PHILM

PHILM is a communication media on a USB flash drive designed and marketed by T’emogique, Inc. PHILM allows the customization of user interface and content on the drive to the needs of a particular user group. The product aims to assure continuous access to high quality content while the user is online as well as off line. In addition T’emogique offers the integration of a self sufficient photo application with proprietary content that runs on Microsoft Windows and Macintosh. The product also takes advantage of the flash technology to integrate customer specific features such as password protection and dynamic updating of the content on the stick via Internet.

History

The product development and go to market was executed during the 2nd half of 2005 with a team of industrial designers from Lunar Design, third-party graphic designers, software engineers, and functional experts in the area of innovation and business strategy. The first PHILM product was launched for the test market Switzerland - an application centered on the consumer event vacation - in December 2005. Other product variations followed in 2006 in particular a tourist stick for the tourist destinations Jungfrau region and Paris. At the end of 2006 T’emogique signed a license agreement with the Michelin Lifestyle Group and started to sell all tourist sticks under the brand name Michelin. Aside from the tourist-specific offering, the company launched a stick for the usage of children's photos with proprietary portraits from famous athletes (e.g. Roger Federer) in close collaboration with the Swiss Sport Aid Association and an amusement park stick in collaboration with LEGOLAND. In 2007 the product offering was extended to corporate clients and offered as alternative to the CD or photo paper to professional photographers.

Market segments

B2B

For enterprises, PHILM allows one-to-one engagement communication with the full range of clients, customers, partners, investors, and employees wherever they are, with or without Internet access.

Photographers

For professional photographers, PHILM is used as alternative media to paper, CD or other forms of depicting photos.

Consumers

For consumers, PHILM is predominantly offered as portable photo album with music and other proprietary content that allows enhancing personal digital photos.

Photo Applications

classicPHILM

Classic PHILM converts personal digital photos into a professional looking video film. Personal still photos are automatically combined with proprietary video clips and music that are already on the stick and make it very quick and easy to enhance photo memories. Everything is integrated in the device – no software installation and no Internet access is required. In addition the device includes an event specific user interface with direct links to additional proprietary content, web links, and other useful information.

pocketPHILM

PocketPHILM automatically converts personal digital photos into a professional looking photo show with music that is integrated in the stick. The main difference between classicPHILM and pocketPHILM is that pocketPHILM does not include event specific video clips that are mixed with the personal digital photos. This makes the product more universal and suited to any set of photos.

Advantages

T’emogique claims the following key advantages for PHILM:
* Faster and more flexible than a CD: Possibility to make changes and quickly update content – for example photos for the photo application PHILM.
* More customized than a web portal: Possibility of filtering and loading web like content on the stick customized to the needs of the user.
*Ongoing communication: The content on the stick can be accessed on any PC or Macintosh whenever the user has time, online as well as offline.
*More personal than most media: Owners can add their own content to the USB drive and load, change, and share their personal photos with the portable photo album application PHILM.
*Environment friendly: Content is always up to date without waste because of the possibility to update content dynamically via web.
*Ability to use high resolution videos with fast response time and immersive qualities.
*Physicality: Possibility to offer device and its content in form of a gift or giveaway.

Patents

The utility patent was filed on March, 2006; a PCT (Patent Cooperation Treaty) was filed as well. Besides the patents, the PHILM and pocketPHILM software copyright was filed too.

Company

T’emogique, Inc. was founded in Palo Alto, California. T’emogique Sàrl (Switzerland) is a 100% subsidiary of T’emogique, Inc. and is located at the EPFL in Lausanne. The name T’emogique stands for the blending of “Technology”, “Emotions”, and “Magique”. The company’s vision is to become the leader in emotionalized technologies, where emotions are enhanced through “state of the art” technology.

External links

* [http://www.philm.com/ www.philm.com]
* [http://www.metadesign.com/ www.metadesign.com]
* [http://www.lunar.com/ www.lunar.com]