Streaming2l and EDS Offer Real-Time Video and Audio - New Products & Services - Brief Article

ISP Business, Nov, 2001

Streaming2l Inc. announced that it is teaming with EDS to offer its clients next-generation streaming technology solutions from Streaming 2l, enabling users to transmit and play digital video and audio over Internet and broadband networks without having to wait until a file is downloaded.

In addition to enabling users to customize and interact with the content, the Streaming2l technology lets them access live, pre-recorded, or on-demand programming through a variety of wired or wireless devices, including televisions equipped with set-top boxes, laptops, handheld PDAs, desktop personal computers and Internet appliances.

"We believe the marketplace for broadband e-services is just in its early phases, with tremendous growth potential," said Joe Sindelar, vice president, Marketing and Portfolio Management for EDS' Information Solutions line of business. "With world-class partners like Streaming2l, and others we will add in the future, we intend to be a major force in that marketplace by offering end-to-end solutions that are easy to implement and use."

Market analyst firm LDC projects that worldwide streaming media market revenue will grow at a compound annual rate of 92 percent over the next four years and will exceed $5 billion by 2005. Much of this revenue will come from corporate applications, such as product launches and employee training. Research firm Jupiter Media Matrix projects that the top 1,000 U.S. companies, ranked by revenue, will spend almost $3 billion on Webcasting in 2005, almost 10 times what they are expected to spend this year.

Through its agreement with Streaming21, EDS will offer clients the following services in the broadband space:

- End-to-end support and management of a client's IP video infrastructure and enabling technologies

- A single point of ownership for consulting, implementation, and integration

- Solution integration and services, including premises and desktop management, managed storage, applications, front and back office, Web hosting, and converged networks.

Streaming21's highly scalable and reliable software supports the MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, VCD, Microsoft ASF/WMV, AVI, HDTV, e-Cinema and other encoding formats for video programming, as well as MP3 for music. The system features intelligent real-time load balancing, bandwidth management, user tracking, transaction management, quality-of-service, 24/7 operation and monitoring. Streaming21's software platform is easy to deploy, expand and maintain, using off-the-shelf hardware to lower the total cost of ownership.

"EDS and Streaming2l complement each other very well in meeting the needs of this marketplace," said Ben Silva, VP U.S. Sales, St "We each have a strong global presence and a strong industry focus. EDS brings its strong client relationships, large sales force and expertise in end-to-end solution selling, lifecycle support and managed services. We bring best-of-breed software for content delivery and our innovation and thought leadership."

Industries that EDS will target with Streaming21 technology include entertainment/music, sports, automotive, retail, government, financial, education and hospitality - with a special focus on distance learning, internal media libraries and training, as well as internal and external corporate communications functions.