December 14, 2004

This is Fred Ball for Zions Bank, speaking on business.

Frequent flyers will love a new product called VOD, which stands for Video On Demand. This is a portable entertainment device that can be rented and returned on the plane. VODs are able to store dozens of early release movies, as well as TV shows, music videos, cartoons and music from which passengers can choose.

The product was invented by Bill Boyer, a baggage handler for a regional airline in Seattle. He recognized the possibility to create portable entertainment devices that would allow passengers to control what they want to watch and when they want to watch it during the flight. Bill went from baggage handler to owner of the business, APS, Inc., which designs and produces the VOD devices.

Just over a month ago, Wencor, an international company headquartered in Springville, bought APS. Earlier this year on the program I told you about Wencor, which recently topped $100 million in sales and received its sixth consecutive award as one of the 100 fastest growing companies in Utah. The company typically supplies parts and repair kits for military and commercial aircrafts, but its acquisition of APS is the company`s first venture into the airline entertainment business.

Brent Wood, CEO of Wencor, tells me the company`s growth and success is due to finding and offering new airline products such as VODs. Wencor currently has a contract with eight airlines for the VODs, with four other airlines in the testing phase. Brent expects that number to double within the next year because of the popularity and benefits the VOD provides for airlines and their passengers.

The airlines that currently offer the VOD devices usually rent them on flights that last two and a half hours or more, and they charge $10 for the rental. So the next time you`re on a long flight, look for this interesting product to literally make the time fly.

For Zions Bank, I`m Fred Ball. I`m speaking on business.

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