Starlight Networks Creates Video Solutions for GE Information Services

Business Wire, Sept 30, 1997

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 30, 1997--

Live Company Broadcasts and Interactive Training Expected to

Bring New Value through Innovative ACTIVISION System

Starlight Networks, the world leader in video networking solutions for corporate intranets, today announced that GE Information Services has engaged Starlight's innovative new systems integration and consulting service, Starlight RapidMedia Group to develop two major business applications that deliver video to the desktop: 1.) corporate communications, including video broadcasts of the CEO's quarterly All-Employee Meetings for more than 2,000 employees in over 60 locations worldwide; and 2.) interactive product training, including online registration, testing, and certification. The new video-based system, code named GE ACTIVISION, is being rolled out in phases in the US, with Europe, Asia, and the remaining Americas locations to follow. The Company conducted an intensive cost/benefit analysis before embarking on this exciting major initiative.

Earlier this year, GE's Information Services division began looking for ways to improve the delivery and consistency of corporate messages to all employees, in different time zones and in real-time, by utilizing its existing global network. Starlight Networks, along with partner RealNetworks (formerly Progressive Networks), offered an immediate answer: use new technologies to turn CEO teleconferences into live video broadcasts, complete with question and answer capabilities and future playback; and create web-based, interactive training materials to make learning and staying informed interesting and easy for employees. The benefits? Increased retention and comprehension of messages, improved productivity, extended flexibility, decreased costs associated with travel and paper-based course materials, and better consistency and quality of core corporate messages.

"Working with GE Information Services and RealNetworks on ACTIVISION has been an exciting showcase of the tremendous value of enterprise video applications and the business solutions they provide," said Martin Schwarz, Vice President of Client Services at Starlight Networks. "This is raising the bar for critical business processes like corporate communications and training, and the RapidMedia Group is well-positioned to help companies reach these new levels of performance and productivity."

"GE Information Services' live video deployment shows the effectiveness of the partnership between RealNetworks and Starlight in creating and fulfilling video solutions for corporate customers," said Andrew Fox, Senior Intranet Marketing Manager at RealNetworks.

Information at Your Fingertips

GE Information Services rolled out its first video-based application on August 6 by multicasting the CEO's two-hour quarterly All-Employee Meeting at 60Kbps streams to more than 300 employee desktops in five locations: Rockville, MD; San Francisco; Atlanta; Nashville; and Amstelveen, the Netherlands. The Company also delivered the option of a 28.8 stream dial-in using RealNetworks' RealAudio and RealVideo products. Future plans include bringing this capability to all employees worldwide.

"ACTIVISION is an essential component in the further development of an Intranet corporate culture at GE Information Services," said Trudy Wonder, Employee Communications Manager at General Electric Information Services. "Key to the successful deployment of this technology has been the support from GE senior management, a clear timeline and continuous communication across many different functional areas, and a dedicated team of experts, including top level support from Starlight Networks."

Starlight Networks was chosen to help develop the ACTIVISION initiative because of its proven experience and business solutions in the mission-critical intranet arena. Starlight's newly-expanded RapidMedia Group performed the design, architecture and integration work necessary to deploy enterprise digital media in the ACTIVISION environment.

Training Made Easy...and Effective

The Company quickly realized that the implications for streaming video extend well beyond corporate communications. The ability to take specific courses, for example product training, and put them into a video-based, user-friendly, interactive system was very appealing. The Starlight RapidMedia Group provided video-on-demand and built-in tracking capabilities which enable GE Information Services to provide product training for new employees their first day on the job, or as soon as a new product or service is created, rather than having to wait for a formal training class. What's more, employees can register for courses, be tested, and receive notification and certification, all online.

"We're in the information services industry, which is incredibly fast paced, and we need to keep our people constantly up to date on our newest products and services," said Donna Rothert, Manager of Sales and Technical Training at GE Information Services. "With the ACTIVISION system, we've been able to provide core product training for our sales team, when they need it, and where they need it, without waiting for the next scheduled training class. It effectively accelerates the cycle time for learning new products."