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Microsoft Corp.

Mercury Interactive Teams with RealNetworks and Microsoft to Enhance Performance of Streaming Media Applications

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

To help e-businesses manage and improve the performance of Web applications that include streaming media, Mercury Interactive Corp. has announced the availability of Web performance management solutions for testing and monitoring streaming media. These solutions enable companies to ensure the performance and scalability necessary to provide a positive end-user experience. Support for testing and monitoring Web applications using RealPlayer and RealSystem Server 8 and earlier versions of RealServer, from RealNetworks, or Windows Media Server, from Microsoft, is available immediately in Mercury Interactive's LoadRunner load testing software and ActiveTest hosted load testing e-service.

Key Takeaways:

  • Mercury Interactive has developed Web performance management solutions for testing and monitoring streaming media, enabling e-businesses to improve the performance and scalability of their Web applications.
  • The solutions support testing and monitoring of Web applications using RealPlayer and RealSystem Server 8 and earlier versions of RealServer, from RealNetworks, or Windows Media Server, from Microsoft.
  • Mercury Interactive has licensed technology from RealNetworks and Microsoft to allow LoadRunner and Topaz customers to automatically capture user interactions with the streaming player.
  • The company has also created integrated performance monitors specifically designed for measuring the quality of the audio and video stream, including metrics such as time to connect, quality of stream download, and number of lost or late packets.
  • Mercury Interactive's LoadRunner and ActiveTest with streaming media support are available immediately, starting at $20,000 for 50 virtual players and $15,000 for a hosted test with 100 virtual players.
  • Topaz and ActiveWatch with support for streaming media are sold on a subscription basis, starting at $2,495 per month for up to five transactions and $3,750 per month for up to five transactions, respectively.
  • Solution providers and resellers can now access Mercury Interactive's streaming technology, including Advanced Testing Solutions and CommerceQuest, among others.
  • Mercury Interactive Corporation is the leading provider of Web performance management solutions, with over 10,000 business to business and business to consumer e-businesses, Internet Service Providers, and other customers using its solutions.

Statistics:

  • $20,000: Starting price for LoadRunner's streaming media support for 50 virtual players
  • $50,000: Starting price for LoadRunner's streaming media support for 500 virtual players
  • $15,000: Starting price for ActiveTest's hosted test with 100 virtual players
  • $2,495 per month: Starting price for Topaz with support for streaming media for up to five transactions
  • $3,750 per month: Starting price for ActiveWatch with support for streaming media for up to five transactions

Sources:

  • PR Newswire, "Mercury Interactive Teams with RealNetworks to Enhance Performance of Streaming Media Applications", December 12, 2000
  • Mercury Interactive Corporation, "Mercury Interactive Announces Availability of Web Performance Management Solutions for Testing and Monitoring Streaming Media"
  • RealNetworks, Inc., "RealPlayer, RealSystem, RealServer and RealNetworks are trademarks or registered trademarks of RealNetworks, Inc."
  • Microsoft Corp., "Windows Media Server"

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