Thought this was of some interest to everyone here. Notice the key words Video-On-Demand.
Wednesday July 8 10:15 AM EDT
Microsoft Launches Multimedia Software
SEATTLE (Reuters) - Microsoft has launched the latest version of its "streaming" media technology aimed at bringing near-broadcast-quality audio and video to the computer desktop.
The launch of the products was the latest step in Microsoft's effort to adopt technology seen as key to making the Internet a mass-media platform capable of providing video on demand and other television-like services.
For now, the bandwidth to deliver true video on demand exists only in closed networks such as hotels and corporate offices. But several major content providers announced plans to take advantage of the new Microsoft technology to offer improved delivery of news and information over the Internet as well as new features such as online video advertisements.
"Streaming audio and video are quickly becoming a standard vehicle for richer communications," Microsoft Chief Operating Officer Bob Herbold said in a statement, referring to the technology that allows users to access audio and video content almost immediately rather than wait for lengthy downloads.
Seattle-based Real Networks Inc. has more than an 85 percent share in the market for streaming media players and servers, according to company spokesman Jay Wampold, who said he saw nothing new in the Microsoft announcement.
"We have not run into situations where we have lost accounts to Microsoft," Wampold said.
Microsoft licenses some of Real Networks' technology and owns a minority stake in the company.
The new Microsoft products, which have been in testing, include Windows Media Player, a free add-on to the Windows 95, Windows 98 and Windows NT Workstation operating systems that plays back most multimedia file types.
Microsoft also released the latest edition of Windows NT Server NetShow Services, which a company executive said
would provide video quality about twice as good as the previous version. The product is free to Windows NT Server
licensees.
Finally, Microsoft announced availability of Microsoft NetShow Theater Server to deliver broadcast-quality video over high-speed networks. The product sells for about $2,499, including five client access licenses. |
