NCR Corp. today announced the latest release of the NCR Netkey kiosk and digital signage software platform (version 6.7.5) at the Customer Engagement Technology World conference in San Francisco.

NCR said the new release will help companies simplify the development and administration of interactive kiosk and digital signage applications and networks.

Major new features in the release include a new custom message portal, which gives local users the ability to quickly and easily create customized multimedia messages while ensuring a high level of corporate control over brand and corporate identity. For example, a manager at a retail chain store can easily develop and program content to promote a sale unique to that location.

"The ability to deliver highly relevant and localized brand messages can help companies enhance their sales and marketing programs and further expand the value of their digital signage," NCR Netkey General Manager Dusty Lutz said in the announcement. "By delivering more tailored multimedia content, marketers will have greater tools to engage consumers at a local level through a centrally-managed digital signage network."

The new NCR Netkey software release also includes support for Microsoft Active Directory, which allows the management of user access permissions or the addition of new users via an existing centralized user directory, further simplifying network administration. The new release is also certified to support the Microsoft Windows 7 Professional operating system on the kiosk or digital signage media player.

NCR Netkey will demonstrate a range of interactive kiosk applications in booth #600 at CETW, including deli ordering, endless aisle, e-commerce, gift registry, guided selling and customer loyalty, as well as digital signage applications for the retail, banking, hospitality and out-of-home advertising markets. Also on display will be a demonstration of the NCR Mobiqa mobile content optimization solution, further showcasing how NCR is helping companies offer a seamless, converged experience for consumers across multiple channels.

NCR experts will be involved in several educational conference sessions at CETW, held at San Francisco's Moscone Convention Center today and Thursday:

• NCR Netkey General Manager Dusty Lutz will moderate a panel discussion, "Intuitive Self-Service: Creating a Sticky and Engaging User Interface to Increase Kiosk Usage," today at 11:45 a.m.
• Rob Borucki, solution manager, NCR Travel, will present at the Mobile Strategies Forum event in a session, "Using Mobile to Drive Self-Service," Thursday at 1 p.m.
• Robert Ventresca, vice president of marketing for NCR Netkey, will deliver a Tech Talk session, "Self-Service and Kiosk Remote Management Demystified," Thursday at 10:30 a.m.