Hosted Communications

Sign up for the Hosted Communications Community eNewsletter

Sign up for real-time alerts on Hosted Communication.

1st Byte, a company offering digital offset printing services in the U.K., has showcased the technology and services available at its new premises, using an interesting 3D virtual tour accessible on the Internet.

1st Byte was started in 1997, with a view to offer cheaper digital printing services for short run print jobs, as opposed to the more expensive lithographic printing process. The company initially used the Indigo machines available then, before upgrading to the Ultrastream versions in 2000. Company officials say that the quality achieved with these machines presently is comparable to that obtained through conventional lithographic printing.

The company has expanded, and recently acquired a 4000 square feet office building in Clerkenwell, which has been named First House. During the course of its expansion, the company engaged Strange, a digital marketing concern, to create an online campaign that in the words of a 1st Byte official should be, “something truly creative and engaging that imparted our passion and sense of fun coupled with technical expertise and professionalism”. Strange commissioned Rod Hunt, a British artist, to sketch illustrations of the First House building, and used these illustrations to create an online virtual tour of the building and its facilities.  

The tour showcases the entire company building, in a representation of the actual layout of the First House. Each of the floors can be separately viewed, and the function carried out as well as the equipment present on each of them has been well depicted in the tour.

The company is pleased with the advertising campaign executed by Strange, and company officials feel that the tour conveys the intended message, with just the right mix of quirkiness, creativity, talent and style. “We love this tour. We're growing rapidly, mainly based on the quality of our work, the technological solution we can offer, and the speed and professionalism of our staff, and this tour Strange have built really captures the spirit of the business, so we're delighted.”, 1st Byte Managing Director, Lawrence Dalton, was quoted as saying.