The ng Connect Program announced that its HumanKiosk has won a first place CTIA (News - Alert) Emerging Technology or “E-Tech” Award in the Enterprise & Vertical Market Solution -- Mobile Marketing or Advertising category.

HumanKiosk is the Long Term Evolution or “LTE (News - Alert)”–enabled concept developed by MediaTile, a provider of cellular digital signage solutions, and Alcatel-Lucent (News - Alert).

The product was recognized for its innovation, functionality, technological importance, implementation and the overall 'wow' factor, company officials said.

As ng Connect Program members, MediaTile and Alcatel-Lucent worked together to create an innovative, interactive display showcasing the next generation of digital signage - a prototype called the HumanKiosk, they added.

The LTE-enabled HumanKiosk enables live two-way video communication, including the ability to display interactive promotional messages. This communication facility provides an ideal opportunity for a wide range of retail and e-healthcare markets to directly communicate with consumers or patients.

The kiosk features a video technology that can only operate over a high-bandwidth wireless IP connection enabled by LTE, utilizing Alcatel Lucent IP Multimedia Subsystem or “IMS.”

“It's exciting to see ng Connect Program members recognized at CTIA Wireless (News - Alert) for the innovative LTE-Enabled HumanKiosk solution concept,” Derek Kuhn, vice president, Emerging Technology and Media, Alcatel-Lucent and founding member of the ng Connect Program, said.

“MediaTile and over 30 member companies are collaborating intensively to deliver on the ng Connect Program's mission to accelerate the development of new, proven applications and services for next generation LTE networks, and bring them to market more quickly,” Kuhn added.

Simon Wilson, CEO of MediaTile and member of the ng Connect Program, said they are working hard to bring digital signage into the next generation utilizing LTE technology. Wilson further said this award acknowledges the real potential for in-store advertising to be taken to the next level with high-speed digital signage solutions similar to the LTE-enabled HumanKiosk.