June 22, 1999 09:32
ACTV'S HyperTV Networks Joins Sun Microsystems & Other Education Service Providers in New Alliance for K-12 Schools
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 22, 1999--
Leading Companies Join Forces to Create
Internet-Based Portal Computing Services For K-12
HyperTV Networks, a subsidiary of ACTV, Inc. (NASDAQ: IATV), today announced its involvement as an application and content service provider in the SchoolTone Alliance Program. The SchoolTone Alliance Program, led by Sun Microsystems, is a joint marketing and sales effort designed to create high-quality portals that provide affordable and easy-to-access Internet content, communication tools, and applications targeting K-12 schools. The program brings together best-of-breed web-based educational content, portal technologies, applications, and services deployed through education service providers to K-12 schools.
HyperTV Networks will market its eSchool(R) Online suite of software applications and state-of-the-art teacher training and instructional content through the SchoolTone Alliance Program. eSchool Online enables online learning and the development of dynamic learning communities by using patented HyperTV(tm) technology to integrate educational video with the automatic delivery of complementary Web material, collaborative functionality and embedded assessment.
Bruce J. Crowley, President of HyperTV Networks, stated: "This alliance is about improving distribution, access and efficiency. The companies involved in the SchoolTone Alliance Program are collaborating to provide a better quality of service to the K-12 market, while making the purchasing decision process easier on the client base. In our view, portal computing represents an excellent way to extend our eSchool application. Additionally, it provides a great way in which we can leverage the content work we have done in conjunction with leading State Departments of Education by making this content easier to access for others by either pay-per-view or subscription modes."
"Sun is glad to be working with ACTV as part of the SchoolTone Alliance Program," said Robert Iskander, Director of Market Development for Global Education and Learning at Sun Microsystems. "ACTV brings to the alliance the leading-edge HyperTV technology which is essential for multimedia educational content."
In addition to ACTV's HyperTV Networks, participants in the SchoolTone Alliance Program include: America Online, BizTone, Blackboard, Callisto Media Systems, i-Mind Learning Systems, Intranet Communication Corporation, The Jason Foundation, Learningstation.com, Logal Software, Inc., Magically, Inc., Mediaseek, Netschools, Open School, Oz New Media, Quiz Studio, SRI International, Timecruiser Computing Corporation, and Vantage Technology.
HyperTV Networks: Leading the Way to Convergence
eSchool(R) Online is an application of ACTV's patented HyperTV(tm) software technology. ACTV's HyperTV convergence software provides viewers with a richer interactive experience and allows them to become part of a dynamic virtual community. eSchool Online is a leading online learning application in the K-12 environment today.
Using ACTV's proprietary methods, HyperTV(tm) uniquely enables the simultaneous and synchronized delivery of video, audio and Web URLs (Uniform Resource Locators) to viewers. HyperTV(tm) allows content producers -- such as television programmers, educational video producers, and advertisers -- to automatically deliver, or "push," to consumers compelling Internet content that directly corresponds to a television program or other video-based program. In contrast, ACTV's proprietary technology also gives viewers the option to request, or "pull," relevant Web content that augments and enriches the television program.
Software-based, without hardware, chip or platform dependency, HyperTV(tm) can operate on any of today's principal PC operating systems (Windows, Macintosh or UNIX). It is also fully compatible with analog or digital television and broadband delivery infrastructures. Programmers don't have to alter their existing delivery systems to begin providing HyperTV's(tm) enhanced content experience to their viewers.
Today, HyperTV(tm) users can watch video on a standard television set while viewing synchronized Web content and interacting with other users via their computer. Or, depending on a viewer's computer and how the video is getting to that computer, viewers can see the video in a frame on their browser while complementary synchronized Web material is automatically delivered to other frames in the same browser. As next generation digital set-top boxes, cable modems and other consumer devices made possible by advances in digital and broadband technology are deployed, viewers will be able to enjoy HyperTV(tm) programming experiences with each of the elements -- video, audio, synchronized Web content and chat -- simultaneously delivered directly to their television screen or desktop.
About ACTV, Inc.
ACTV, Inc., is a leader in interactive digital television with its proprietary "Individualized Television" and "Individualized Advertising" software and programming capabilities, and a pioneer of TV-Internet convergence programming with its patented HyperTV(tm) software application.
ACTV offers superior, practical solutions for television programmers, educators, advertisers, cable operators and consumers looking to leverage the emergence of digital television and broadband technology. The Company is committed to improving the television and Internet experience by enabling the creation of more compelling content, while allowing programmers, advertisers and others to establish valuable one-to-one relationships with consumers.
ACTV has relationships with many of the dominant players in the Internet, television and digital technology fields, including: Liberty Media Group (NYSE:LMG.A, LMG.B); AT&T Broadband & Internet Services (NYSE:T); General Instrument Corporation (NYSE:GIC); Sun Microsystems, Inc. (NASDAQ:SUNW); FOX Sports Net; TCI Music, Inc. (NASDAQ:TUNE, TUNEP); TV Guide Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ:TVGIA); Scientific-Atlanta, Inc. (NYSE:SFA); Pioneer Digital Technologies, Inc.; SkyConnect, Inc.; Cablevision's Rainbow Sports; and The Sarnoff Corporation. In September 1998, ACTV Entertainment and Liberty Media formed a joint venture, LMC/IATV Events, LLC. ACTV Entertainment and HyperTV Networks, Inc., are subsidiaries of ACTV, Inc. Visit ACTV's Web site at actv.com.
Sun in Education
Sun Microsystems is a leading provider of open network computing solutions to education institutions around the world, powering academic, research and high performance computing systems, campus administration, digital libraries and student instruction systems. In addition, Sun is committed to connecting the world's students to the Internet, beginning with primary and secondary schools and extending to all levels of higher education. For information about Sun in Education, please visit sun.com.
About Sun Microsystems, Inc.
Since its inception in 1982, a singular vision, "The Network Is The Computer(TM)," has propelled Sun Microsystems, Inc. (NASDAQ:SUNW) to its position as a leading provider of high quality hardware, software and services for establishing enterprise-wide Intranets and expanding the power of the Internet. With more than $11 billion in annual revenues, Sun can be found in more than 150 countries and on the World Wide Web at sun.com.
HyperTV and eSchool Online are trademarks or registered trademarks of ACTV, Inc. Sun, the Sun logo, Sun Microsystems, Solaris, Sun Enterprise, Java, HotJava and The Network Is The Computer are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United States and other countries.
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