Megatoon Studios, the multimedia arm of Malofilm Communications, has announced a new initiative to develop online services and technolgy.

Meg@toon Station, launched in July, provides Internet access and online services to Quebec residents as well as World Wide Web facilities to corporations involved in Internet marketing.

Quebec-based Megatoon Studios, bought by Malofilm in May of this year, is a digital production facility specializing in creative content development for new media.

Meg@toon Station was established by the studio to allow for further research and development in new media and to offer a new service to the Quebec market.

‘It’s a logical extension for us,’ says David Weiser, founder of Megatoon Studios and now president of Megatoon Station.

‘Internet use will be expanding, but it will evolve from what it is now,’ Weiser says. ‘This gives us a chance to start exploring what kinds of products and services we’ll be able to develop and offer online.’

Exploring new media technology may also provide an avenue for Malofilm to expand its distribution realm.

‘Malofilm is strong in film distribution now,’ Weiser says. ‘But, eventually, they may have their own catalogue of movies made for online distribution as the technology evolves.’

Megatoon Station is offering standard Internet access in Quebec at rates comparable to other providers, and studies are being conducted as to the feasibility of expanding access outside of the province.

Additional services in the works include Virtual Quebec, a ‘3-D representation of the city,’ which will feature personal accounting, entertainment and restaurant listings, including online menus, as well as a virtual auditorium for discussion of current issues affecting the region.

Province-wide and Canada-wide versions of this service are also being discussed.

According to Weiser, Megatoon Station also has major international clients for its World Wide Web service.

Web sites are created by Megatoon Studios and maintained by Megatoon Station.

Weiser says that while most companies create their own Web sites, there will be a move to increased standardization in the next year.