(COMTEX) B: (SUNW) ACTV'S HyperTV Networks Joins Sun Microsystems & O
B: (SUNW) ACTV'S HyperTV Networks Joins Sun Microsystems & Other Education
Service Providers in New Alliance for K-12 Schools
NEW YORK, Jun 22, 1999 (BUSINESS WIRE via COMTEX) --
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-12schools.
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 Sunin 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.
Disclaimer: This news release contains forward-looking statements as
defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans,
objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and
underlying assumptions and other statements which are other than
statements of historical facts. These statements are subject to
uncertainties and risks including, but not limited to, product and
service demand and acceptance, changes in technology, economic
conditions, the impact of competition and pricing, government
regulation, and other risks defined in this document and in statements
filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
All such forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, and
whether made by or on behalf of the Company, are expressly qualified by
the cautionary statements and any other cautionary statements which may
accompany the forward-looking statements. In addition, the company
disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to
reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof.
Copyright (C) 1999 Business Wire. All rights reserved.
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CONTACT: Bratskeir & Company (for ACTV)
Mike Rosen or David Rosenberg, 212/679-2233
mrosen@bratskeir.com
drosenberg@bratskeir.com
or
Sun Microsystems, Inc.
Andrea Fleming, 650/786-8075
andrea.fleming@sun.com
WEB PAGE: businesswire.com
GEOGRAPHY: NEW YORK
INDUSTRY CODE: INTERACTIVE/MULTIMEDIA/INTERNET
COMPUTERS/ELECTRONICS
COMED
ENTERTAINMENT
EDUCATION
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