Williams Communications Launches New Streaming Media Services
Offers Customers End-to-End Streaming Media Management, Distribution Solution
TULSA, Okla., May 22, 2002 /PRNewswire-FirstCall from COMTEX/ -- Williams Communications (OTC Bulletin Board: WCGRQ chart, msgs), a leading provider of broadband services to bandwidth-centric customers, today announced it has launched new streaming media services over its nationwide fiber-optic network. The new services include live and on-demand streaming, wholesale streaming and subscription/pay-per-view streaming. These products complement Williams Communications' current streaming media offerings, including the popular TalkPoint(TM) and ActiveCast(TM) services and enable customers to create efficient communications with internal and external audiences worldwide.
Coinciding with the launch of these services, Williams Communications will provide exclusive live and on-demand streaming media services to Digicast Corporation, a digital broadcasting provider. Over the past year, Digicast has produced and broadcast more than 220 live sports and entertainment events over the Internet to a global audience.
Live and on-demand streaming enables businesses to make streaming an integral communications tool, increasing flexibility and opportunity for growth through quick, easy and professional communications via the Internet, while wholesale streaming gives large-volume streaming customers, including media and entertainment content owners or streaming media re-sellers, carrier- class scalability. Subscription/pay-per-view streaming enables customers to generate revenue by distributing existing video content to new Internet audiences, and includes all streaming administration requirements, including registration, payment processing and reporting, and is capable of managing high-traffic events.
All of these services are powered by the industrial-strength infrastructure of Williams Communications' tier-one Internet Protocol backbone and content distribution network. The company can serve thousands of live and on-demand streams simultaneously, deliver behind the firewall and over the public Internet, as well as host, store and archive content, giving customers unrivaled options and flexibility in service levels.
"Our full complement of streaming media services and unmatched connectivity to media content owners and other venues enable current and prospective customers to seamlessly acquire, encode in multiple formats and stream media content," said Matthew Bross, senior vice president and general manager of Emerging Markets for Williams Communications. "Given that we have carried the most highly mission-critical transmissions for global media and entertainment companies over our network for 13 years, customers can be assured they are utilizing a service provider with unmatched expertise in transporting and managing their content."
Bross also said that customers should remain assured that Williams Communications will remain committed to its high levels of customer service as the company moves through its balance sheet restructuring.
"The restructuring process should have a minimal impact on day-to-day operations and the company will continue to focus on execution and meeting its customers' needs as we always have," Bross said.
Through its various streaming media offerings, Williams Communications currently moves more than 63 million audio and video streams over its network on a monthly basis. The company's expanding portfolio of IP-based services provides customers with the ability to leverage the Internet and new web-based technologies over a nationwide, MPLS-enabled IP network. Through its expanding IP services and comprehensive broadband media services, including content gathering and distribution, digital media management and streaming media, Williams Communications can create unmatched end-to-end customer solutions.
About Williams Communications Group, Inc.
Based in Tulsa, Okla., Williams Communications Group, Inc., is a leading broadband network services provider focused on the needs of bandwidth-centric customers. Williams Communications operates the largest, most efficient, next-generation network in North America. Connecting 125 U.S. cities and reaching five continents, Williams Communications provides customers with unparalleled local-to-global connectivity. By leveraging its infrastructure, best-in-breed technology, connectivity and network and broadband media expertise, Williams Communications supports the bandwidth demands of leading communications companies around the globe. For more information, visit www.williamscommunications.com .
All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Portions of this document may constitute "forward-looking statements" as defined by federal law. Although the company believes any such statements are based on reasonable assumptions, there is no assurance that actual outcomes will not be materially different. Any such statements are made in reliance on the "safe harbor" protections provided under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Additional information about issues that could lead to material changes in performance is contained in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Contact: Jeff Pounds
Williams Communications (media)
(918) 547-8920
jeff.pounds@wcg.com
Lindsay Fick
Williams Communications (investors)
(918) 547-3773
lindsay.fick@wcg.com
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Source: Williams Communications Group, Inc.
Contact: media, Jeff Pounds, +1-918-547-8920, or jeff.pounds@wcg.com ,
or investors, Lindsay Fick, +1-918-547-3773, or lindsay.fick@wcg.com , both of
Williams Communications Group, Inc. |
