Viscom Frankfurt has announced that it is accepting applications for its 2012 Digital Signage Best Practice Award, which will now include a new Multichannel category alongside the existing Retail Signage, Guiding Signage, Information Signage and Interactive Signage categories.

The new category has been added this year to reflect the increasing trend for digital signage projects to be 'realised in the context of several cleverly linked applications', says Viscom.

"In this category, digital signage is part of an overall multichannel strategy, which may also include web or mobile applications," explains digital signage specialist and jury president Thomas Dockter, adding that the Viscom award is the only competition to judge 'all aspects of a project'.

"[The aim is] to demonstrate that this is an independent medium of communication – not merely a screen on a wall.”

Hardware suppliers, agencies and integrators are eligible to apply, as well as clients who commissioned a project. The deadline for entries is July 30th, and the prize will be awarded by Viscom in cooperation with Dockter Marketing.