Network App. Licenses Streaming Media From Microsoft

Network Appliance says it has signed a multiyear agreement with Microsoft to license the latest Windows Media technology.

The multiyear agreement is expected to let Sunnyvale, Calif.-based Network Appliance deliver live and on-demand streaming media solutions for enterprises and service providers.

Microsoft says it will work with Network Appliance to ensure seamless Windows Media interoperability with NetCache appliances. The deal builds on an existing relationship between the two companies.

“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,” says Microsoft group manager for the Windows Digital Media Division Jonathan Usher. “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,”

Network Appliance says it will take the Windows technology and work with Microsoft to give its customers advanced streaming media applications for its NetApp Center-to-Edge solutions.

Center-to-Edge solutions are used by ISPs 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.

The companies hope pairing the technologies will give them an edge in the Internet streaming marketplace when it comes to providing corporate communications, all-hands announcements, and e-learning.