Overland Park, Kansas & Scottsdale, Arizona USA – Sprint, a leader in M2M technology, and Digital Caddies, Inc., a golf technology pioneer, have 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 marshall all in one. Players Network tablets can be easily easily installed 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. The Digital Caddies Players Network can provide 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.
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 customised 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 endeavour,” 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.