and my customers, which is awesome. The technology, graphics and ease-of-use are all phenomenal. The Digital Caddies system will help us to better manage our golf car fleet, pace of play and on-course food and beverage operations.”