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Watchfire unveils mobile app for digital sign content management

New mobile application can be used to update digital signage content from anywhere and automatically syncs all changes with Ignite software for desktop, company says.

April 13, 2015

LED sign manufacturer Watchfire Signs unveiled at last week's ISA Sign Expo its new Ignite OPx, a mobile application for managing LED sign content. The new mobile application works as an extension of Watchfire's newly updated Ignite desktop software. Together, these tools are designed to sync automatically from the desktop to the mobile application and back, allowing sign owners access to their content library and sign schedule, as well as sign diagnostics, from virtually anywhere, the company said.

The browser-based Ignite OPx application uses wireless broadband for communicating with the Watchfire LED sign. Watchfire said it offers an exclusive data plan through Verizon Wireless that allows customers to purchase 3G data at below-market prices. Through cloud computing, customers can manage their sign content using a smartphone, tablet, laptop or desktop computer with Internet access.

Because Ignite OPx is a Web-based application, there is nothing to install, and it is designed to work with any modern browser on all major mobile platforms, the company said. Using the app, sign operators can replace and rearrange content playlists, update their schedule and access mobile diagnostics from their handheld device. Changes are saved and synced automatically with Ignite desktop software.

Featuring more than 1,000 free still and animated images, Ignite is intended to allow novice users to create professional looking messages within an intuitive user interface. For the more advanced user, Ignite offers the ability to create dynamic content that integrates social media or RSS feed information.

"This updated version of Ignite and the Ignite OPx mobile application were developed together to provide customers with an easy-to-use mobile version of Ignite," said Dave Warns, Watchfire's vice president of on-premise sales, in the announcement. "Their changes in the app will sync to their installed desktop software and vice versa. We've made sign diagnostics more accessible, and we're providing a really simple way to adjust sign content from anywhere — anytime."

Watchfire conducted demonstrations of Ignite OPx's capabilities for their dealer partners at the ISA Sign Expo in Las Vegas, and will provide additional training for sign company partners later this month. Online help and tutorial videos will also be available from within the application.