Patent Publication Number: US-2005129201-A1

Title: Method and system for offering free telecommunication services

Description:
This application claims priority from U.S. provisional application having Ser. No. 60/511,329 that was filed on Oct. 16, 2003. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to a telecommunication system and method.  
      2. Description of the Prior Art  
      Advertising is constantly evolving, and through the advent of new technologies, many new and innovative approaches to advertising are now possible. Advertisers tend to place promotional materials on billboards or multi-screen displays at specific sites rather than random site locations in order to target broad audiences. However, in order to target an individual consumer or a smaller group of consumers, advertisements are often placed in bus shelters, public washrooms or telephone booths.  
      Advertisers have also found that they can entice consumers to notice or experience their advertisements by offering free products or services. For example, offering free telephony services is well known, where such free services are available in exchange for listening to a short audio promotional message in place of a dial tone, or listening to promotional messages interspaced during the consumer&#39;s call. However, this is generally a nuisance to the consumer, as such interruptions are unforeseen and generally break the flow of conversation. Another way involves placing stationary advertisements in a phone booth offering free telephone calls. However, due to the static nature of the print advertisements, such advertisements are typically non-engaging and can be easily ignored by a consumer.  
      It is an object of the present invention to mitigate or obviate at least one of the above mentioned disadvantages.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      In one of its aspects, the present invention provides a method and system for offering telecommunication services to at least one consumer while simultaneously providing multimedia promotional content to at least one consumer.  
      In another of its aspects, the invention provides a method and system for distributing multimedia content to at least one multimedia terminal offering telecommunication services.  
      In one aspect of the invention, there is provided a system for providing telecommunication services to a user, while presenting simultaneously promotional content to the user. The system has a terminal connected to a communication network, a content server for providing the promotional content, and a central server for providing the telecommunication services to the user and for directing the content server to provide the promotional content to the terminal. The terminal has an access unit for permitting the user to receive the telecommunication services and an output device for presenting the promotional content. The access unit may be a telephone set, a network connector or a radio antenna for the user to connect a mobile telecommunication equipment to the terminal wirelessly.  
      In a feature of this aspect of the invention, the terminal includes a circuit element to reduce the output of audio component of the promotional content when the telephone set is in use.  
      In another feature of this aspect of the invention, the terminal further includes a data input device for the user to interact with the system The data input device may be the telephone&#39;s key pad, a bar code scanner, a computer keyboard, a joystick, a computer mouse or a touch screen built into a graphic screen of the output device.  
      In yet another feature of this aspect of the invention, the terminal has a computer readable medium for storing a copy of the promotional content that may be updated at pre-determined time intervals.  
      In another feature of this aspect of the invention, the terminal includes a coupon generator for producing a customized coupon. The coupon may expire at a pre-determined time to encourage purchase of the merchandise by the user from the store.  
      In one aspect of the invention, there is provided a terminal for use in a telecommunication system for providing telecommunication services to a user, while presenting simultaneously promotional content to the user. The terminal has an access unit so the user may receive the telecommunication services, an output device for presenting the promotional content, and a processor. The processor is programmable to control network communication between the access unit and a communication network, to receive the promotional content and to present the promotional content on the output device. The access unit may be a telephone set, a network connector or a radio antenna for the user to connect a mobile telecommunication equipment to the terminal wirelessly.  
      In another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of providing telecommunication services to a user. The method includes the steps of providing a terminal from which the user receives the telecommunication services, receiving a request from the user for receiving the telecommunication services, providing the requested telecommunication services, and presenting the promotional content to the user. The terminal has an output device for presenting promotional content.  
      In a feature of this aspect of the invention, the method includes the step of presenting a portion of the promotional content in a loop when the terminal is not used by a user.  
      In another feature of this aspect of the invention, the terminal includes a telephone set for providing telephony services and the method includes the step of reducing output of audio component of the promotional content while the telephone set is in use.  
