RAVISENT Announces Agreement With Teknema and Met@box to Deliver Teknema Internet TV in Europe
08/30/1999
Business Wire
(Copyright (c) 1999, Business Wire)
MALVERN, Penn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 30, 1999--
Set Top Box that Adds Internet Browsing and Email Capabilities to
Existing TVs Scheduled to Hit Retail Shelves this September
RAVISENT Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:RVST), a developer of core-based modular software solutions that enable digital video and audio stream management, today announced an agreement with Teknema, Inc., Palo Alto, CA and Met@box AG, Hildesheim, Germany (German Bourse Neuer Markt: MBX) to develop and market a set top box in Europe that transforms an ordinary television into a true Internet appliance.
RAVISENT and Teknema will cooperate on creating a version of Teknema's state-of-the-art Internet TV customized for integration with Met@box's ISP business and BOT (Broadcast on Television) data broadcasting services.
Met@box will handle sales, distribution and support of the customized version of the Teknema Internet TV set top box, and will serve as the Internet Service Provider for European end users. With Internet access and BOT services available immediately, the Met@box version of Teknema Internet TV is scheduled to appear on retail shelves throughout Germany this September.
"We are tremendously excited about participating in this cutting-edge venture," said Frank Wilde, chief executive officer, RAVISENT. "Integration of Internet access with both broadcast and pre-recorded programming represents the future of digital video and audio. This strategic relationship represents a significant new opportunity for our business, and demonstrates RAVISENT's continuing commitment to being the worldwide leader in digital video and audio technology."
About Teknema Internet TV, Met@box Version
The Teknema Internet TV set-top box is an easy to use, inexpensive Web browser and email consumer product designed for use with existing TVs. With Teknema Internet TV, consumers can access the full resources of the Internet World Wide Web, as well as send and receive email directly on their television set. With the Met@box version, European users will also be able to receive up to 100,000 Web pages of information broadcast daily over their satellite or broadband cable television connection. Transmitted directly to the set top box using the patented BOT technology (licensed in Germany exclusively to Met@box by Deutsche Telekom), this material is available to Met@box customers without incurring any on-line charges.
About RAVISENT Technologies, Inc.
RAVISENT is driving the digital entertainment revolution with an integrated suite of innovative digital video and audio products for PC and consumer electronics manufacturers. RAVISENT enables the convergence of personal computer and consumer electronics devices through software and hardware products designed around a unique, modular software architecture that provides a consistent look and feel across technology platforms. Combining outstanding on-screen quality with high overall system performance and integration, RAVISENT provides flexible and cost-effective solutions to a spectrum of partners in the PC-OEM, CE-OEM and semiconductor markets, including Compaq, Dell Computer, Gateway, Hewlett-Packard, Packard Bell/NEC, Acer, Fujitsu, Micron, Quantex, Sony, ATi Technologies, C - Cube , and ST Microelectronics. Founded in 1994, RAVISENT is headquartered in Pennsylvania and has offices in the Silicon Valley, Seattle, Germany and Japan. Information about RAVISENT can be found on the World Wide Web at www.ravisent.com.
About Teknema, Inc.
Teknema is an Internet technology company dedicated to developing software and solutions for the emerging market for information appliances. Teknema's technologies enable powerful and cost-effective Internet appliances through a proprietary embedded browser and a modular software suite of run-time components and network protocols. Combining these technologies with expertise, Teknema provides solutions to make Internet appliance the preferred way to access the Web. Founded in 1994, Teknema is headquartered in Palo Alto, California. Information about Teknema can be found on the World Wide Web at milano.teknema.com
About Met@box AG
Met@box is a leading provider of multimedia products and services in Europe using plug-and-play connections to existing TVs. The company rents, sells and supports set top box Internet solutions in Europe, and provides Met@TV Internet access services for residential consumers. Met@box also offers consumers a rich set of data broadcasting services using the patented BOT (Broadcast on Television) technology licensed to Met@box exclusively in Germany by Deutsche Telekom. Founded in 1996, Met@box is headquartered in Hildesheim, Germany and also has offices in the United States. Information about Met@box can be found on the World Wide Web at metabox.de
This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements that relate to Ravisent's future business and financial performance. Such statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual events of future results to differ from those discussed herein. Such factors include, among others: Ravisent's recent change in its business model, its limited operating history, fluctuating quarterly operating results, expectation of future losses, anticipated price declines in products, dependence on its CineMaster products, dependence on a small number of customers, lack of long-term commitments with customers, dependence on manufacturers and strategic relationships, product delays, the difficulty of protecting proprietary rights, the ability to manage growth and attract and retain additional personnel, the potential for defects in its products, risks from international operations, its ability to raise capital in the future, its dependence on the personal computer and consumer electronics industries, competition, its ability to manage technological change and respond to evolving industry standards, government regulation and Year 2000 software issues.
Note to Editors: All companies and product names mentioned herein are for identification purposes only and may be trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies.
In the company name noted in this news release, there is an "at" symbol between Met and box. This symbol may not appear properly in some systems.
Contact: CONTACT: Ravisent, Inc. Lori Crenny, 610/408-7494 lcrenny@ravisent.com or Miller/ShandwickTechnologies Kelley MacMaster, 650/596-5831 kmacmaster@miller.shandwick.com
18:16 EDT AUGUST 30, 1999
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