Georgia Aquarium Launches New Cell Phone Audio Tours

Atlanta, GA (October 8, 2008) –

Georgian Aquarium has launched free audio tours that guests may access via personal cell phones.

 The new audio tour uses technology and services donated and developed by Reignmaker Communications, an Atlanta-based leader in providing Voice over IP (VoIP) services to businesses.

“We were looking for a better alternative to traditional headphone audio tours; one that would allow visitors to access information on our exhibits on-demand without the need for any equipment rental,” said Beach Clark, Vice President of Information Technology at the Aquarium. 

Clark went on to explain, “One of Reignmaker’s employees volunteers at the Aquarium, heard about our initiative and brought everything together using Reignmaker’s advanced IP network to quickly solve our problem and help us deliver this great new service to our visitors.”

Visitors to Georgia Aquarium dial a main number to access the audio tours on their cell phones, and dial the code posted by the exhibit to hear information about that exhibit.  Listeners can choose their own route around the Aquarium and pick which animals, from whale sharks to beluga whales, they want to hear about.   

“Reignmaker is proud to provide the technology to power the Aquarium’s audio tours by cell.  Not only have we been able to design and help the Aquarium manage and analyze the new feature, but we’ve eliminated their need to have any equipment on site or infrastructure to support the call volume into the system,” said Scott Berkman, senior network engineer for Reignmaker and a Georgia Aquarium Volunteer.

Reignmaker plans to commercialize this offering for other attractions.

Contacts:         

Stephanie Brown, Georgia Aquarium Development Specialist, 404.581.4136, sbrown@georgiaaquarium.org 

Mark Graves, Reignmaker Communications, 404.975.0091, mark.graves@reignmaker.net                                   

Bill Casey, Bill Casey Consulting, Inc., 404.735.4427, bill@billcaseyconsulting.com

About Reignmaker Communications: Reignmaker Communications is a leading end-to-end communications provider, serving small to medium-sized businesses with comprehensive communication and technology services on both sides of the “traditional” demarcation line via its nationwide flagship product, Reignmaker REIGN-FREE^TM Hosted Voice service.  REIGN-FREE is an IP-Centrex/PBX-replacement service, which provides a full array of web-based features, functionality and advanced call-handling flexibility at a lower total cost of ownership. The Company also provides SIP Trunking services, which provides low-cost, IP-enabled connectivity for customers choosing to own their own hardware-based IP-PBX.  Reignmaker Communications is a privately held company headquartered in Atlanta, and offers service in more than 400 U.S. cities. The Company has been in business since 1996.

About Georgia Aquarium: Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, Georgia, is the world’s largest with more than eight million gallons of water and the largest collection of aquatic animals. The mission of the Aquarium is to be an entertaining, educational and scientific institution featuring exhibits and programs of the highest standards; offering engaging and exciting guest experiences promoting the conservation of aquatic biodiversity throughout the world. The Georgia Aquarium is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums. For additional information, visit www.georgiaaquarium.org.