      In yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided a system for providing telecommunication services to a user, while presenting simultaneously promotional content to the user. The system includes a terminal connected to a communication network. The terminal has an access unit for permitting the user to receive the telecommunication services, a display screen, a terminal speaker, a computer readable medium and a processor. The processor is programmable to control network connection between the access unit and the communication network. The display screen, the terminal speaker and the computer readable medium are accessible to the processor. The system also includes a content server for providing the promotional content stored on its content database and a central server for providing the telecommunication services to the user and for directing the content server to provide the promotional content to the terminal.  
      Advantageously, the multimedia terminals offering telecommunication services are positioned in locations that experience increased volume of consumers such as stadiums, hospitals, airports, train stations, bus stations, malls, regional or national stores such as LOBLAWS®, SHOPPERS DRUGMART®, BESTBUY®, ‘big box’ stores such as WALMART® or THE HOME DEPOT®. By placing such terminals in or adjacent to retail stores, those retail stores are presented with increased traffic and increased sales.  
      Another advantage of the invention is that consumers are able to receive telecommunication services, and advertisers can increase their targeted audience at reduced costs. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      These and other features of the preferred embodiments of the invention will become more apparent in the following detailed description in which reference is made to the appended drawings wherein:  
       FIG. 1  is a system for distributing multimedia content;  
       FIG. 2  is a front view of a terminal used in  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 3  is a sectional view of the terminal along line  2 - 2 ′;  
       FIG. 4  is a flowchart including the steps for providing telecommunication services and promotional content to a consumer;  
       FIG. 5  is a view of a screen displaying an advertised product;  
       FIG. 6  is a flowchart including the steps for providing telecommunication services while interacting with the system of  FIG. 1 ; and  
       FIG. 7  shows schematically a terminal according to an alternative embodiment for use in the system shown in  FIG. 1 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      Referring to  FIGS. 1, 2  and  3 , there is shown a system  10  for providing telecommunication services while presenting multimedia promotional content. The system  10  includes a central server  12  and a plurality of terminals  14 . Among its functions, the central server  12  distributes multimedia content to the plurality of terminals  14 , and provides telecommunication services via a communication network  16 . The terminal  14  has at least one access unit connected thereto for allowing the user to receive the telecommunication services. The access unit may be a telephone where telephony services are provided. The access unit may be a network connector where internet connection services are provided.  
      Internet connection services may be provided at terminal  14  either through a network connector for connecting a mobile computer thereto by a user or through a radio antenna for connecting to terminal  14  wirelessly. The network  16  may be broadband-based such as cable or xDSL, wireless, fixed wireless, public switched telephone network (PSTN), or the Internet. For increased security the network  16  may be a virtual private network (VPN) having the terminals  14  as VPN clients. Preferably, the telephony services are provided via the PSTN, however, the terminals  14  and the central server  12  may include suitable software and hardware for providing telephony services via the broadband connection to the network  16 , such as voice over IP (VoIP).  
      In greater detail, the terminal  14  includes a telephone  18  with a transmitter  20  and a receiver  22  housed in a handset  24  received by a cradle  25 . Alternatively, the transmitter  20  and the receiver  22  may be external to the handset  24 , as in a conventional speaker phone. The cradle  25  is coupled to a conventional on hook means for placing the telephone  18  in an “on” state or “off” state, such that telephone calls are initiated by removing the handset  24  from the cradle  25 . The telephone  18  also includes a data input device, such as a plurality of buttons  26 , for entering a destination number of the called party. The buttons  26  may also be used for interacting with the system  10  when the system  10  includes a suitable interactive service such as an interactive voice recognition (IVR) system. The telephone  18  also includes a speech circuit means or a speech processor  28  for processing the speech input from the receiver  22  for transmission via the network  16 , and processing speech signals from the called party.  
