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GridNetworks Unveils New Platform for Digital Content Delivery

Posted on: Wednesday, 1 November 2006, 06:01 CST

SEATTLE, Nov. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- GridNetworks, a leading developer of streaming media technology and services, today unveiled the revolutionary GridCast(TM) Platform, a new system that provides instant-on, full-screen, DVD-quality video to broadband-connected viewers worldwide.

"Demand for video content on the Internet is growing at a phenomenal pace, but consumers are still watching video in tiny windows that constantly re-buffer. The only alternative today is to wait for hours to download a movie and play it later," said Jeff Payne, co-founder and chief executive officer of GridNetworks. "GridCasting is an entirely new content delivery approach that provides broadband users worldwide with reliable, immediate access to full-screen, DVD-quality video."

The GridCast Platform was specifically designed to meet the security, scalability and cost requirements of content owners, distributors and digital media device manufacturers. GridCasting overcomes the challenges faced by both content delivery networks (CDNs) and Peer-to-Peer (P2P) software solutions. While CDNs can provide secure distribution of content, their hardware-based delivery systems are expensive and fail to offer the delivery speed or scalability required to provide a reasonable alternative to conventional broadcast distribution. P2P solutions offer an inexpensive way to move complete video files, but fail to provide on-demand streaming, speedy file delivery, or a content security model video asset owners desire.

GridCasting is hybrid solution that combines best-of-breed CDN technologies with GridCast software to create a cost-effective, secure and reliable video delivery environment. GridNetworks' approach is a new video delivery paradigm in which each participating computer becomes part of a vast, managed content distribution grid, optimized to deliver segmented, encrypted video data directly to the viewer's screen. This "Software CDN" approach effectively creates a vast, global network of mini-servers to redistribute encrypted video segments, providing overall network capacity and capabilities far greater than traditional CDNs. In addition to dramatically increasing the effective distribution network size, the GridCast Platform maintains centralized command-and-control of valuable video assets and has the industry's toughest content security proposition.

"Using the Web to deliver movies to consumers has been hindered by security concerns, limits on the number of simultaneous viewers and high network costs," commented Payne. "With GridCasting, content owners can securely stream full-screen, DVD-quality video to millions of people at half the cost."

Internet Veterans Reunite to Transform the Industry

GridNetworks is led by CEO Jeff Payne and Vice President of Sales and Marketing Bo Wandell, Internet industry veterans who worked together to introduce Spry's hugely successful "Internet-In-A-Box" in 1995. Internet-In-A-Box was the first retail product that allowed consumers to easily and automatically connect to the Web.

Later at RealNetworks, Payne developed the Real Broadcast Network (RBN), the first global Content Delivery Network (CDN) for Internet audio and video. As co-founder and CTO for Bivio Networks, he helped to devise and develop the first field-programmable multi-gigabit packet processing platform.

Wandell has led numerous sales, marketing and business development efforts for web-based software and services companies. At Spry, Wandell built a successful retail channel, established numerous OEM relationships and expanded Spry's business to Asia and Europe. Wandell also served as VP of Worldwide Sales and Business Development for iCat, one of the first Web-based ecommerce software companies. In 1998, Wandell founded SafeHarbor Technology Corporation. SafeHarbor transformed the technical support industry by developing and managing web-based, self-service support environments for technology companies and financial institutions.

"The next step in the evolution of the web is 'all video all the time,'" concluded Payne. "Video has long been the medium of choice for consumers, and GridNetworks' technology will enable thousands of web sites to evolve into Internet-based media channels that deliver high-quality video to a global audience."

About GridNetworks

GridNetworks is a leading developer of streaming media services that offer digital media companies an efficient and cost-effective way to deliver high-quality video and feature-length films. GridNetworks combines best-of-breed Internet technologies with proprietary software, processes and management capabilities to create a highly secure and reliable delivery environment for digital content. GridNetworks is a privately held company based in Seattle, Washington. For more information about GridNetworks, please visit http://www.gridnetworks.com/ .

GridNetworks

CONTACT: Kari Moe Straley, +1-415-215-6423, orkari@marketingalchemist.com, or Leyl Master Black, +1-415-378-6395, orleyl@marketingalchemist.com, both of Marketing Alchemist, for GridNetworks

Web site: http://www.gridnetworks.com/

Source: PRNewswire

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