Cisco and Microsoft Collaborate on Streaming Media Solution

Strategic Insights -

Cisco Systems Inc. and Microsoft Corp. announced a strategic partnership that combines the strengths of both companies to provide a comprehensive solution for streaming media in the corporate environment. The joint solution, built on the Microsoft Windows Media Technologies platform, enables corporations to deploy media-intensive business applications, such as e-learning and corporate communications, across a wider range of PC users on IP networks.

The collaboration delivers a range of benefits to customers, including superior media content management tools and quality of service, industry-leading audio and video quality, and seamless integration with existing Windows NT Server operating system, Office, and BackOffice environments. The Cisco IP/TV streaming media solution, now built on the Microsoft Windows Media platform, provides a unified program listing of Windows Media, MPEG, and IP multicast formats, and directs IP/TV viewers to the most appropriate server to optimize network efficiency.

Key Takeaways:

  • The joint solution combines Cisco's superior media content management tools and quality of service with Microsoft's industry-leading audio and video quality and seamless integration with Windows NT Server operating system, Office, and BackOffice environments.
  • The collaboration delivers a range of benefits to customers, including:

+ Unified program listing of Windows Media, MPEG, and IP multicast formats

+ Direction of IP/TV viewers to the most appropriate server to optimize network efficiency

+ Intelligent management of bandwidth, servers, and content

+ Support for MPEG-2 video, allowing direct transmission of video from DVD players

+ Integration with Windows Media, providing higher quality with lower bandwidth requirements

+ Support for Microsoft's advanced compression techniques, Windows Media Audio, and MPEG-4 video

  • The partnership enables corporations to deploy media-intensive business applications, such as e-learning and corporate communications, across a wider range of PC users on IP networks.
  • The solution is scalable, reliable, and manageable, with a low total cost of ownership for the overall network.
  • Customers can implement Internet-based business models while achieving lower costs and increased productivity.

Statistics:

  • The Cisco IP/TV 3411 control server costs $15,000 (U.S.).
  • The Cisco IP/TV 3422 and 3423 broadcast servers are available for $15,000 (U.S.) and $27,000 (U.S.), respectively.
  • The Cisco IP/TV 3431 archive server costs $24,000 (U.S.).
  • The Cisco IP/TV 3415 Video Starter System is available for $25,000 (U.S.).
  • The Cisco IP/TV Viewer is free with this release.

Sources:

  • "Microsoft and Cisco Align to Deliver High-Quality Streaming Media Solution," Microsoft and Cisco, October 25, 1998
  • "Cisco and Microsoft Announce Strategic Partnership for Streaming Media Solution," Cisco Systems Inc. and Microsoft Corp., October 25, 1998
  • "About Windows Media Technologies," Microsoft Corp., 1998
  • "About Cisco Systems," Cisco Systems Inc., 1998
  • "About Microsoft," Microsoft Corp., 1998