      The telephone  18  is coupled to a processor  30 , a computer readable medium  32 , a display  34 , and a transceiver  36 . The processor  30  directs the overall operation of the terminal  14 . A computer program or set of instructions is typically coded or otherwise implemented on the processor  30  to enable the processor  30  to provide the functionality of the device  14 . The computer readable medium  32  interfaces with the processor  30  and may store the program code and provide storage space for data useful in executing the program code and carrying out terminal  14  functions. The program readable medium  32  may be implemented as ROM, flash memory, non-volatile RAM, a magnetic disk, an optical disk, an IC memory card or a magnetic tape or any conventional memory format. The terminal  14  also includes at least one application program thereon, such as web browser, running on a operating system such as the MICROSOFT® Windows Operating System (OS), LINUX® OS or UNIX®.  
      A network interface component  36  provides an interface between the terminal  14  and the network  16 . In one embodiment, the network interface component is a transceiver  36 . The transceiver  36  includes a transmitter and a receiver for exchanging voice and data with the network  16 . In another embodiment, the network interface component  36  includes a DSL modem  39  and a filter  41 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , an incoming line connects to filter  41 , which separates the voice and data signals and routes the voice and data signals to different destinations. The voice signals are routed to the telephone  18 . The data signals are routed to the DSL modem  39 . The DSL modem connects processor  30  of the terminal  14  to the network  16  for exchanging data.  
      Conveniently, terminal  14  may provide an access point for a user to connect to the terminal  14  using the user&#39;s own mobile equipment, thus providing internet connection services to the user. As will be appreciated, internet services may be provided in a variety of manners, including dial-up connection and a direct Ethernet connection to an internet service provider. The access point may be in the form of an extra phone jack  21 , built into the telephone  18 , for a user to plug in a phone line connected to the mobile equipment so that the user may dial into a telephone number through which the central server  12  provides a dial-up internet connection service. The access point may also be in the form of a RJ-45 jack  23  mounted adjacent terminal  14  or built into telephone  18  to allow a network cable be connected thereto. Advantageously, the access point may also be in the form of an antenna  37  for providing a wireless connection to the network  16  using 802.11x transmission protocols based on specifications developed by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). A mobile telecommunication equipment, such as a laptop computer or a personal digital assistant (PDA), equipped with a Wi-Fi network interface card, may exchange data with the network  16  via the antenna  37  within its proximity.  
      The multimedia content is displayed on a display  34  that is suitably dimensioned and having a suitable resolution. An example of a suitable screen  34  includes a screen area of 14×11 inches, a resolution of 1024×768 pixels and a viewing angle of 170°×170°. An audio output is also associated with the display  34  to provide audio content to the advertisement, which is output to a terminal speaker  35 , or terminal speakers  35 . The audio circuit is coupled to the on hook circuit so that the audio output may be inhibited, or at least is reduced, when the handset is off hook. The terminal  14  is also provided with a power source which can be implemented with a rechargeable battery, AC means, or other suitable means. Advantageously, the multimedia content may be displayed on the user&#39;s own telecommunication equipment as well, if the user uses the equipment to exchange data with the network  16  via the access point, such as antenna  37 .  
      The system  10  allows a user to interact with the system through a data input device. The user may use the buttons  26  of the telephone  18 , for example, as a rudimentary input device. As shown in  FIG. 7 , the data input device in one embodiment include a keyboard  29 , a mouse  31 , a joystick  33  or other pointing device provided by the system, and a bar code scanner  39 . It will be appreciated that while an input capability is provided by including one or all of above mentioned input devices, it is not necessary to include all of them. In another embodiment, there is provided an extra key pad having another set of buttons  26 . The additional keypad is located at a height suitable for use by people in wheelchairs. Conveniently, the data input device may also be the microphone (not shown) housed in the receiver  22  of the telephone  18  or a dedicated microphone, coupled with a voice recognition application program executing on the processor  30 . The data input device may also be in the form of a touch screen. The user may also use the input devices provided by the user&#39;s own mobile telecommunication equipment.  
      The functionalities of the central server  12  include processing program instructions for procurement of content, content management, distribution of content and fulfilment, traffic management and monitoring Quality of Service (QoS) characteristics of the communication network  16 . The central server  12  includes a processor  38 , a computer readable medium  40  having a content server  44 , a database  46 , a traffic manager  48 , a reporting module  50 , and a network interface  42 . The central server  12  also includes at least one application program thereon, running on an operating system such as the MICROSOFT® Windows Operating System (OS), LINUX® OS, UNIX® OS or CISCO intemetworking OS (IOS).  
