the WAVO-WAVX-HAUP linking news from news archives in
wave.com :
WAVE SYSTEMS CORP. SIGNS DATA BROADCAST AGREEMENT WITH WAVEPHORE
Companies Partner to Enable Pay-Per-Use Programming of Nationwide Content Broadcasts
San Jose, CA -- Phoenix, AZ, Dec. 1, 1998 --Wave Systems Corp. (OTC BB: WAVX; wave.com)
today announced the next step in proliferating its technology into a wide variety of PCs and other end-user
devices. It has announced an agreement with WavePhore, Inc., (NASDAQ: WAVO) to utilize Wave's
EMBASSY E-commerce content metering and payment system for use in a nationwide digital data broadcast
network. The deal will enable end-users to access content, including
premium content from Wave Systems, by launching WaveTop™ software from WavePhore on their desktop.
"WaveTop software, combined with Wave's EMBASSY E-commerce system embedded onto TV tuner cards,
will enable the end-user to access the data broadcast download of digital content and programming
from a number of sources," said Patrick Gilbert, Senior Vice President & CTO of WavePhore. "The customer
will retain the option to purchase desired content off-line while having the confidence that their sensitive
payment information is secure."
Users are able to receive any digital content using the WaveTop software which allows for fast, reliable delivery
of digital content by transmitting over an unused portion of the existing TV signal known as the Vertical
Blanking Interval (VBI). Currently, 264 Public Broadcasting System Stations (PBS) provide WaveTop data
broadcasts provided by a host of popular media providers including: Bloomberg
Financial, CBS Sportsline, Fortune Magazine, People Magazine, USA Today, Wall Street Journal Interactive,
Women's Wire, and ZDNet. WaveTop Client software is included in Microsoft's Windows
98. In addition to WaveTop, the boards are able to receive Intercast™ data broadcasts. Intercast is used by
CNBC, CNN, MTV, QVC, the Weather Channel and the Home and Garden channel to send Web pages along
with television broadcasts. Intercast technology was developed by Intel Corp., and was licensed to Microsoft
for inclusion in Windows 98.
"The end-user will have the ability to download a multitude of content, and only pay for what they wish to use."
said Steven Sprague, Wave Systems President. "This partnership takes advantage of Wave's Data Broadcast
Patent and offers the publisher a new Internet-style business model for content delivered to the end users
computer. WavePhore has built the foundation for a digital media distribution network, and Wave offers a way
to sell and protect the delivered content. As the digital Data Broadcast capacity increases this will prove a very
powerful capability.
EMBASSY (EMBedded Application Security SYstem) E-Commerce System Benefits: OEMs and the
"client-side" computing equipment manufacturers will gain product differentiation as well as benefit from shared
revenue from the sale of digital content through their hardware.
The software community can benefit from a new distribution platform, flexible pricing models and security
inherent in trusted-client technology.
Consumers utilizing the EMBASSY technology will be able to quickly and conveniently purchase, pay-per-use
or rent-to-own top entertainment, education and software titles directly from end-user devices.
Moreover, EMBASSY is compatible with other content distribution channels, including the Internet, cable
television, CD-ROM, or DVD, while also providing the needed end-user content and subscriber management
system. Consumers receive the flexibility of paying for information based upon their actual usage, while
publishers benefit from significantly reduced marketing and distribution expenses and the ability to reach a
much broader base of end-user target markets. A convergence of all network types taking place which will
allow the mass media networks to carry digital content and data networks, such as the internet, to carry
broadcast and streaming content. This is a major opportunity to enable the broadcasting networks to participate
in the emerging electronic commerce world.
"We are excited by news of the WavePhore-Wave agreement. We believe it will accelerate the deployment of
Wave's E-commerce system, enabling paid-for data and video services in both analog and
digital television markets," remarked Ken Plotkin, Vice President of Marketing for Hauppauge Computer
Works, Inc.
Hauppauge, the leading provider of TV and Data Broadcast receiver products for PC's, is a wholly owned
subsidiary of Hauppauge Digital, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAUP; hauppauge.com). In May, 1998,
Hauppauge announced its plans to include Wave's EMBASSY technology in select models of its popular
WinTV boards, and is also expected to demonstrate digital television technology at the upcoming Fall Comdex
trade show.
Windows and Windows98 are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.
Intercast is a trademark of Intel Corp.
WaveTop is a trademark of WavePhore Inc. |
