IBM today announced a three-year IT services agreement with Cinepolis, one of the world's largest multiplex operators, commencing operations in India. The deal, inked in August 2009, will involve IBM deploying, managing and supporting a scalable IT infrastructure essential for Cinepolis' roll-out plans in the country.

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IBM's unique Store Roll Out solution will allow Cinepolis to control operating expenses as well as to swiftly develop and deploy new customer facing applications. Cinepolis has a goal of opening 500 screens in the country by 2016. Of this, it is looking at making 130 screens go-live in eight cities over next 3 years. IBM's IT solutions will power Cinepolis operations at each of these sites.

Commenting on the deal, Vivek Malhotra, Territory Executive - North & East, General Business, IBM India/S Asia, said, "This is a very strategic win for IBM in the media & entertainment space. Accelerating time to market and reducing operational complexity for Cinepolis will be the key focus areas for IBM in this engagement. Our industry experience and domestic market know-how will help a global leader like Cinepolis achieve success in the Indian market by focusing on its core business -- cinemas."

Driven by innovation, Mexico-based Cinepolis was the first to introduce novel concepts to the Latin American exhibition industry, such as the first multiplexes in 1972, the first megaplexes in 1994, the first IMAX® screens in 2004, the first concept of Edutainment with a six screen CinemaPark® in 2006 and the first digital 3-D screens with RealD® in 2008. Cinepolis is also credited with pioneering the concept of 'VIP Cinemas ', which has been adopted by multiplexes across the world. The company plans to transform the experience of watching movies in India by screening movies in an ambience that boasts of world class facilities backed by highest levels of customer service.

IBM will provide Point of Sale (PoS), kiosks, server, storage, software, networking and related services that will run Cinepolis' core applications as well as internet-related and general business applications.

According to Ashish Shukla, Head Exhibition, Cinepolis India, "Cinepolis endeavors to look for best in class solutions across all functional and technical areas and IBM was the ideal strategic technology partner for us. Through this alliance, Cinepolis has extended its access to current and future technologies essential for establishing and expanding our business. With technology increasingly underpinning business growth, we are confident that our partnership with IBM will enable us to continue to provide differentiated services to customers."

About Cinepolis India

Cinepolis India is a wholly owned subsidiary of Cinepolis. Cinepolis is the first international exhibitor to independently enter India.

About Cinepolis

Cinepolis is the world's 5th largest movie theater circuit, operating more than 2,000 screens in 6 countries and serving more than 100 million patrons annually. The company operates its screens under four different brands that span across the ultra premium to the extreme value segments. As a company that is committed to innovation, Cinepolis was the first to pioneer the concept of premium movie theaters via its Cinepolis VIP brand. The company aspires to provide its patrons the best overall experience in filmed entertainment and employs a global workforce of 13,000 people to support its mission. Founded in 1971, Cinepolis is privately held and is headquartered in Morelia, Mexico.

  For more information visit: www.cinepolisindia.com

  About IBM
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  IBM Media Relations
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  IBM India Media Relations
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SOURCE: IBM