IAR Bits and Bytes

oplayo Lands Exile on Seventh

Helsinki, Finland-based streaming video firm oplayo has a new distribution channel, through an agreement with online ad agency Exile on Seventh.

According to the deal, Long Beach, Calif.-based Exile will use oplayo’s streaming video technology in its e-mail marketing and banner ad campaigns, beginning with new work for AutoTrader.com, scheduled to launch later this summer.

Like several other players in the field, oplayo boasts technology that enables video and audio to be streamed over the Web at high quality, even to dialup users.

Oplayo’s technology also requires no special plug-ins in the recipient’s browser.

Digimarc Expands Watermarking Offerings

Tualatin, Ore.-based Digimarc, which makes print-to-Web convergence technology, this week struck a partnership with printer Daniels Graphics designed to expand the company’s digital watermarking technology.

The technology allows printers to embed imperceptible watermarks in printed materials during prepress file preparation. Scanning a watermarked page with a Digimarc-powered Web camera (or at in-store kiosks) causes an attached PC to open an appropriate Web page.

Through the agreement, Asheville, N.C.-based Daniels — which services home furnishings and industrial product printing — will offer Digimarc’s MediaBridge technology to its customers for use in packaging, catalogs and other marketing materials.

Daniels Graphics chief executive James Daniels said the company plans to aggressively market the watermarking capabilities to clients.

Earlier this week, Digimarc competitor Digital:Convergence announced sizable layoffs while it looks for additional funding.

Search123 Allies with NetZero

Pay-for-placement search engine Search123 will appear on the start page of ISP NetZero’s subscribers, through a deal announced Wednesday.

Through the agreement, the cost-per-click search engine will power the Personal Finance category of NetZero’s start page.

When NetZero users click on any link contained within the area, they will activate Search123’s search results on that keyword.

Financial details of the alliance were not disclosed.