This will benefit TI:
Intel invests in PC-TV future
By Michael Kanellos
December 18, 1997, 6:00 p.m. PT
Intel (INTC) has disclosed an investment in a Swiss-based company that authors software for improving how rich content will get to future TV set-top computer and PC screens.
Widening and tweaking the communications "pipes" used in the delivery of multimedia data to future set-top computers and PCs is fast becoming a major focus for Intel, since this will improve its chances for getting a piece of a gigantic TV replacement market, a market comprising virtually 100 percent of the households in the U.S.
With more communications bandwidth, publishers can send out more dynamic, complex content. Simultaneously, the availability of this content will prompt consumers to upgrade computers or current TV cable set-top boxes.
Under the alliance, Intel and the Fantastic Company will develop delivery systems for media-laden applications and files such as games or full-motion films. These applications will be delivered over a wide variety of "broadband" mediums, including satellite, cable, digital terrestrial signals, and digital signal lines.
Fantastic, founded in 1996, specializes in data broadcasting systems that allow publishers to deliver large amounts of content directly to PCs. The company's core products include the Channel Management Center, which allows publishers to compress data for easier transmission, and Channel Editorial Centers, a tool for branding and aggregating content.
The investment-alliance makes sense, said analysts, because it will ultimately drive demand for more complex computers and home entertainment devices, fields that Intel already dominates or has plans to attack.
"They want to proliferate their architecture and they will create an environment where that will happen," said Greg Blatnik, vice president at Zona Research. "Intel can control and predict processor power real well, but what Intel doesn't have control over is the pipe."
Still, Blatnik cautions that efficient broadband mediums chock full of florid content won't occur overnight.
"The discussions we've had with Intel on this [broadband transmissions] have revolved around the year 2002," he said.
The size of Intel's investment in Fantastic was not disclosed.>>>
Press release:
December 18, 1997 11:01 AM
ZUG, Switzerland--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 18, 1997--
Intel Invests in The Fantastic Corporation to Encourage
Development of Global, Open Multimedia Broadband Platform
Intel Corporation and The Fantastic Corporation(TM) today announced they are working together to enable delivery of media-rich content to PCs via broadband infrastructures such as satellite, cable, digital terrestrial and digital subscriber lines (DSL).
The Fantastic Corporation, which develops and sells software for broadband multimedia distribution, enables content providers to deliver large amounts of rich multimedia content quickly and efficiently to PCs and advanced set-top computers over any type of high-speed network.
This multimedia broadcasting technology lets consumers use a single device, such as a PC or set-top computer, to watch movies, listen to music, download software, buy goods, play games, follow the news and visit with friends and relatives.
Intel also disclosed that it has an investment in The Fantastic Corporation, and that it is providing the company with technical support.
"Broadband delivery of multimedia to PCs will vastly improve the consumer's experience and is key to Intel's strategy to enable new uses and new users for the PC," said Avram Miller, vice president and director, Business Development, Intel. "A common interface and tools for content providers, such as those provided by The Fantastic Corporation, will allow for rapid development of exciting content packages and applications."
"A key aspect of our business model is to cooperate with content providers," said Peter Ohnemus, CEO and president of The Fantastic Corporation. "We offer these companies the tools to create compelling content without the constraint of bandwidth limitations. We are excited about our relationship with Intel because their innovations will help drive this broadband market segment."
The Fantastic Corporation's core technology products include the Channel Management Center (CMC), a solution for network operators that compiles, edits and compresses data before it is sent "on-air," and the Channel Editorial Centers (CEC), a set of systems for content aggregation, packaging and branding. The solution includes the innovative Fantastic MediaSurfer, a broadcast-enabled browser residing on the client device that works on a standard Internet browser.
Intel, the world's largest chip maker, is also a leading manufacturer of personal computer, networking and communications products. Additional information is available at www.intel.com/pressroom .
The Fantastic Corporation was founded in February 1996 by the team who developed the first commercial data broadcasting system for PCs. Fantastic's end-to-end software solution for multimedia distribution works over satellite, cable, wireline, as well as terrestrial and other wireless networks. The Swiss American company has offices in Zug, Lugano, New York, London and Singapore. The company's home page on the World Wide Web is www.fantastic.ch .
Note to Editors: The Fantastic Corporation is a registered trademark.
>>> |