      In operation, the terminals  14  receive multimedia content from the central server  12  via the content server  44  which links to the database  46 . The content server  44  can access content stored within itself or on other content servers  44 . The content may include, but is not limited to advertisements in a plurality of formats such as full motion video (avi, any variant of mpeg, mov, or flash), static graphic images (jpeg, tiff, gif, or bmp) with or without an audio component, web pages, audio files with or without web pages or static graphic images, or uniform resource identifiers (URIs) to a plurality of content providers  56 . The content providers  56  are coupled to the communication network  16 , and each content provider  56  is registered with the central server  12  and provided with a unique identifier and access privileges to the central server  12 .  
      The content server  44  includes a web server  52  in communication with the database  46  for transmitting web pages, such as hyper-text markup language (HTML) pages to the terminals  14 . Also included in the content server  44  is a file transfer protocol (FTP) server  54 , through which the content providers  56  can publish their content via an FTP session. The content server  44  may be browser based and supports the adding, editing, and deleting of content via a browser. Alternatively, content can be provided to the content server  44  via email or on fixed media such as a CD or a hard disk drive. Since raw multimedia content requires a large amount of bandwidth, the content is compressed using standard compression algorithms or proprietary compression tools to achieve lesser bandwidth and shorter transmission times, while maintaining acceptable quality. The traffic manager  48  in cooperation with the web server  52  selects the desired digital content from the database  46  for transmission to respective ones of the terminals  14 . The selection for each terminal  14  is based on predetermined parameters such as location of the terminals, location owner, time of day, or content provider&#39;s preferences.  
      The operation of the system  10  will now be described with particular attention to the terminal  14 . The terminals  14  are generally strategically placed in locations that experience consumer traffic such as malls, retail stores, airports or stadiums. The content, such as advertisements, is selected for a particular target audience. As an example, a terminal  14  located at a retail store, such as THE HOME DEPOT®, may include advertisements from BLACK &amp; DECKER®, DEWALT®, MAKITA®, as well as other brands such as COKE® or MCDONALDS®. Also, the retail store has the option of including its own advertisements promoting its store products or other services.  
      In order to obtain customised advertisements, the terminals  14  communicate with the central server  12  via communication protocols such as Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP). Thus, each terminal  14  is identifiable to the central server  12  via a unique name, such as a Media Access Control (MAC). address of the terminal&#39;s network interface  36 . In addition, each terminal  14  is associated with an IP address. Such identification allows for routing the information requests and content from the central server  12 . At boot up, the terminal  14  reports to the central server  12  by sending a terminal status signal. This normally is implemented by sending the terminal&#39;s  14  MAC address and IP address to indicate that the terminal  14  is now coupled to the central server  12 . The central server  12  then verifies the identity of the reporting terminal  14  in order to recognize it as a legitimate network  16  entity. After verifying the identity, the central server  12  then sends a configuration file to the terminal  14 , where applicable.  
      The configuration file includes program code for desired operation of the terminal  14 , such as instructions on how to operate the terminal  14 , record interactions with consumer, communicate with the server  12 , perform maintenance routines and details of the network topology such as the addresses of the network entities, and so forth. The configuration file also includes a content play list with URIs to the digital content, and predetermined times for which to play the content, instructions for refreshing the content for the terminal  14 . Typically, the content play list is valid for a predetermined time period, such as a day. The URIs are pointers to the content location on the terminal  14  itself or the content server  44 .  
