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Sonic Forms "Corporate DVD Partnership" with Creative Labs and Margi Systems
General Motors to Start Production of DVD-based Content
NOVATO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 26, 1998--Sonic Solutions, the
leader in DVD production systems, announced today that it has formed a
Corporate DVD Partners Program with Creative Labs, Inc., Margi Systems, and other
corporations to foster the use of the DVD format for corporate and industrial
applications. Creative and Margi are working with Sonic to help promote the
proliferation of desktop, notebook, set-top and hand-held DVD playback devices as
well as DVD-recordable and DVD-RAM applications among corporate users.
GM to Start Production of DVD-based Content
General Motors is installing a Sonic DVD Creator system for preparing content on
DVD and has agreed to be one of Sonic's first in-house corporate users. ''At
GM, each year we create and distribute, both internally and externally, thousands of
corporate messages that contain rich media content,'' said Mark Mathews,
Senior Producer/Director of GM's Communications Support Group. ''We see DVD as
a logical evolution for some of our information delivery because it offers
higher quality video and audio combined with engaging interactivity. With Sonic's DVD
Creator, we have an integrated DVD production environment that allows us
to produce much more compelling content.''
For GM's first DVD-based projects, Mathews and his group will create interactive
kiosk exhibits for UAW/GM Center for Human Resources in Auburn Hills,
Michigan. The DVDs will contain information on subjects of health and safety, skill
development, and training. ''By taking advantage of DVD, the quality of these
programs will surpass what we've been able to deliver on CD-ROM and CD-I,''
Mathews added.
Dramatic Growth in DVD Infrastructure; Corporate DVD Partnership
Rapid growth in DVD peripherals is accelerating DVD-Video and DVD-ROM
adoption in corporate and industrial settings. Manufacturers report that up to one
million DVD-ROM drives were sold in 1997, most of them together with video and
audio decoding plug-in cards. Industry observers estimate that as many as 10 to
15 million DVD-ready PCs will be in place by the end of 1998. In addition to
DVD-ROM playback units and DVD video/audio decoding cards, manufacturers will
introduce a broad range of DVD-based peripheral equipment in 1998, including
cost-effective DVD-RAM drives, DVD-R recorders, and industrial DVD players.
Sonic has formed the ''Corporate DVD Partners Program'' with leading DVD peripheral
suppliers, providing corporate customers with complete end-to-end DVD
solutions. The Partnership includes Creative Labs, leading provider of multimedia
solutions for the PC, and Margi Systems, the leader in DVD PC-MCIA cards for
laptops. Along with corporate content producers, these companies are working together
to promote the widespread use of DVD in a variety of industrial settings.
''By working closely together with leaders like Creative and Margi, we can solve the
hardware/software 'chicken and egg' problem of new formats,'' said Mary
Sauer, co-founder and Senior VP of Business Development of Sonic Solutions. ''In
order to be successful, a new format like DVD requires easy access to a variety
of hardware playback devices as well as systems to create high-quality content; together
we are working to make this happen in the corporate market.''
According to PC Data, Creative has captured more than 60 percent of the multimedia
upgrade market which includes PC DVD drive technology. Creative is
focusing on the desktop market with its industry-leading PC-DVD Encore solution
which includes the innovative Dxr2 Decoder board and the Creative Blaster(R)
DVD-ROM drive. ''With our new lineup of PC-DVD solutions, we are targeting
computer-based training, interactive education and hybrid DVD/Internet
applications,'' said Robert Napiltonia, Director of Sales for the Commercial Division at
Creative. ''We are pleased to be working with Sonic and the other
Corporate DVD Partners to enable the use of DVD in corporate settings around the
world.''
