Multimedia: GEO Interactive and Computer Associates Partner to Deliver Top-Quality Multimedia for the Internet

Edge: Work-Group Computing Report, August 10, 1998

GEO Interactive Wednesday announced a technology development partnership with Computer Associates International, Inc., (CA) that enables developers to combine GEO's Emblaze Audio, Video and VideoPro multimedia solutions with CA's Jasmine applications. Under the terms of the agreement, GEO Interactive will develop a component that allows developers using Jasmine to incorporate Emblaze multimedia with unprecedented ease and speed. GEO Interactive also announced that it has joined CA's Jasmine Development Partner Program.

GEO's Emblaze technology, developed as "multimedia for the masses," allows Web surfers or business professionals to experience multimedia content without plug-ins. Integrating Emblaze into Jasmine will provide Jasmine clients with additional tools for deploying multimedia content on both the Internet and intranet -- whether they are consumer or business-oriented sites.

"CA's Jasmine is designed from the ground up for the World Wide Web, making it the optimal technology to be used in conjunction with GEO's Emblaze solution," said Peter Schlosser, vice president of business development at GEO. "By partnering, we create a winning situation for Computer Associates and GEO clients alike: Emblaze, the best multimedia on the Web, delivered through Jasmine, the best database and development environment for the Internet."

CA's Jasmine offers developers an object-oriented platform ideally suited for dynamic multimedia applications. Jasmine treats Emblaze files as business objects, enabling them to be easily managed and manipulated. Customers who currently manage data objects with Jasmine can now add Emblaze streaming audio and video.

"The ability to create and deploy multimedia content for Web applications is driving the next generation of development," said Carl Hartman, CA vice president, development partner programs. "We are very pleased to welcome GEO Interactive and Emblaze to the growing family of Jasmine partner solutions."

Jasmine, a pure object database, is a comprehensive solution to build and deploy multimedia applications over client/server and networked computing environments. Jasmine provides extensive support for all types of information beyond text and numbers, such as video, sound and images. It also delivers universal data integration over an enterprise network, from desktop to mainframe, regardless of data source.

Emblaze Offers a `Natural Internet Solution' Emblaze is poised to transform multimedia on the Internet. Emblaze is the first multimedia technology designed specifically for the Internet and works within the parameters of limited bandwidth to provide developers and consumers alike with a full multimedia experience, regardless of modem speed. The unique Emblaze approach substitutes a Java applet for clunky plug-ins and eliminates the need for expensive server software. For the first time, Emblaze offers a "natural Internet solution" ideal for both developers and Web surfers.

GEO's Emblaze technology enables streaming, interactive multimedia on the Internet without plug-ins or special server software. Using Emblaze, Web developers of all levels can quickly and easily create Web-based multimedia, including video, audio, animation and interactive content. While multimedia has traditionally only been available for high-bandwidth applications, Emblaze technology makes it possible to view this content over standard, low-bandwidth modems. The technology is scaleable; however, even to high intranet speeds. Moreover, Web surfers who visit "Emblazed" sites -- arguably the true beneficiaries of GEO's breakthrough technology do not pay a penny extra to enjoy truly interactive media on their personal computers.

Computer Associates International, Inc., with headquarters in Islandia, N.Y., is the world leader in mission-critical business software. The company develops, licenses and supports more than 500 integrated products that include enterprise computing and information management, application development, manufacturing and financial applications. CA has over 11,000 people in 160 offices in 43 countries and had revenue of $4.7 billion in fiscal year 1998. CA can be reached by visiting http://www.cai.com, emailing info@cai.com, or calling 1-516-342-5224.

GEO Interactive develops leading-edge authoring tools for producing streaming multimedia content on the Internet. GEO's technology, called Emblaze, enables the creation of Web multimedia content that streams over low bandwidth modems and is scaleable to intranet speeds. North American headquarters is based in Woodland Hills, Calif., with worldwide headquarters located in Israel. The company is traded on the London Stock Exchange under the trading symbol GIM.L. More information about GEO can be found on the World Wide Web at www.emblaze.com.