Microsoft & Wave Notes.
NOTE: This is Countryboy's post from RB...http://www.ragingbull.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=WAVX&read=154786 )
Here are some interesting relationships involving Wave's recent partners. It sounds like Intertrust's technology is a part of Microsoft's Media Player.
If you go to this Wave site you will not see anything but load it in. But, read the blue title bar. "Media Player Test." Interesting.
mall1.wavesys.com
Countryboy
MICROSOFT© is a strategic business and technology partner of Reciprocal?.
Microsoft has entered into a strategic technology and marketing alliance to deliver digital rights management (DRM) solutions for the digital content economy? and has also made an equity investment in Reciprocal. As a first step in this process, Reciprocal has delivered a complete, end-to-end DRM solution tailored for the music industry based on Microsoft Windows Media? Rights Manager, a component of Windows Media Technologies 4.0.
Reciprocal has partnered with InterTrust© Technologies Corporation, the MetaTrust Utility?, to license DRM platform technology and functionality software. Reciprocal's distinct DRM services include an extensive set of unique features that are enabled by the MetaTrust Utility?. Reciprocal? is a core partner of InterTrust© Technologies Corporation's MetaTrust Utility?, and licenses Digital Rights Management (DRM) platform technology from InterTrust. Reciprocal offers products and services -- based on InterTrust specifications -- that help build a global digital commerce system branded as the MetaTrust Utility?.
Reciprocal?s solution is customer-ready and incorporates a complete suite of DRM services?DRM desktop software for consumers and content providers, a robust and scalable DRM clearinghouse, and industry expertise?all required for true Digital Rights Management. The solution is built to work with the DRM platform technology that best suits customers? needs, and is currently available on the platform technology of Microsoft Corp.
Reciprocal Music, which will be located in New York City, will leverage the strategic relationships that Reciprocal has forged with InterTrust Technologies Corporation and Microsoft Corp
"Reciprocal Music is uniquely positioned as the first company of its kind to deliver end-to-end solutions that allow everyone in the value chain - music companies, artists, retailers, publishers and royalty management organizations - to fully realize the advantages of digital distribution," said Miller. "The market has evolved to the point where support for multiple platforms, file formats and audio players within a complete DRM solution is required to make digital music distribution successful and profitable. At Reciprocal Music we look forward to building upon our past relationships with AT&T, as well as with other digital distribution providers."
RECIPROCAL AND MICROSOFT WINDOWS MEDIA TECHNOLOGIES 4.0 MAKE DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION A REALITY FOR MILLIONS OF MUSIC FANS
Reciprocal to Provide Clearinghouse Service for Initial Promotion
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, August 17, 1999 ? With today?s release of Microsoft Windows Media Technologies 4.0, ReciprocalTM, the global digital rights management (DRM) services provider, and Microsoft Corp. will be providing consumers with new ways of accessing, downloading and purchasing digital music over the Internet while enabling content providers to build new revenue streams via secure digital delivery of their music
"Reciprocal?s flexible digital rights management services allow music companies unlimited options in defining how their music can be distributed in the digital marketplace," says Larry Miller, president of Reciprocal Music. "Reciprocal?s services on the Microsoft Windows Media Technologies platform will provide a powerful solution, ultimately allowing music fans unprecedented access to material from their favorite artists."
As previewed in April in Los Angeles, Reciprocal has created an end-to-end DRM solution based on the Windows Media Rights Manager, a component of Windows Media Technologies 4.0. Such forward-thinking companies as Microsoft Corp., Reuters, Bertlesmann Storage Media Group, amplified.com, and Digital Medical Systems have licensed Reciprocal?s solution.
Microsoft Invests $30 Million in Intervu to Accelerate Broadband Delivery Services
Companies Form Strategic Alliance to Bring High Quality Broadband to Consumers
12/20/1999
SAN DIEGO--Dec. 20, 1999 via NewsEdge Corporation - INTERVU Inc. (Nasdaq: ITVU), the leading service provider for Internet audio and video delivery solutions, today announced a strategic partnership with Microsoft to expand its broadband streaming media network based on the Windows Media platform. The companies also announced that Microsoft will invest $30 million in INTERVU.
"INTERVU is a pioneer in distributing streaming media content, and we share a vision of bringing broadband into the mainstream for millions of consumers," said Will Poole, general manager, Streaming Media Division at Microsoft. "This alliance will significantly advance the quality, broad availability, and efficient delivery of broadband Windows Media content."
INTERVU and Microsoft are aligning to rapidly develop an infrastructure that is cost-effective for the development of Internet broadband audio and video delivery. Content providers will receive forward-based pricing combined with a quick deployment of edge media delivery centers located at high-speed access points. In addition, the cost-effective Windows Media solution will serve as a platform for building value-added applications such as targeted audio/video advertising insertion, pay-per-view, and digital rights management, creating new business opportunities for content providers.
