Emblaze Systems and Microsoft to collaborate on a development of a customized ASIC chip, and wireless player technology; Emblaze to provide Windows Media Services on Windows 2000 as wireless backend technology to develop a carrier-grade digital media delivery for telcos, cellular operators and media networks.
Emblaze Systems (LSE: BLZ.L) announced an agreement with Microsoft Corporation to license the Windows Media Audio and Video Format using their Emblaze(TM) based solution for video over wireless 2.5G and 3G networks, mobile phones and other low-resource handheld devices. The announcement is another example of how Windows Media is quickly becoming the leading choice for wireless audio and video delivery.
We see Emblaze as a critical link in providing experienced systems integration expertise to advance wireless digital media services. said Dave Fester, general manager, Windows Digital Media Division, Microsoft Corp.
Emblaze’s choice to license Windows Media represents our joint commitment to provide wireless device manufacturers and carriers with the most advanced CDMA and GSM solutions.
According to the agreement, Emblaze Systems will collaborate with Microsoft in the development and integration of Windows Media Technologies into Emblazes’ wireless streaming technology. Windows Media will be integrated into Emblaze Systems’ leading Emblaze(TM) technology for streaming audio and video to mobile phones and other low-resource handheld devices. This collaboration will enable all future cellular phones or other devices using Emblaze(TM) technology to access Microsoft Windows Media content. The ASIC chip solution will be implemented on various RISC and DSP architectures based on Emblaze Systems’ leading Emblaze(TM) A2 architecture that will allow audio/video playback operation over low-resource devices providing superior performance with minimal power consumption and CPU usage. Microsoft and Emblaze will jointly promote the co-branded solution to wireless device vendors and carriers worldwide.
This agreement will combine the strengths of Microsoft’s innovation in the delivery of the highest quality audio and video at any bandwidth together with Emblaze Systems pioneering efforts in wireless multimedia technology. said Eli Reifman, CEO of Emblaze Systems
Together, our goal is to accelerate the availability and ease of access for handset makers and carriers to the benefits of Windows Media Audio and Video on their mobile information devices.
Additionally Emblaze Systems will adapt its wireless backend technology and will develop a system for carrier-grade delivery of Windows Media for telecom companies, cellular operators and media networks. The backend system will use Windows Media Service running on Windows 2000 servers as a part of Emblaze Systems’ end-to-end solution for streaming to mobile and handheld devices equipped with the Emblaze(TM) A2 ASIC or software players.
In a recent report released this month, the Aberdeen Group reported the results of their study of 10 enterprise customers running Windows 2000 server products. In their report, Aberdeen called Windows 2000 Servers level of reliability outstanding. Reliability is the most important issue in building a carrier-grade delivery infrastructure, said Reifman.
Incorporating Microsoft’s Windows Media Services running on Windows 2000 servers into our solution allows us to provide our customers with the highest quality infrastructure.
