NV3 Technologies Provides Cell Phone Charging On the Go

Cell phone users now rely so heavily on their phones that basic communication has essentially become next to impossible without them.

NV3 Technologies, a Baltimore based company, is taking advantage of consumer attachment to phones. It is now manufacturing cell phone charging kiosks which make it possible for consumers to charge their cellular devices conveniently while on the go.

The founding managing partners, Scott Calhoun and Ryan Doak, created a digital signage business together prior to creating NV3 Technologies.

According to Calhoun, they combined the digital signage business with a cell phone charging station business of Calhoun's and a web development business of Doak's.

"Ryan had a piece of the puzzle that I didn't have," said Calhoun. "The missing puzzle piece was the actual remote management system for the kiosk, to remotely manage content."

The kiosk will charge 95% of cell phones in about 15 minutes. It incorporates a LCD screen which can be programmed to show customers valuable information such as news, sports, weather, or anything really.

Advertisements are also displayed on the screen, which is a strategy for the company to generate revenue from the devices.

"I knew that the return on investment was not in a vending type of business," said Calhoun. "The secret was, for 15 minutes, you're holding a customer. You can push content and display ads, which is going to pay for itself a whole lot faster than trying to charge a customer to charge their device."

The company also creates LCD screens for digital information display (DID) and digital signage software.

Places where these kiosks and DIDs can be found include hospitals, airports, hotels, convention centers, malls, shopping centers, universities, libraries, and casinos to name a few.

"We just recently placed one at the University of Auburn's football stadium and that seems to be doing very well for them," said Tim Mack, director of business development.

Most of the company's competitors come from China, with a few in the U.S. One company called goCharge is based out of New York and imports their product line from China, according to Mack.

"How the kiosk is built is absolutely amazing," said Josh Brehm, owner of Brown Dog Enterprises and client of NV3 Technologies. "We have so many companies outsourcing that for me, as an entrepreneur and small business owner, it is huge for me to say to my clients that this product is built in the U.S."

Brehm's company purchases products from NV3 Technologies and places them in bars and restaurants. The company allows free cell phone charging and charges for advertising.

NV3 Technologies has increased revenue by 300% since 2008 and continues to grow as a company with each additional client they attract.

The company operates out of a relatively small office in The Factory Building, located at 2400 Boston St. Those familiar with the area will know the building as The Can Company in Canton.