BT Drives Broadband With New Rich Media Launch
BT has announced the latest in a line of new features to encourage the take-up of broadband internet access with the launch of a rich media platform allowing anyone to create and distribute digital content online.
The service has been created in partnership between BT and internet streaming specialist Real Networks and will allow anyone from a large corporations to small businesses to become an online content provider to the mass market.
The new rich media platform will give users the ability to store, retrieve, sell and deliver everything from digital music and video footage to live sport and a range of special interest content.
Commenting on the new service Andy Brown, CEO of Rich Media said: “What is truly revolutionary is that it will allow us to encompass both the ‘personal’ market where families and friends share content, such as pictures and videos, and the ‘small professional’ market where we deliver a more sophisticated product set. What Rich Media provides is a platform to enable thousands of content providers to reach an audience of millions.”
A number of companies such as Fremantle and In the Box Media are already making use of the service and BT has struck a partnership with TWI Interactive to provide the platform for delivery of its back catalogue of sporting events.
Rob Glaser, CEO of Real Networks, said of the service: “It’s never been easier to get your content across to your chosen audience. Anything from music to special interest programmes will be potentially available to download and view in a secure, legitimate and cost-effective forum. Given the global medium of the internet, it really is about pushing the content from thousands to a world-wide audience of millions.”
As well as enabling easy content distribution the service includes digital rights management (DRM) software to prevent illegal copying or sharing of media published on the platform. The system will also feature the highest quality streaming video yet seen on the internet, promising DVD quality video over a normal broadband connection, and surround sound via Real Network’s RealAudio software.
Last month BT unveiled a raft of new services for broadband customers in an attempt to achieve its goal of achieving five million high-speed internet connections by 2006. The company has also reduced the price of its cheapest broadband service to less than £20 per month in an attempt boost the number of broadband users (see BT Launches New Cut-Price Broadband Service).
BT: 0207 469 2337 www.btplc.com
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