TDF and RealNetworks join forces in broadband/wireless video services

Within the partnership, RealNetworks will be responsible for the platform management and CJI for sales, as part of an exclusive agreement in 13 different European nations, including Scandinavian countries, France and Spain.

The new partnership is based on the complementary technologies and capabilities offered by both CJI and RealNetworks. It enhances CJI’s strong position in the video transmission chain, from production to playout, as well as RealNetworks’ expertise in managed services.

“This new initiative is the first of its kind in Europe and represents a major step towards the true convergence of networks and applications,” says John Giamatteo, RealNetworks’ President of Technology Products & Solutions and International Operations.

“This agreement fits in with the development strategy of our Multimedia division and allows us to offer the most advanced and innovative playout to the content providers and to the telecoms operators,” says Michel Rénéric, Director of TDF Multimedia.

The video services platform supports all possible combinations of consumption and charging models, from subscription to pay-per-view. The services will be operable on a wide range of equipment and receivers – 3G and broadband to start with.

“Our studies indicate that, especially in countries where the average revenue per mobile user is low, the service approach is often preferred over the investment in equipment,” says Ulla Saari, International Marketing Manager at TDF Multimedia. “Video services are a well-known remedy for low mobile revenues – and this kind of neutral platform is usually welcomed, as it offers the operators a possibility to share costs but carries no conflict of interests,” Saari continues.

A commercial demo of the new ASP platform services will be available this February 2007 at the 3GSM World Congress in Barcelona (Spain) and will be operationally available from June 2007.