LOUISVILLE, Ky. – NetWorld Alliance—publisher of KioskMarketplace.com and Kiosks.org and manager of Kiosks.org Association—announced today the acquisition of VOYAGI Inc.’s kiosk division.

The division includes KIOSK magazine, KIOSK.com, and The Kiosk Show, a tradeshow for the industry.

NetWorld Alliance, a publisher of high-growth vertical market news and information, effectively doubles the size of its global kiosk operations with the purchase of the VOYAGI properties. Terms of the agreement remain undisclosed.

NetWorld CEO Dick Good said the acquisition fits neatly with the company's strategy of acquiring titles and properties in the kiosk market that will help to unify this booming industry.
The first issue of Kiosk magazine published by NetWorld Alliance will be the September/October 2004 issue. The company also will assume responsibility for producing The Kiosk Show, a technology event developed in 2002 to provide a forum for showcasing all types of kiosks. The next event is October 7-8, in Boston, Mass.

Greg Swistak, a NetWorld Alliance senior vice-president and executive director of Kiosks.org Association, said the move will prove highly beneficial to members.

“Our goal as an association is to bring maximum value to the people on our team—our members. Now, with a market-leading stable of media and other resources to support all association efforts, the future couldn’t be more promising,” Swistak said.

VOYAGI’s Web properties, including KIOSK.com, experience more than 140,000 visitors each month. The print publication KIOSK magazine has a mailing list of nearly 20,000 readers. Lief C. Larson, group publisher for KIOSK magazine for the past five years, said that the only changes resulting from this agreement are those for the positive.

“Both James Vande Castle, who was editor, and I will support the NetWorld team indefinitely,” said Larson. “We believe the new experience and energy will afford the marketplace a much stronger service offering, and look forward to cooperating with NetWorld Alliance to expand their offerings in this area.”

“When it comes to search results for kiosk information, KIOSK.com is No. 1 on Yahoo! and No. 2 on Google. Combining the resources of KioskMarketplace.com, Kiosks.org, and KIOSK.com will make it easier for people to access a wealth of information about kiosk technology,” said Larson.

“Lief Larson has done a magnificent job of creating and building KIOSK magazine and The Kiosk Show for the good of the industry,” Good said. “We have enjoyed working with him over the last few years, especially in Kiosks.org Association. Now we look forward to taking these important media to the next level, and are delighted that the work will be done with Lief’s continued involvement.”

Good said the acquisition demonstrates the strong commitment of NetWorld Alliance to the kiosk community.

“With self-service technology changing the way Americans work, shop, learn and do business, the potential for this industry is immense,” Good said. “Everything we’ve done this year—from bringing Greg Swistak on board to acquiring these properties—shows how serious we are about investing in the self-service industry.”