NEW YORK - It's big and purple, but it is not Barney the Dinosaur-it is a Web-enabled cow-kiosk. Yahoo and Netkey, a San Francisco-based kiosk company, have created two "cowsks" as the latest attention-grabbing promotional campaign in keeping with Yahoo's goal to provide the public exciting, unexpected encounters. Called "Moo-Mail" the cow enables users to open and access their own Yahoo Mail at malls and popular events. Built with a steel-enforced body that can withstand crowds of people leaning on and touching it, the 400-pound kiosk has a 51-inch screen and uses a DSL connection. When not touring, one cow rests at Yahoo's Santa Clara, Calif., headquarters. According to Netkey Marketing Manager Penny Crump the project demonstrates how a brand message can be spread in a fun and exciting way and hopes others will follow Yahoo's lead. -
mbourjolly@cutimes.com
