Sigma Designs and TOLMA Join Forces to Enable HEC to Deploy Realtime Video
Streaming over ATM Networks; REALmagic NetStream 2 Solution Will Be Announced
at Paris Interop
PARIS, Sep 15, 1999 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Sigma Designs(R), Inc.
(Nasdaq:SIGM), a recognized leader in digital video solutions for
commercial and education applications, and TOLMA SA, a leader in
building video solutions based on asynchronous transfer mode (ATM)
networking technology, announced today the deployment of realtime
MPEG-2 video streaming at Haute Etudes Commerciales (HEC) in Paris, the
leading business school in France and one of the most prestigious
business schools in the world.
The TV2PC(R) integrated solution, based on FORE Systems ATM adapters
and REALmagic(R) NetStream(TM) 2 digital video decoders, will be
presented at the FORE booth in Paris during the Fall Interop show.
"Two years ago, HEC launched a technology initiative aimed at enhancing
teaching quality and embracing use of new technologies in higher
education," said Jacques Dang, technology director at HEC.
"One of the main thrusts of the initiative was the strategic vision
that video would revolutionize both general corporate networking
infrastructures and, more importantly, achievement of corporate goals.
"Today, HEC has deployed an end-to-end ATM network infrastructure that
supports specialized video, videoconferencing, multimedia training
courses, and distance learning. We have been pleased to partner with
TOLMA in deploying TV2PC to complement this strategy by enabling
realtime streaming of quality video for both educational and
entertainment purposes."
The streaming video solution will be available to the more than 2,000
students enrolled in the HEC MBA program.
Within the TV2PC integrated solution, realtime MPEG-2 encoders compress
"on-the-fly" video from analog sources, such as video cameras, as well
as analog or digital TV streams. A distributed management system
enables every client on the network to know in real time the list of
available video streams.
Every MBA student is able to view any broadcast-quality MPEG-2 video
stream from any desktop computer equipped with a NetStream 2 card. As
TV2PC relies on native ATM technology, the transport infrastructure
provides the strong quality of service (QoS) needed; due to the TV2PC
distributed architecture, deployment can scale to any number of
encoders (channels) and clients.
"We are thrilled to work with HEC," said Olivier Danthine, president of
TOLMA. "In addition to being one of the world's leading business
schools, HEC is also recognized as a leader in its use of emerging
technologies such as ATM and MPEG-2, with a clear vision regarding how
these technologies will modify the way instruction is delivered."
"Today, the user's reference in judging image quality is the experience
he or she has every day with television. The need for a robust MPEG-2
decoding solution means that software decoding is not an option. Beyond
the fact that a hardware decoder is required, it also is key to find a
product capable of displaying a high-quality image free of artifacts on
any PC monitor without burdening the host CPU.
"REALmagic NetStream 2 meets our needs, even when desktop PCs powered
by older Pentium(R) 133MHz processors are used," Danthine added.
"We are pleased to be involved in the streaming video solution
implemented by HEC," stated William K. Wong, Sigma's vice president of
marketing.
"Our participation with such a prestigious program reinforces the
design wins we have achieved with Ivy League schools in the United
States. High-quality video results in maximum productivity and
creativity, enhancing the educational experience for teaching staff and
students. There is no doubt that streaming video will play an
increasingly important role in distance learning projects."
Frost & Sullivan estimates that the distance learning market can reach
$5.2 billion by 2004.
About HEC
Since 1881, when it was founded by the Paris Chamber of Commerce and
Industry, HEC (Hautes Etudes Commerciales) has prepared carefully
chosen candidates for positions of major responsibility in the
corporate world.
Today, in the rapidly expanding international business environment, HEC
remains not only France's most prestigious school of management but
also one of Europe's leading management training institutions. The
full-time faculty consists of 106 professors with doctorates from the
world's best research universities.
HEC also benefits from the contributions of 35 visiting professors from
Harvard, Stanford, Cornell, ESADE, Bocconi, Michigan, and a variety of
other business schools and 450 assistant lecturers, most of them
business executives. More than 2,000 students live on the HEC campus,
located in south Paris. For more information, please visit
hec.fr
About TOLMA:
TOLMA provides scalable, cost-effective solutions enabling delivery
of high-quality MPEG-2 video over ATM networks. Based on the company's
expertise in both MPEG-2 and ATM networking architecture, TOLMA has
created an integrated solution applicable to TV distribution, video
surveillance, and distance learning. For more information, please visit
tolma.com.
About Sigma Designs:
Sigma Designs is an acknowledged leader in the fast-growing digital
video market. Sigma specializes in digital video encoding/decoding for
the PC DVD market, for video streaming over corporate/organizational
Intranets and extranets, and for the emerging set-top box/information
appliance market.
Sigma is a driving force in advancement of digital video technology
used in high-speed, high-bandwidth transmission for business, home, and
education markets. Sigma Designs' products, marketed under the
REALmagic trade name, are sold worldwide through a direct sales force,
distributors, and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).
For more information, visit the company's web site at
sigmadesigns.com
Note to Editors: For additional information, photographs, and
interviews, please contact Andy Marken, marken@cerf.net or
408/986-0100. NetStream is a trademark, and Sigma Designs and REALmagic
are registered trademarks of Sigma Designs.
Other products and companies referred to herein are trademarks or
registered trademarks of their respective companies.
Copyright (C) 1999 Business Wire. All rights reserved.
-0-
CONTACT: Sigma Designs, Inc.
Carol Kaplan, 408/957-9891 (IR Contact)
carol_kaplan@sdesigns.com
or
Marken Communications, Inc.
Andy Marken, 408/986-0100 (Media Contact)
marken@cerf.net
or
TOLMA SA
Olivier Danthine, 33 6 6171 0404
olivier.danthine@tolma.com
WEB PAGE: businesswire.com
GEOGRAPHY: CALIFORNIA INTERNATIONAL EUROPE
INDUSTRY CODE: COMPUTERS/ELECTRONICS
COMED
INTERACTIVE/MULTIMEDIA/INTERNET
PRODUCT
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