      Generally, the content play list may be a text file in a comma delimited format that is uploaded to a local database on the terminal  14  via FTP or other protocols. Upon receiving the content play list file from the central server  12 , the terminal  14  verifies whether the required content files are available locally on the terminal  14 . If any content files are not present on the terminal  14 , a request is sent to the central server  14  for the required files. This request may be transmitted as a standard data packet or as a proprietary packet of information. The terminal  14  then receives the content file from the central server  12  via an FTP session. As mentioned above, the content is compressed using standard compression algorithms or proprietary compression tools to achieve lesser bandwidth and shorter transmission times. Periodically, for example, every hour or every 15 minutes, the terminal  14  may contact the central server  12  and request that its locally stored content files be updated or re-synchronized with centrally stored content files. In a preferred embodiment, the terminal  14  requests update from the central server  12  every 15 minutes during the day. Should there be a need to change the content for the terminal  14  at any time during the day, the central server  12  may also transmit a request to the terminal  14  to begin a re-synchronization process. This process involves sending an updated content play list to the terminal  14  and repeating the steps of checking for the availability of the content files on the terminal  14 , as described above.  
      Each terminal  14  also includes a log file listing any actions performed by the terminal  14 , error messages, usage time of the telephone  18 , the called telephone number, actions taken by the system  10  provider or information regarding the advertisements such as run length or time of day played.  
      Periodically, the central server  12  sends a status request to the terminal  14 , such as a ping request, to determine the status of a terminal  14  and the status of the network connection to the terminal  14 . Advantageously, the terminal  14  can be remotely controlled from the central server  12 . Such remote control actions include restarting it or performing troubleshooting, maintenance or administrative functions through protocols such as Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP).  
      At predetermined times, the central server  12  requests or retrieves the log files from each terminal  14 . The log files are provided to the reporting module  50  which compiles reports pertaining to the viewership of the content, and other statistics having a variety of criteria as desired. These reports can be formatted as text tables or as line, bar, and pie graphs, or raw data for presentation on a web page, and are available to the content providers  56 . Such reports may be used by the content providers  56  to better target the consumers, refine their advertisements or seek better advertising time slots. Alternatively, the system  10  provider can use these reports for time slot pricing, network maintenance and traffic management. It will be appreciated that although in the embodiment described, the reporting module  50  resides in the central server  12 , terminal  14  may also have its reporting module for generating reports pertaining to the terminal  14 .  
      Referring now to  FIG. 4 , the flowchart shows the steps for a method for providing free telephone calls to a consumer, while simultaneously providing interactive multimedia content to the consumer and passers-by. In order to attract consumers, the terminal  14  is always on during predetermined time periods, generally during store hours, if located inside or adjacent to a retail store. During this period, the content such as full motion video with audio is played by the terminals  14 . Promotional messages, usually advertisements, are shown in a loop, with each message being shown at predetermined times as determined by the content provider  56  or advertiser. For example, a content provider  56  may buy ad time slots between 12 pm and 2 pm in order to target a specific group such as those who frequent the location at lunchtime. In step  100 , a consumer approaches a terminal  14  running advertisements and the terminal  14  provides auditory instructions via the terminal speakers  35  or visual instructions on the touch screen  34  to the consumer, or both, in the next step  102 . The instructions may be directed to how to use the system  10  in order to make free phone calls.  
      In step  104 , the consumer lifts the handset  24  in order to dial a desired number in order to initiate a telephone call. The switch or circuit means coupled to the cradle provides a signal to the processor  30  to disable the terminal speaker or reduce the speaker volume. This signal may also be used to interrupt the already running ad and initiate it, or start another ad instead. The call is routed through the PSTN to the desired called party via a conventional call-setup routine, or using VoIP technology, in step  106 . The consumer proceeds with the call while the advertisements are running continuously, as described above. Given the wide viewing angle of the screen  34 , the advertisements may also be viewed by other consumers or passers-by.  
      In one embodiment, the display  34  is implemented as a touch screen in order to provide input means via resistive touch technology to enable consumer interaction with the system  10 . Looking at  FIG. 6 , in step  110 , on approach by a consumer to the terminal  14 , the terminal  14  may include proximity or motion sensors to detect the presence of the consumer. Upon such detection, the terminal  14  can interrupt an ad already in progress and start it from the beginning. In step  112 , the terminal  14  provides auditory instructions via the terminal speakers  35  or visual instructions on the touch screen  34  to the consumer, or both. The instructions may be directed to how to use the system  10  in order to make free phone calls or internet connections, and how to simultaneously interact with the advertisements running on the display  34 . Upon connection to terminal  14  via the antenna  37 , the instructions may also be sent to be displayed by the user&#39;s own mobile telecommunication equipment.  
