Friday, September 10, 2010

Visible Technologies Powers Vail Resorts Social Network

Bellevue-based Visible Technologies, the provider of Internet brand and reputation management services backed by Ignition Partners, In-Q-Tel, Investor Growth Capital Ltd., and WPP, reported yesterday that it is powering some of the efforts of Vail Resorts in the social media and networking area. The firm said that Vail Resorts is a client. Vail--which runs the Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Heavenly ski resorts--said a few weeks ago that it has launched a new social media and networking service called EpicMix, which uses RFID tracking of its ski passes to let people's friends know what they are doing at the resorts. EpicMix tracks vertical feet skiied and days spent at the resorts, and posts that to things like Facebook. The EpicMix effort also includes iPhone, Android, and other smart phone connections, and "collectible digital pins"--the equivalent of social badges in applications like Gowalla and Foursquare. Vail said it is installing RFID scanners at all of its 89 lifts at all five of its mountain resorts as part of the effort. Visible did not say how it is helping Vail Resorts with the effort, however, the firm helps companies track the social media impact of their marketing efforts.