Company Press Release: "Sun Unveils Web Streaming Solution Aimed at Exploding Market for Storing and Streaming Video"
Capitalizing on Open Standards, Sun StorEdge(TM) Media Central Streaming Server Software Unites the Broadcast and Internet Worlds with Industry's First End-to-end Media Platform
LAS VEGAS, April 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Sun Microsystems, Inc. (Nasdaq: SUNW - news)
today announced Sun StorEdge(TM) Media Central Streaming Server software at the National
Association of Broadcasters Conference (NAB) in Las Vegas, Nevada. Sun StorEdge Media
Central Streaming Server software is based on IETF open standards, and when paired with
Sun(TM) servers and storage, creates the industry's first integrated, end-to-end solution for
streaming video and audio content to the Web.
Sun's new media streaming platform bridges the broadcast and Internet worlds by supporting
both traditional audio/video and Web content delivery channels and by offering anytime,
anywhere access to a variety of data types.
``We are on the verge of a broadband revolution,' said Denise Shiffman, vice president of
marketing, Sun Network Storage. ``Media companies have created large archives of digital
media, and as end-user access improves, their audience grows. They are putting infrastructure
into place now to capitalize on this. They look to Sun as the Internet solutions partner to provide
them with a complete, highly-scalable, reliable media streaming solution built on open
standards.'
Analyst firm Multimedia Research Group reported on the exploding streaming media industry in
a report entitled ``IP Video & Streaming Media: Server and Services Market Overview &
Forecast: 1999-2001.'
``As of 1998, there were an estimated 36,000 streaming media Web sites. By the end of 1999
that number climbed to 108,000,' said Paul Donovan, analyst, Multimedia Research Group,
Sunnyvale, Calif. ``We expect that by the end of 2000 there will be more than 250,000 Web
sites that offer streaming media. This rapid growth means that media-centric content providers
and value-added content delivery services will need to deploy an interoperable, open-standards
infrastructure that can scale to the soaring demand for broadband applications.'
Sun Designs Media Streaming Platform for Open Standards
Sun StorEdge Media Central Streaming Server software is built on open, industry-standard
protocols, providing the end user with a flexible, extensible foundation for future growth. The
software supports Real Time Streaming Protocol/Real Time Protocol standards.
``As one of the principal architects of RTSP, we are pleased to see Sun incorporate RTSP
support into their StorEdge Media Central product. Through support of industry standards such
as RTSP, the entire streaming media market will benefit from interoperability and optimized
networks,' said Ben Rotholtz, general manager, Media Systems, RealNetworks. ``Our joint
focus on standards extends our close Sun relationship with the plan to have RealSystem G2 on
Sun servers and storage co-exist and seamlessly operate with Sun StorEdge Media Central.'
The initial product release provides direct support for streaming Apple Computer's
QuickTime(TM) technology, which allows content developers to stream content in the same
format in which they created it. In future product releases, Sun plans to support plug-ins for
other open-standard formats.
Sun Offers Integrated, End-to-end Design for Complete Flexibility
Sun StorEdge Media Central Streaming Server software can be combined with Sun
Enterprise(TM) servers and Sun StorEdge arrays into an integrated, end-to-end solution. The
solution's interoperability can improve ease of use, as well as lower cost of installation,
deployment, administration and ownership.
The streaming software, coupled with Sun hardware, offers a flexible design that allows for
future growth. Customers can easily add servers and storage incrementally as their business
demands grow.
Broadcast and Internet Worlds Merge, Result in New Applications
As the traditional broadcast and Internet worlds merge, more and more applications for
streaming media arise. Many traditional broadcasters are expanding their audience by offering
daily live Internet broadcasts, as well as original Internet content. Traditional broadcasters are
also starting to digitize their archived film. Instead of searching for footage in a room full of
archived tape cassettes, the broadcaster could save time, expense and frustration by using Sun's
streaming solution to implement a searchable digital library of archived footage.
In the purely Web world, Sun StorEdge Media Central Streaming Server is ideal for media
companies that are developing new uses for audio and video streamed to intranets and the
Internet. ``We're excited about Sun's new technology,' Tim Wilson, vice president of marketing
at Digital Island. ``Our customers rely on us for always-available global Web hosting and
content delivery. Sun's solution offers the elements businesses like ours require: reliable,
industrial-strength Web streaming with the flexibility to scale as the business grows.'
Specifications, Pricing and Availability
Sun plans to make the Sun StorEdge Media Central Streaming Server software available next
month through Sun and its resellers. Pricing for the streaming software starts at $2,995 (U.S. $)
for a one-server license. Pricing and availability are subject to change without notice.
About Sun Network Storage
Sun Network Storage was formed by Sun Microsystems in July 1998, and is a recognized
multi-billion dollar industry leader in the UNIX© and open systems storage market. Sun is
changing the rules in network storage by delivering software and hardware written to an open
network architecture. Sun's commitment to standards enables timely availability of new
technology, investment protection for existing technology, and a thriving partner community. The
comprehensive Sun StorEdge family of products enables customers to match storage to the
application while providing scalable capacity and performance in a ``pay-as-you-grow'
architecture.
About Sun Microsystems, Inc.
Since its inception in 1982, a singular vision ``The Network Is The Computer(TM)' has
propelled Sun Microsystems, Inc. to its position as a leading provider of industrial-strength
hardware, software and services that power the Internet and allow companies worldwide to
``.com' their businesses. With $13 billion in annual revenues, Sun can be found in more than
170 countries and on the World Wide Web at sun.com .
All rights reserved. Sun, Sun Microsystems, the Sun logo, Sun Enterprise, Sun StorEdge and
The Network Is The Computer are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems,
Inc., in the United States and other countries. UNIX is a registered trademark in the United
States and other countries, exclusively licensed through X/Open Company Ltd. QuickTime is a
trademark of Apple Computer, Inc.
SOURCE: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
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