       FIG. 5  shows an example of a touch screen  34  displaying an advertised product. In this example, a picture of the product is displayed, however it may also be a full-motion video advertisement of the product detailing its specifications, advantages or showing the product in use. The touch screen  34  also includes a short description of the product and selection areas for the consumer to invoke further product information, product location in the store, rebate information if available, and so forth. Once the telephone call has been initiated or a network connection to the user&#39;s mobile equipment is established, the consumer is prompted to make a selection by touching the display  34 , in step  114 , in order to request additional information for a product being advertised on the display  34 . However, the consumer may choose to ignore the prompts on the display  34  for a selection and proceed with the call, or the consumer may make a selection.  
      Upon detection of an input by the consumer, an input signal is produced by the touch screen  34  and sent to the processor  30 . The processor  30  interprets the input signal and in conjunction with an application program, such as a browser, provides the next page or retrieves additional information, in step  116 . This step normally involves requesting another uniform resource locator to the additional information from the central server  12 .  
      Any interaction with system  10  by the consumer is logged and stored in the log file on the computer readable medium  32 . The log file provides information relating to the advertisements, such as identification of displayed advertisement while the consumer was interacting with the terminal  14 , information requested by the consumer, interaction time spent by the consumer and usage time of the telecommunication service, whether the use of the telephone  18  or the internet connection services provided through the access point, such as antenna  37 . Other information such as polling results, feedback may also be collected. For example, polling may be directed to usefulness of information received or ease of use of the system  10 . In step  118 , the consumer terminates the call, and may proceed with the interaction, at which point the audio may be enabled via the on hook circuit means.  
      In another embodiment of the invention, upon completion of the consumer request, a terminal  14  may issue a coupon for redemption at a point of sale within the retail store. The coupon may be an electronic coupon, or it may be a coupon dispensed by a coupon printer coupled to the terminal  14 . The coupon is valid for the researched product, or any other products from the manufacturer, advertiser or retailer. To encourage the consumer to make the purchase, the coupon may be set to expire in a short time period, such as two hours or 10 minutes, depending on the nature of the merchandise, or the type of the store, among a number of factors. The terminal  14  may also provide the location of the researched item in the store, such as the aisle number.  
      In another embodiment, the terminal  14  includes a bar code reader  39 , such that consumer can scan a machine-readable Universal Product Code (UPC) of a desired item, from a flyer for example, and receive additional information about the product. Alternatively, a consumer may scan a bar code on a product item and obtain information such as price, or product specifications. Additionally, the consumer may also be presented with a coupon for redemption at the point of sale terminal.  
      In another embodiment, the terminal  14  may have more than one display  34 . Conveniently, the extra displays are all controlled by processor  30 . Some or all of the extra displays may not provide input capability. The extra displays may each present different promotional contents, namely may each have different play lists. Any consumers waiting for the telephone  18  may view promotional contents shown on any one of these extra displays without having to interfere with the use of the telephone  18  by the other user. With additional displays, the terminal  14  permits several users to connect to the network  16  simultaneously via antenna  37 , for example, each interacting with one of the displays provided while mininimizing interference with other&#39;s use of the terminal  14 .  
      In another embodiment, the content files stored locally at terminal  14  are updated manually. A conventional removable storage device reader, such as a CD-ROM drive or a memory storage card reader or any other reading device for a suitable computer storage media; is provided. The reader (not shown) accepts a suitable readable storage medium. For example, the computer readable medium  32  may include a CD disc where a CD-ROM drive is provided or a memory card where a memory storage card reader. The reader is coupled with the processor  30  so that data stored on the medium are accessible to the processor  30 . Periodically, the CD disc or memory card is replaced manually, instead of being updated automatically by the central server  12 .  
