2netFX, ResearchChannel, and Pacific Northwest Gigapop Announce Agreement to Experiment with Next-Generation Internet Streaming Technolo
May 7, 2001
Initial Agreement Covers Testing of 2netFX ThunderCastIP HDTV and ThunderCastIP MPEG Advanced Media-Server Software and Hardware
San Jose, CA - 2netFX, a leading provider of enterprise streaming solutions for intranet and broadband Internet media delivery, announced that it has entered into a formal agreement with the ResearchChannel and Pacific Northwest Gigapop for the testing of selected software products and to undertake other research activities. The company also announced that the three entities may enter into additional relationships in the future that will permit them to explore the opportunities and challenges of creating and distributing content in a high-bandwidth environment.
"2netFX is excited to be working with the ResearchChannel and Pacific Northwest Gigapop to deliver ultra-high quality HDTV multicast broadcasting capability across Internet2 and other high-speed connections," commented Bill Reed, 2netFX vice president of sales & marketing, in making the announcement. "ResearchChannel and the Pacific Northwest Gigapop, along with engineers at the University of Washington, have been leaders in sponsoring experimentation with HDTV over the Internet to understand the implications of very high-bandwidth applications in the next generation internet."
The initial agreement, Reed said, covers the testing of 2netFX ThunderCastIP HDTV and ThunderCastIP MPEG advanced media-server software and hardware.
According to Reed, ThunderCastIP HDTV is the first commercially available multicast server for high-definition live or prerecorded video streaming from 10 to 50 Mbps over IP-based networks. While ThunderCastIP MPEG is an enterprise server for MPEG-1, 2, or 4 live or prerecorded video streaming from 28Kbps to 16Mbps over IP-based networks, including satellite, LAN/WAN, ATM, fiber, and Internet2.
Engineered into both units, he said, are advanced server features such as remote management and scheduling, data casting, multiple live encoder support, network QoS, group and user management, and VOD media management. The HDTV version also supports MPEG-1, 2, 4 and allows playback on a standard PC or set-top appliance, which are displayed on most PC monitors or HDTV sets. Additionally, the MPEG version features multicast and unicast streaming capabilities. Established in 1996, ResearchChannel is a joint effort of some of the world's leading research institutions and organizations whose common goal is to more widely distribute research information to the public, domestically and overseas. "The ResearchChannel was set up by a core group of research universities and corporate research divisions dedicated to broadening the access to individual and collective activities, ideas, and opportunities in basic and applied research," said Amy Philipson ResearchChannel Executive Director.
"One of our prime missions," she added, "is to use content, content creation, and manipulation processes as a workbench to test materials for future analog and digital broadcast and on-demand multimedia offerings. We provide an unusual opportunity to experiment with new methods of distribution and interaction on a global basis."
The Pacific Northwest Gigapop (PNWGP) provides: robust, highest-speed access to current state-of-the-art Internet; Next Generation Internet services and technology; and research and development testbeds for developing tomorrow's Internet technologies. "We are the cornerstone and a regional incubator for the advanced-communication infrastructure and expertise essential to sustaining competitive advantage, future economic development, and the advanced services required for next generation education, business, science, medicine, entertainment, and government," said Jacqueline Brown, Executive Director of PNW/GP. "Pacific Northwest Gigapop is built and managed to be the best high-performance and advanced-services network hub in the nation."
PNWGP's strategic Seattle location, she said, along with its extraordinarily powerful array of connections and sophisticated data-exchange architectures, allows affordable, efficient connections to the world's emerging, state-of-the-art networks and services.
This initial agreement, 2netFX's Reed said, also makes the company a charter member of the ResearchChannel and recognizes it (2netFX) as a charter corporate participant on the ResearchChannel's web page. Reed further stated that the agreement gives 2netFX the opportunity to partially or fully sponsor television programs on the ResearchChannel.
2netFX 2netFX is a leading provider of enterprise streaming solutions for intranet and broadband Internet media delivery. Founded in 1996, 2netFX was the first to offer a commercially available product for multicast streaming of HDTV over IP-networks, advanced client player customization and integration, and concept to delivery media streaming consulting, services and solutions. The company was named by Computerworld Magazine as a top Emerging Company to Watch in 2001.
Enterprise streaming solutions from 2netFX deliver MPEG-1, 2, 4, H.263, and HDTV streams from 28Kbps to 50Mbps via satellite, ATM, LAN/WAN, xDSL, cable modem, or fiber. The company's ThunderCastIP HDTV server and StreamRider HDTV Player software played major roles in the first successful demonstration of an HDTV- content multicast delivery over the Internet.
Designed for a variety of applications including business television, distance learning, corporate communications, government, education, and the military, 2netFX products are currently bundled by many leading digital video companies and in use at leading organizations including Sprint, Panasonic, Wal-mart, MCI Worldcom, Hughes Networks, NASA, GlobeCast/France Telecom, Walt Disney Studios, Lucent, Echo Star, and others. 2netFX is headquartered in San Jose, CA, and is available on the Internet at www.2netFX.com.
ResearchChannel/University of Washington ResearchChannel sponsors University of Washington experiments to pioneer new methods of Internet-based distribution for broadcast-quality video programming, including the world's first successful Internet HDTV broadcast in September 1999, and first-ever live/remote HDTV production at NAB 2000. (See www.washington.edu/hdtv for details.) ResearchChannel is building high quality channels of direct communication about research news, discoveries and applications with the public and between institutions. For more information see: www.researchchannel.com or write [email protected].
Pacific Northwest Gigapop (PNWGP) The Pacific Northwest Gigapop is the Northwest's Next Generation Internet applications cooperative, testbed, and point of presence. PNWGP connects universities as well as research institutions and R&D enterprises throughout Washington, Alaska, Montana, Idaho and Oregon, to one another, to the next generation Internet backbones (including Internet2/Abilene and the High Speed Connectivity Consortium), federal research networks, and to super-high-performance commodity internets. For more information, see www.pnwgp.net. -30-
Contacts: William Reed 2netFX Vice President, Marketing Ph: (408) 232-1691 [email protected]
Carol Warren 2netFX PR Contact Antarra Communications Ph: (714) 899-7997 [email protected]
Susan Brandt ResearchChannel Ph: (212) 414-4672 [email protected]
Jan Eveleth Pacific Northwest Gigapop Ph: (206) 934-5588 [email protected]
All products/services and trademarks mentioned in this release are the properties of their respective companies. Products and specifications are subject to change without notice.
Copyright 2001 2netFX. All rights reserved.
