Microsoft will work with Network Appliance to ensure seamless Windows Media interoperability with NetCache® appliances. Building on the existing relationship with Microsoft, Network Appliance offers comprehensive global data management solutions using Windows Media technology.

This agreement is another example of Network Appliance’s partnerships with industry leaders to enhance NetApp Center-to-Edge solutions. Network Appliance will continue to work with Microsoft to provide customers with fully interoperable solutions for advanced streaming media applications.

Enterprises and service providers are already using NetApp Center-to-Edge solutions to build content delivery networks (CDNs) that store, manage, and distribute streaming media content to end users at the edges of global networks. Streaming media platform providers, including Microsoft, are developing next-generation solutions for live and video-on-demand content. Coupling these solutions will ensure the highest quality and performance, enabling enterprises to meet the challenges of delivery of corporate communications, all-hands announcements, and e-learning.

Our goal is to make streaming media a part of every enterprise infrastructure, delivering training and corporate announcements in the most timely and efficient way possible. We are continuing to support leading caching appliance and content delivery enablers including Network Appliance to drive the rapid adoption of high-quality Windows Media technology around the world, said Jonathan Usher, group manager for the Windows Digital Media Division at Microsoft.

Network Appliance continues to expand its relationship with Microsoft by licensing technologies that deliver high-quality, end-to-end streaming media solutions, said Ray Villeneuve, vice president of strategic marketing at Network Appliance. Enterprises demand their IT infrastructures integrate seamlessly, no matter which vendor they are using. Our Center-to-Edge solutions deliver powerful functionality that simplifies the global data management process for enterprises, and our strengthened relationship with Microsoft delivers on our promise to work effortlessly with all our valued partners.

SOURCE: COMPANY PRESS RELEASE