With its DVD-to-Go(TM), Margi Systems is the first to deliver a PCMCIA card for
notebook computers. DVD-to-Go turns any ZV-compliant notebook into a
mobile DVD player, and is designed for mobile professionals who use their notebooks
for multimedia presentations, sales field force automation, interactive
marketing or training. ''Our users want to play DVD-based content anywhere -- in the
boardroom, on a sales call, on the factory floor, on an airplane,'' said Dave
Westin, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Margi. ''By working with Sonic and
the other Corporate DVD Partners, our goal is to make the DVD
experience mobile and available in any setting. We are also working closely through our
Team DVD Program with Sonic and leading notebook manufacturers to
ensure that content will play back seamlessly for the end user.''
DVD -- Much More than Movies
The DVD format, introduced in the United States in 1997, has until recently been used
primarily to deliver movies and other pre-recorded video entertainment
software to consumers. DVD-Video is a cutting edge format that combines stunning,
high-quality MPEG-2 digital video with CD-quality surround audio in a
convenient optical disc format the size of a CD. DVD-Video supports a host of features
including multiple audio tracks, subtitling, and high levels of menuing and
interactivity.
While DVD can deliver film and video entertainment at a quality level superior to any
existing video format, because of its interactive features, DVD can also be used
to deliver a wealth of informational and educational information. For example, training
and instructional programs can be developed which clearly illustrate concepts
in high-quality moving and still images. Utilizing multiple audio tracks and subtitles
permits instruction that is accessible to recipients in many languages. Menu-driven
branching permits users to pace themselves and to review concepts at their own pace.
Corporate presentations can be significantly enhanced with high-quality video
and audio.
Because DVD-Video is inherently a computer-based format, and is built upon the
DVD-ROM standard, interesting hybrid combinations can be prepared utilizing
the DVD-Video format for playback of digital video and audio, with full compatibility
with computer-based database, browser and other kinds of applications.
About Creative Labs
Creative Labs is a wholly owned subsidiary of Creative Technology Ltd., which
develops, manufactures and markets a wide array of advanced multimedia solutions
for the PC, entertainment, education, music and productivity tools markets. Creative's
products are marketed through the OEM, systems, integrator and retail
channels under a variety of trademarks, including the ''Blaster'' family name. Sound
Blaster(R) has become the multimedia industry's de facto audio standard.
Creative's corporate headquarters and primary manufacturing are based in Singapore,
with sales, distribution and research and development being carried out
through an extensive, global network of subsidiaries located in North America, Europe,
Asia, and Africa.
About Margi Systems
Headquartered in Fremont, California, Margi Systems is the premier developer and
manufacturer of PCMCIA cards for the mobile computing market. Margi leads
the industry with several ''firsts,'' including the first ZV-Port DVD PC card, the first
MPEG PC card and the first Audio-Video Capture card solution. Margi's
Multimedia-to-Go product family is marketed through Tier 1 and Tier 2 notebook
OEMs. The Multimedia-to-Go has become the industry's recognized Tier 1
standard for multimedia and video solutions for the notebook computer.
About Sonic Solutions
Based in Novato, California, Sonic Solutions designs and manufactures tools to assist
video, audio and multimedia professionals in preparing music, video, film,
graphics and entertainment software. SonicStudio is the leading digital audio workstation
used around the world by audio professionals to prepare recorded sound
for release on Digital Audio Compact Disc, as well as to prepare sound for film and
video soundtracks and for broadcast on radio and television. Sonic DVD
Creator is the leading professional system for producing content for the DVD format,
and has been used to create hundreds of DVD titles worldwide. Sonic has
been a leader in advancing DVD technology and is a full voting-member of the DVD
Forum -- the standards-setting body for the DVD format.
Note to Editors: Sonic, Sonic Solutions, the Sonic logo, DVD Creator, DVD PrePlay,
DVD Producer, DVD Production Alliance, DVD Studio, DVD Vobulator
and DVDit! are trademarks of Sonic Solutions. All other company or product names
are trademarks of their respective owners. Specifications, pricing and delivery
schedules are subject to change without notice.
Contact:
Sonic Solutions
Paul Lefebvre, 415/893-8000
paul_lefebvre@sonic.com
www.sonic.com
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