Loop21 Schmittenhöhe skiing area: WLAN and Jukeboxx in the new gondolas

Zell am See/Vienna.The Schmitten Zell am See - Kaprun skiing area is about to kick off the winter season with a gondola highlight: For the first time ever, the new cabins of the ‘zellamseeXpress’ monocable system are offering free WiFi in each gondola. Furthermore, six of the 69 cabins are so-called ‘Jukeboxx gondolas’. They allow the passengers to use their smartphones to log on to the free WiFi, access the Jukeboxx by clicking the respective button and select and listen to their favourite songs during the journey.

“In addition to offering our guests a new access option and ski-run leading to the Glemmtal, the ‘zellamseeXpress’ also blazes a new trail with its Jukeboxx gondolas”, says Dr Erich Egger, chairman of Schmittenhöhebahn AG. “Our passengers can now listen to their favourite music, while relaxing and taking in the wonderful view above the mountains for about ten minutes. We are thrilled to be able to offer this wonderful service, and would like to take this opportunity to thank our partners at LOOP21 for their excellent planning and implementation of the project.”

This is what Manuel Urbanek, CEO of LOOP21, had to say: “The Schmittenhöhe is an innovative skiing area, and this added value enables it to score big with its customers and further improve its position in the national and international competitions involving skiing areas. The ultramodern gondolas, WiFi-based internet access facilities and multimedia sound system ensure that skiers will have a wonderful time on the slopes, while simultaneously demonstrating how cable car entertainment systems work in the modern age. With a period of just one month, our software development experts executed a pilot project that serves as a role model. All you have to do to listen to music is use the WiFi to get online. You don’t have to install an app, so the passenger doesn’t have to use any of his mobile phone’s memory. The Jukeboxx system functions via the internet in a quick, simple and comfortable manner.” One major challenge involved the question of how to position the system in the Jukeboxx cabins, so that it would not occupy any space in the passenger compartment. Towards this end, the multimedia sound system was installed in the base plate in the ceiling, and the cables were laid out so that they would not be visible to the guests.

Skiers who climb into one of the ‘zellamseeXpress’ cabins can log on to the free WiFi and surf the internet. In the Jukeboxx gondolas, the landing page opens automatically after the passenger has logged on to the system. This page has a button for the Jukeboxx. Songs can be selected on the basis of genres, tracks and artists. Once this has been done, all you have to do is sit back, and enjoy the music and the ride. 

LOOP21 Mobile Net GmbH develops solutions on the basis of communication networks. With a team of 50 employees at its locations in Vienna (head office), Innsbruck, Wolfurt, Düsseldorf and Palo Alto, the technology company is now managing more than 2000 telecommunication systems in 18 different countries. Numerous skiing areas, amusement parks, stadiums, shopping centres, retailer, events and cities are successfully using solutions developed by LOOP21. 

LOOP21 offers mobile infrastructure and mobile services. Thanks to its self-developed hotspot software, expertise and multi-year experience in the field of (wireless) network engineering, the company is implementing services internationally in the fields of infrastructure, customer engagement, data analytics and mobility 4.0. 

Its portfolio of solutions also includes locating sensors and the customers’ end devices. Consequently, LOOP21 offers an instrument that facilitates optimal customer communications, customer retention, indoor positioning, customer flow analysis, POS marketing and customised industry solutions involving data analysis and M2M applications.