      In another embodiment, the central server  12  may interact with a number of content servers  44 . Each content server  44  has its own database  46  for storing promotional contents received from advertisers. Contents stored by the content server  44  may also include information contents, for example, weather or traffic information. Some of the content servers  44  may be entirely informational. Some may also be RSS feeds, providing a variety of different types of information. As will be appreciated, contents from these sources may be grouped into one data stream in many different manners and transferred to each terminal  14 . Each terminal  14  may also retrieve contents from each of these sources separately and store them collectively on computer readable medium  32 . For example, similar to that described in connection with the embodiment in which the system  10  has only one content server  44 , traffic manager  48 , in cooperation with the web server  52 , selects the desired digital contents from each one of the content servers  44  for transmission to respective ones of the terminals  14 . Each of the content servers  44  transfers the desired digital contents to the respective ones of the terminals  14  via an FTP session.  
      In another embodiment, promotional materials presented on display  34  may be overlaid with logos or special message text. The logo may be the system  10  provider&#39;s own logo, or the location owner&#39;s logo. The logo may be a static graphic file in a bitmap (bmp) format that may be positioned at a pre-determined location on the screen of display  34 . The special message may direct a user&#39;s attention to a store special, or to the cost-free feature of the services provided by the system  10 . The special message is overlaid with the promotional contents, so that it is always visible to the user no matter what video or graphic contents are shown on the screen of display  34 . The message may be static text overlaid on a video clip, for example, or may be animated text to better attract a user&#39;s attention.  
      In another embodiment, the terminal  14  includes wireless LAN (WLAN) functionality, via a suitable radio transceiver  36  such as a 802.1 1x transceiver based on specifications developed by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). Therefore, the terminal  14  transmits product information or other information such as statistics to a mobile device such as a personal computer (PC), a mobile phone, or a personal digital assistant (PDA). The WLAN radio transceiver  36  may also be used to provide connectivity to the communication network  16 .  
      In another embodiment, the terminal  14  provides reduced cost telecommunication services to at least one consumer while simultaneously providing multimedia promotional content to at least one consumer. Thus, the terminal  14  includes means for accepting payment for, for example, reduced cost telephone calls, such as long distance phone calls at reduced tariff rates.  
      In another embodiment, a conventional payphone is adapted to offer reduced cost or free telephone calls and is coupled to a processor  30 , a computer readable medium  32 , a suitable display  34 , a transceiver  36  to provide similar terminal  14  functionalities, as described above.  
      In another embodiment, the terminal  14  is implemented as a desktop unit, being ideal for use in waiting rooms or office type locations.  
      Advantageously, consumers benefit from obtaining cost free services, and the location owners, such as the retail chain stores, benefit from a higher level of customer service, increased revenues. The terminals  14  are placed in locations at no cost to the location owners, who also receive a payment from the system  10  provider. By displaying advertisements pertinent to the location owners, such as advertisements for products located at that particular store, the consumer benefits from improved customer service. The increased product exposure and the proximity of the terminals  14  to the point of sale provide for improved product sales and revenues.  
      Advertisers benefit from showing their TV advertisements right in the actual retail location, or in facilities often visited by their target consumers. Therefore, by placing the terminals  14  in strategic locations and by showing specific advertisements, the advertiser is able to narrow the target segments and improve the effectiveness of its campaign. By using the same advertisements as seen on TV, the advertiser is able to keep its production costs low while increasing its targeted reach. National advertisers can distribute regionally focused or promotional material as they need, at no additional cost or effort. Other advantages of offering free telephony services include avoiding the need to make change for payphones and the telephony services are complete and without interruptions. Advertisers or product manufacturers can also benefit from purchasing the right to design the external appearance of the terminal  14 , for example the design may emulate the appearance of the advertised product itself or may include indicia associated with the retail store, such as the store logo.  
      Although the invention has been described with reference to certain specific embodiments, various modifications thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as outlined in the claims appended hereto.