"Our strategic alliance with Microsoft is a strong endorsement of INTERVU's strategy to build the most advanced broadband network dedicated to multimedia content," said Harry Gruber, chairman and chief executive officer of INTERVU. "We will use this investment to expand our broadband network capabilities and develop value-added applications to provide our customers with an end-to-end solution for streaming media management and delivery at a price designed to jump start the broadband streaming media industry."
INTERVU provides content providers and corporations with turnkey audio and video delivery services over a proprietary network built on the Internet. INTERVU's patented network consists of distributed media delivery centers (MDCs) that are co-located across multiple Internet backbones for optimal Internet distribution and reach. With Microsoft's investment, INTERVU will co-locate and interconnect its MDCs on cable, wireless and digital subscriber line (DSL) networks and in other "edge" locations in order to reduce, and eventually eliminate, egress distribution costs for its content provider customers. This regional expansion of INTERVU's network will also offer broadband service providers and their subscribers with the highest quality audio/video experience possible by bypassing Internet congestion through intelligent network delivery.
Microsoft will purchase shares of a new series of INTERVU senior convertible preferred stock for $30 million. The preferred stock may be converted into common stock at a conversion price of $90.00 per share, which represents a 27% premium over the previous 20-day average closing price of INTERVU's common stock. The terms of the security specify an annual dividend rate of 6.5% payable quarterly in stock or cash. Microsoft will receive a five-year warrant to purchase 60,000 shares of INTERVU's common stock with an exercise price of $90.00 per share. About INTERVU Inc.
SEATTLE and REDMOND Wash./SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 21, 1999--
Microsoft and INTERVU to Invest $10 Million in DiscoverMusic.com;
600 Million Annual Music Streams to Be Exclusively
Delivered Over INTERVU's Streaming Media Network
In a three-company announcement today, INTERVU Inc. (Nasdaq: ITVU), the leading service provider for Internet audio and video delivery solutions, and Microsoft Corp. will each make $5 million investments in DiscoverMusic.com, the leading provider of music samples and data to Internet music retailers. As the digital music industry continues to grow, this equity investment will help DiscoverMusic.com expand the capabilities and services it provides to Internet music retailers and record labels.
DiscoverMusic.com offers the world's largest database of music samples, including over 1.2 million samples from more than 200,000 albums. The company delivers approximately 50 million audio streams per month for major music retailers such as Amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, Borders, Inc., CDNOW and Tower Records. Under the agreement, INTERVU will become DiscoverMusic.com's exclusive streaming media provider, including music download distribution services. The Microsoft(R) Windows Media(TM) platform, along with INTERVU's patented streaming media network, will be integral to DiscoverMusic.com's music distribution service for leading music retailers and record labels.
As part of this transaction, DiscoverMusic.com's Internet music retailer base will receive access to the open Windows Media platform, which delivers high-quality digital music and a flexible technology foundation for digital music distribution and commerce. As digital media becomes widely used, new infrastructure services are required to support content management, e-commerce, secure music distribution and more.
"With Windows Media, Microsoft delivers a proven technology platform that enables digital music distribution," said Will Poole, general manager, Streaming Media Division at Microsoft. "These three companies together offer an unmatched set of services upon which music retailers can build their e-commerce business."
In addition to the popular Windows Media platform, DiscoverMusic.com will seamlessly integrate INTERVU's audio and video distribution services into its Internet music retailer service offering. INTERVU's audio distribution services are based on the company's patented network, which offers tremendous capacity to scale upon demand. The distributed architecture is essential to support DiscoverMusic.com as its music distribution demands grow.
"With nearly 20% of our revenue currently being derived from the digital distribution of music, we believe that this space is poised for major growth," said Harry Gruber, chairman and CEO of INTERVU. "Our investment in DiscoverMusic.com secures an important channel partner for INTERVU in one of the potentially largest digital audio/video distribution markets on the Internet."
"The combination of Microsoft's technology and INTERVU's world-class network will provide a scalable and high quality delivery solution to our retailers and record labels, where scale and quality count," said David Lambert, president and chief executive officer of DiscoverMusic.com. "The investments by Microsoft and INTERVU will enable us to significantly enhance our music sampling service for Internet music retailers. We are pleased that Microsoft and INTERVU have demonstrated a strong interest in our services and consider this round of financing to be another major milestone for the company."
INTERVU and Microsoft will each acquire $5 million of DiscoverMusic.com's convertible preferred stock.
About Microsoft Corp.
DiscoverMusic.com has established the retail industry standard for Internet music sampling. The company serves retailers and consumers with the world's largest database of music samples, and the new MusicMeter, the authoritative voice for online listening data. DiscoverMusic.com, formerly Enso Audio Imaging Corporation, became incorporated in March 1998 and is privately held. |
