LONDON, May 4, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- YCD Multimedia (http://www.ycdmultimedia.com), the leading global provider of smart digital media solutions for retailers, announced today that it will release version 2.0 of its YCD|RAMP(TM) Retail Advertising and Merchandising Platform at Screen Media Expo Europe - May 5, 6.

YCD Multimedia will be presenting their solutions at the Intel stand (E13) during the expo.

Screen Media Expo is the largest dedicated trade event for digital signage in Europe, said Dani Zeevi, chief technology officer at YCD Multimedia. It's the perfect forum to release the most scalable, simple and economical solution for creating and managing in-store digital media.

The new solution, YCD|RAMP 2.0, offers significant enhancements that simplify and automate creation and management of in-store digital marketing campaigns, helping retailers maximize sales while reducing costs and time-to-market. Template based to reduce the need for creative resources, YCD|RAMP 2.0 runs on the Microsoft Windows 7 and Windows Embedded Standard 7 operating systems for enhanced user experiences and streamlined connectivity.

Windows Embedded Standard 7 is a high performance platform that delivers the power, familiarity and reliability of the Windows 7 operating system in a highly customizable and componentized form. With Intel's microarchitecture, the platform addresses the retail and digital signage market's need for a more streamlined, high performance and highly reliable solution through rich user experiences and enhanced connectivity.

We're delighted to be working with YCD Multimedia and other industry partners to meet the retail and hospitality market needs through the optimized digital signage platform from Microsoft, said Ashwin Kulkarni, senior product manager for Windows Embedded at Microsoft Corp. We are committed to helping our partners simplify development and create solutions with rich, connected user experiences for their customers through Windows Embedded Standard 7 and the other flexible Windows Embedded platforms and technologies.

The most significant change in Version 2.0 is the ability to manage digital menu board content using the easy to use creation/management engine introduced in the first version of YCD|RAMP. Now, quick service and fast casual restaurant chains can leverage YCD|RAMP's template-based system to quickly and easily create and manage digital menu board content across multiple locations. Reflecting the choice and power YCD Multimedia offers, YCD|RAMP enables retailers to choose whether they want to control all locations centrally or give their local managers the flexibility to customize their own menus, subject to corporate guidelines. The advanced technology includes support for video wall formats allowing for unprecedented flexibility in display placement and design.

Added Zeevi, This new solution is a direct response to the needs of our customers and partners across the retail industry. The ability to remotely manage content while allowing for customization at the store level to accommodate for local product availability and pricing is critical to a successful digital menu board deployment, and we've made it simple.

Another addition to YCD|RAMP 2.0 is the introduction of YCD|RAMP Express. Developed for small businesses, YCD|RAMP Express enables full management of local in-store displays with no need for an Internet connection or additional hardware.

About YCD|RAMP(TM) (http://www.ycdmultimedia.com/index.php/offering/products/ramp):

First released in 2009, YCD|RAMP is an in-store digital media campaign management platform that optimizes the workflow between retailers, marketing agencies and suppliers. YCD|RAMP enables new digital media campaigns to be uploaded by the ad agency or production house, approved at the corporate headquarters and distributed to screens at all - or any subset of - the retailer's locations. With its built in content creation tool, a regional office or individual store can customize and generate promotions to suit their local needs - all from a library of pre-approved templates. Customized approval settings ensure all campaigns receive proper review and follow corporate branding guidelines.

About YCD Multimedia (http://www.ycdmultimedia.com):

YCD Multimedia provides marketers with tools to create, manage and distribute digital media in the retail environment. From large-format displays that promote products based on real-time inventory levels to small shelf-level interactive displays, YCD's flexible platform combines strategy, professional services and technology to increase profits, optimize product mix and enhance the customer experience. To date YCD has partnered with over 1,500 customers in retail, hospitality, banking and automotive, including some of the world's most recognized brands such as Bobbi Brown Cosmetics, Toyota, American Airlines, Pizza Hut, Kodak, Hilton Hotels, Cartier, Crocs, and Hugo Boss.

Founded in 1999, YCD Multimedia is headquartered in the United States with offices in The United Kingdom and Israel and has an international network of resellers serving clients around the globe.

SOURCE: YCD Multimedia

CONTACT: Robert Swanson, YCD Multimedia, Inc., +1-646-237-8112,RSwanson@YCDmultimedia.com