IBM?s Net Generation Unit Backs Web Broadcaster ViaVid
Burnaby, BC, - (BUSINESSWIRE) - March 15, 2000 -- ViaVid Broadcasting, Inc. (OTC BB:VVDB) has reached an agreement with The Net Generation business unit of IBM Canada, to provide technology infrastructure and expertise to the company.
The two companies announced their relationship in a Webcast that was broadcast online by ViaVid and which remains available at the Web site www.viavid.com.
?IBM?s Net Generation business mission is to leverage IBM?s industry-leading hardware, software and services to help Web-based businesses get to market fast because on the Web, speed to market is often the difference between success and failure,? said St‚phane Boisvert, Net Generation business unit executive. ?ViaVid, with its unique and powerful Web-based broadcast offering, is a perfect fit for us. If we can help it established a strong foothold in the market by providing the right technology and expertise at the right time, then we create a win-win situation.?
Initially, IBM is providing ViaVid with three IBM Netfinity Servers, five Intellistations and five ThinkPads, to build the video, database and web server infrastructure required to run its business. IBM will also provide access to its SurfAid solution, a web data mining tool, to monitor the effectiveness of its online advertising.
?Being able to leverage IBM?s technology and expertise is a huge competitive advantage for us,? said ViaVid President Brian Kathler. ?We expect rapid growth as well as the need for a global presence and there is no other technology partner that could have provided us with the kind of high-quality, fully scalable infrastructure we will build with IBM.?
With the IBM relationship in place, ViaVid is positioned to be a leader in the online interactive broadcasting sector. Over the past year, it has created a turnkey digital broadcasting facility, produced a bi-weekly business and health show, covered events such as the Championship Auto Racing Team (CART) race and the PGA tour held in Vancouver, and partnered with other streaming media Internet companies.
About IBM?s Net Generation business
Net Generation is an IBM business unit based in Markham, Ontario, that provides hardware, software and services to emerging Web-based businesses, as well as access to IBM?s research and development labs, to enable those businesses to quickly put in place an effective, scalable infrastructure that gives them a competitive advantage.
About ViaVid
ViaVid Broadcasting Inc., based in Burnaby, BC, is a digital Internet broadcasting company that offers a range of interactive broadcasting services using streaming media technology. The company produces and owns original content specifically developed for the Internet and is a full service production and distribution company capable of broadcasting full-motion video content over the Internet. With a growing portfolio of programming designed to target specific audiences, ViaVid generates its revenues from advertising, subscriptions, e-commerce and sponsorships.
Statements regarding financial matters in this press release other than historical facts are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company intends that such statements about the Company's future expectations, including future revenues and earnings, and all other forward-looking statements be subject to the safe harbors created thereby. Since these statements (future operational results and sales) involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change at any time, the Company's actual results may differ materially from expected results. |
