HorizonLive streams voice and video for web presentations - Brief Article

Internet Strategies for Education Markets: The Heller Report, Feb, 2000

HorizonLive.com (New York, NY) sells a technology that allows for browser-based presentations or training that can include voice and video streamed over the Net with tools from Real Networks. Audio and video are a one-way broadcast from the presenter, but the system allows for student feedback via typed messages.

Recently, the company has partnered with Blackboard, Inc. in a non-exclusive agreement that will ensure "plug-and-play" compatibility between the Blackboard CourseInfo product line and HorizonLive software. Co marketing arrangements are also being established for college, university and K-12 instructors wishing to create virtual classrooms with voice and video. HorizonLive.com is also partnered with Apple Computer to ensure that whiteboard capabilities work on this platform.

HorizonLive furnishes the technology on a hosted basis or in a model in which users purchase servers with the software.

The product was first released in June of 1998. Version 2.0, to be released this month, says Robert Rothschild, director of marketing, adds whiteboarding capabilities and the ability to view software applications. The new version also tracks class activity. The HorizonLive software also archives classes, so that portions can be repeated as needed or students who miss the live events can review them.

Rothschild says HorizonLive will be pursuing a range of distance learning markets. They are finding that universities are willing to switch from their videoconferencing investments to the more affordable web model. In the K-12 market, a number of portals have approached the company and Rothschild hopes to soon be working with higher education portals as well. For younger children in the K-12 market, he anticipates creating a feedback method other than typing, perhaps something such as picking symbols for, for example, being happy or confused. Currently, NASA is using the technology to allow astronauts to talk with K-12 students.

Other education clients include Columbia University Institute of Learning Technology, California State University at Chico, Prentice-Hall, New York State Dept. of Education, and The Smithsonian Institution.

Corporate training and meeting needs also comprise significant markets for the company.

The privately held company closed a $6.1 million venture financing round in late December. The Argentum Group, (New York, NY) and First Analysis Venture Capital (Chicago, IL) led the funding.