CoolCast and Alcatel Join Forces to Deliver Broadcast
Video Over Telephone Lines
Enables Delivery of Interactive, TV-Quality Video and CD-Quality Audio via DSL
IRVING, Texas and PLANO, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--December 12, 2000-- Alcatel (NYSE: ALA - news), the world
leader in
Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) solutions, and CoolCast(TM), an Internet broadcaster, signed an agreement today that
bundles
CoolCast technology with Alcatel's award-winning DSL access platform, the 7300 ASAM.
A first for the telecommunications industry, this innovative solution enables DSL service providers to deliver
broadcast-quality
video, CD-quality audio, and Internet connectivity to the desktop.
CoolCast provides DSL subscribers access to syndicated broadcast content such as Bloomberg, The Home Shopping
Network and
The Weather Channel as well as independent content through a web portal. DSL subscribers may also choose from a
large selection
of CD-quality digital music streamed to their PC. CoolCast enables users to watch broadcast video or listen to streaming
audio
while multi-tasking with other Web-based or local applications.
``At Alcatel, we recognize that television and the Internet are on a collision course that will ultimately give rise to
interactive
viewing,'' said Kevin Sheehan, Vice President of Marketing for Alcatel's DSL business. ``Our partnership with CoolCast
demonstrates Alcatel's commitment to delivering forward-thinking technologies that make revolutionary services like
interactive
media a reality.''
``The combination of Alcatel's outstanding DSL platform and CoolCast's innovative technology offers a scalable,
cost-effective
alternative for the delivery of streaming audio and video,'' said Senior Analyst Ron Westfall of the competitive
intelligence firm
Current Analysis. ``This should spur tremendous competition with cable and satellite television providers in the near
future.''
``Our alliance with Alcatel quickly and decisively accelerates our ability to establish a national footprint for patented
CoolCast
technology and its exciting broadcasting service,'' commented Larry Hinderks, Vice President of Distribution for
CoolCast. ``As the
undisputed leader in providing DSL equipment to DSL service providers, Alcatel represents an important strategic
partner, capable
of highlighting the powerful CoolCast technology through its extensive customer base. We've now demonstrated that
the
CoolCast service is fully compatible and integrates seamlessly with Alcatel's DSL equipment.''
Combined with Alcatel DSL access equipment, the patented CoolCast broadcast architecture offers DSL service
providers a
powerful solution for multi-media delivery that bypasses the Internet. CoolCast broadcasts media via a celestial satellite
network
that beams data to a receiver located close to a telecommunications provider's central office (CO). This data is then
aggregated in
the Alcatel 7300 ASAM and rapidly streamed into the home or office on the DSL line. By employing this
satellite-coupled DSL
technology, service providers can avoid the unpredictable performance of the Internet. This innovative technology
offers service
providers unique branding and incremental revenue generation potential via linkages between streaming media and
Internet access
services, ushering in the era of interactive video.
About Alcatel DSL
Alcatel is the world's leading supplier of DSL solutions, helping service providers everywhere deploy an expanded range
of
revenue producing offerings and applications such as high speed Internet access, voice over DSL, and video services.
Alcatel's DSL
solutions are available on a variety of service platforms, including the Alcatel 7300 and 7350 ASAM; the Litespan
NGDLC; and
environmentally hardened DSLAM packages optimized for remote terminal deployment, the Alcatel Remote Access
Multiplexer
(RAM) and mini-RAM. This complete set of deployment options gives service providers the flexibility to bring DSL
service to all
potential subscribers in their service areas, regardless of their network topology. A unified element management solution,
Access
Management System (AMS), manages voice and data services for the Litespan and the ASAM product family. The
Alcatel 5620
Network Manager, an integrated scalable network management solution, seamlessly manages these products at the
network and
service layers. Alcatel's DSL technology is also offered in an advanced range of customer premises equipment, the
Alcatel Speed
Touch? family of DSL modems, routers, and integrated access devices supporting multi-line voice and data service over a
single
telephone access line. For more information on Alcatel's DSL solutions, visit alcateldsl.com
About CoolCast
CoolCast (www.coolcast.com), a wholly-owned division of StarGuide Digital Networks, is an Internet broadcaster that
delivers
join-in-progress streaming media combined with regular Web content to PC users. CoolCast's scalable architecture
benefits service
providers and end users with its ability to stream audio and video content simultaneously to millions of broadband PC
users. The
CoolCast portfolio of patented intellectual property is currently available to thousands of broadband Internet users
nationwide
through partnerships with DSL service providers.
DG Systems (Nasdaq: DGIT - news) recently agreed to merge with StarGuide Digital Networks, a leading provider of
long form
audio and digital network distribution services to the broadcast industry, in a tax-free stock-for-stock transaction.
StarGuide
employs a patented, cost effective, reliable, high-speed electronic store-and-forward media delivery service and has users
of its IP
multicast technology throughout the world. DG Systems, the largest electronic distributor of spot audio in the country,
operates a
proprietary, North American digital network for distributing audio and video content that links thousands of advertisers
and
hundreds of advertising agencies with over 7,500 radio and nearly 800 television station across the United States and
Canada. The
Company can be reached at 415-276-6600 or at www.dgsystems.com.
About Alcatel
Alcatel builds next generation networks, delivering integrated end-to-end voice and data networking solutions to
established and
new carriers, as well as enterprises and consumers worldwide. With 120,000 employees and sales of EURO 23 billion in
1999,
Alcatel operates in more than 130 countries. For more information, visit Alcatel on the Internet:
usa.alcatel.com (US site)
alcatel.com (Corporate site)
-0- Disclaimer: Companies mentioned herein, including Bloomberg, The Home Shopping Network and The Weather
Channel are
independently owned and operated companies and are not directly affiliated with Alcatel or CoolCast. Each company
maintains
their own trademark.
Contact:
Alcatel
Press Relations
Lisa Merchant
212-614-4220
lisa_merchant@nyc.bm.com
Industry Analyst Relations
Julie Buckley
707-792-7820
Julie.Buckley@usa.alcatel.com
Investor Relations
Peter Campbell
972-519-4347
Peter.campbell@usa.alcatel.com
or
CoolCast
CoolCast
Larry Hinderks
972-402-4800
lhinderks@coolcast.com
Jaffoni & Collins Incorporated
Joseph Jaffoni, Jennifer Colbert
212-835-8500
cool@jcir.com |
