Fluendo, GStreamer-based streaming media company, launched

Fluendo, GStreamer-based streaming media company, launched

Fluendo funds Xiph.org Foundation for Theora development 

   April 20, 2004 - Barcelona, Spain
     _________________________________________________________

   This  press  release  marks  the official launch of Fluendo, a
   company  dedicated  to creating streaming media services using
   free software technology.

   Fluendo  intends  to  develop  a free software streaming media
   server  that  can provide an all-in-one solution to serve both
   live and pre-recorded media content to any existing platform.

   "While   there   are  commercially  backed  streaming  servers
   available  for  other  platforms than Linux, these servers are
   proprietary,  limited in features, and costly to buy, license,
   or  keep  running.  A lot of internet companies already have a
   complete  Linux-based  rollout and would love to replace their
   last  non-Linux  systems  if  the  software is available", CEO
   Julien Moutte says.

   The  streaming  server  will  make it possible to do streaming
   using   only   freely   available   and  royalty-free  codecs.
   Proprietary  formats will also be supported in the end product
   and  available  under the licenses the patent holders specify.
   Fluendo   will  also  offer  support  and  custom  development
   contracts to content providers.

   Fluendo  is  building  their  services  on  top of the quickly
   maturing  GStreamer  streaming media framework. It will assist
   the  GStreamer community in further stabilizing and developing
   the framework.

Funding the Xiph.org Foundation

   One  of the missing components in enabling free software media
   streaming  is  a competitive open and royalty-free video codec
   to  complement  the  already  existing Vorbis free audio codec
   from the Xiph.org Foundation.

   This  is  why  Fluendo  has  funded the Xiph.org Foundation to
   complete  the  Ogg/Theora bitstream specification. This is one
   of the remaining steps before Theora 1.0 is released. Once the
   bitstream  specification has been completed the format will be
   frozen  for  the 1.0 release and all future versions of Theora
   will  maintain  compatibility with the 1.0 format, opening the
   door to widespread use of the codec for media distribution.

   "Any  company  that  bases  their  core  product  on commodity
   technologies  obviously does well to choose a completely open,
   royalty-free   technology.   Technology   that's  open  allows
   businesses  to  concentrate  on  delivering  what  clients and
   consumers   want,"  says  Chris  Montgomery  of  the  Xiph.org
   Foundation.  "We  are  heartened to see Fluendo supporting the
   open  standards they use and expect Fluendo to flourish in the
   years to come."

   The  Xiph.org  Foundation  is  a  not-for-profit  organization
   dedicated  to  providing  tools  for  a  free, open, and level
   playing field for digital media.

For more information

   For  announcements from Fluendo, subscribe to our mailing list
   at
   http://lists.fluendo.com/mailman/listinfo/fluendo-announce/.

   For more information on Fluendo, mail <info@fluendo.com>.

   For more information on GStreamer: http://gstreamer.net/

   For    more    information   on   the   Xiph.org   Foundation:
   http://www.xiph.org/