ViewCast.com Ships First RealVideo G2Hardware Encoder For Internet Streaming Video Applications
April 15, 1999 09:07 AM
DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 15, 1999--
ViewCast(R) Systems with Osprey-powered RealNetworks RealSystem G2 Deliver Breakthrough Streaming Features and Ease of Use
ViewCast.com, Inc. VCST , the company that develops Internet video communication solutions, today announced the release of its ViewCast(R) video streaming products with the first hardware implementation of RealNetworks RNWK RealSystem G2, the Osprey(R)-1000/G2 Hardware Encoder.
ViewCast streaming video systems are fully-configured, turnkey encoding stations and streaming servers that enable corporations, government agencies, schools and organizations to quickly and easily add live and on-demand streaming video to their networks and websites. Now, with the new Osprey-1000/G2 Hardware Encoder, ViewCast Systems offer features and performance no other system can match - encoding six (6) or more live video feeds in a single Windows NT workstation. In addition, by off-loading the video compression from the workstation's CPU, the Osprey-1000/G2 Hardware Encoder, which incorporates RealSystem G2 technology, makes the host system available for other computing tasks such as video cataloging or searching.
"We're pleased that ViewCast.com chose to support RealSystem G2's rich streaming multimedia capabilities with ViewCast systems," said Len Jordan, senior vice president, Media Systems, RealNetworks, Inc. "ViewCast.com offers our customers new possibilities for professional video streaming."
ViewCast is a key tool for the growing number of organizations and corporations deploying high-quality video over the Internet and corporate intranets. It is used in the entertainment industry, by the traditional broadcast companies, by special event planners and within corporations for corporate communication, human resource applications and on-line training videos. It has already been used to stream college football games, the climbing of Mt. Everest, the Indy 500 time trials and the Pope's 1999 visit to the United States, among other events. "We used the new Osprey-1000/G2 Hardware Encoder for our recent webcast of the Pope's historic visit to St. Louis", said Scott Bierman, Product Manager of Streaming Media at Digital Broadcast Networks - a leader in providing live video on the Internet. "The Osprey-1000s worked flawlessly, encoding multiple bit rates, consistently, in a single NT workstation."
"ViewCast has filled a real need by providing turnkey, easy-to-use systems for those organizations doing their first video streaming," said Neal Page, ViewCast.com's Vice President. "Now, with the Osprey-1000/G2 Hardware Encoder, ViewCast is bringing unique capabilities and unprecedented power to even the most sophisticated video streaming sites. "
Before the introduction of ViewCast systems, broadcasters needed a separate workstation for each live video source and each broadcast bit-rate - four (4) cameras meant four (4) workstations. Given this limitation, broadcasters often chose to encode only at the least common denominator of image size and bit rate in order to accommodate viewers with low-end modem connections.
Now, by using a ViewCast system with multiple Osprey encoders, broadcasters can provide a wide range of content and performance choices from a single workstation.
Coupled with RealNetworks software, ViewCast.com has once again broken new ground in streaming media ease-of-use and functionality.
Every ViewCast system includes one or more Osprey video cards and either RealNetworks' or Microsoft's streaming video software, packaged either as an integrated plug-and-play encoding station or as a bundle, for system resellers to integrate with a Windows NT or Solaris workstation.
ViewCast solutions range from introductory level, single-stream encoding stations to industrial grade rack-mounted systems capable of encoding up to 40 streams simultaneously. ViewCast systems and bundles are available from ViewCast.com's existing network of more than 70 resellers, systems integrators, distributors and VARS worldwide.
About ViewCast.com
ViewCast.com makes the Internet and corporate networks viable highways for video communications through its components, systems and turnkey solution products. The company is known around the world as the leading provider of enterprise-wide, digital video communications solutions for both real-time and on-demand applications. Osprey(R) video cards, ViewCast(R) streaming video solutions and Viewpoint VBX(TM) system products deliver a wide array of video solutions for digital video communication systems. ViewCast.com is unique in its ability to deliver cutting edge networked video solutions while delivering systems to transition legacy video communication systems. ViewCast.com's products are available from leading OEMs, system integrators, leading resellers and application developers worldwide.
Visit our website at viewcast.com for more information.
This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which reflect the Company's current judgment on certain issues. Because such statements apply to future events, they are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are described in the Company's reports on Form 10-KSB and 10-QSB on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. |
