Interactive multimedia kiosks (IMK) are unlikely to explode onto the European market according to a report published by market analyst Frost & Sullivan. Despite IMK market growth of 46% last year, the report called The European Market for Interactive Multimedia Kiosks forecasts that rates will gradually decrease, with expected growth of 39% this year and 33% in 2000.
Technology has stunted the take-up of the kiosks in Europe, says Rachel Rowe, computing research analyst at the Mountain View, California-based firm and author of the report. The kiosks started as mere information points, with the data rapidly becoming out-dated and no additional services provided to users.
Increasingly however, web technology has meant that the information is fresh and providers can use the kiosks to offer a service. IMKs are gearing towards a transaction side Rowe says, because people will only use them if they offer additional services. She cites British Airways, whose passengers can use its kiosks for speedy check-in and seat selection.
