Intel Press Release

Cisco, Intel and Microsoft Join Forces to Accelerate the Use of Networked Multimedia in Business

Three industry leaders unite to break barriers for multimedia in business, establish standards, and collaborate on open testing and marketing of intranet solutions

LOS ANGELES – INTERNET WORLD -- Mar. 12, 1997 – Cisco Systems, Inc., Intel Corporation and Microsoft Corporation today announced the Networked Multimedia Connection (NMC), a cooperative program to facilitate the widespread adoption of networked multimedia applications in businesses using intranets and the Internet. The NMC is dedicated to making it easier for developers to create applications such as interactive learning, rich information publishing and video conferencing and for businesses to deploy them this year. Through the NMC, the three companies will provide support and resources for multimedia applications developers, service providers and corporate information technology (IT) managers, collaborate on the development of networked multimedia technologies, and implement and promote industry standards.

"This alliance signals that the Networked Computing age will be more about industry cooperation than industry fragmentation," noted Don Listwin, senior vice president, Market Development, Cisco Systems. "We're pleased to work with leaders in other parts of the industry to make business better for developers and life simpler for our end users."

The three companies' common vision -- to make networked multimedia a business-critical application -- stems from their belief that mixed media can provide people greater access to information, resources and each other. Networked multimedia extends computer communication beyond static text and graphics into a richer environment of dynamic sight and sound that models the way people communicate with each other in their everyday lives. Opportunities for businesses to increase effectiveness and save time and money abound in such areas as distance learning and desktop conferencing.

"For the last 18 months, Intel has been working with market leaders to bring networked multimedia applications to market," said D. Craig Kinnie, Intel vice president and general manager of Intel Internet and Communications Group. "The market's interest and enthusiasm tell us the time is right to enable a broad range of vendors to build upon the rich multimedia capabilities of the Connected PC."

"We believe that Cisco, Intel and Microsoft together can help make multimedia, over intranets and the Internet, a business-critical technology in 1997," said David Cole, vice president, Internet client and collaboration division, Microsoft Corporation. "As the centerpiece of our networked multimedia strategy, Microsoft NetShow 2.0 complements the breadth of Microsoft software platforms such as Windows NT Server, Internet Information Server, Internet Explorer and NetMeeting. The unique strengths that each organization brings to the table provides an ideal combination that will make audio, video and other media invaluable components of everyday computer communication."

Support for Developers and Corporate Customers
To speed the development of networked multimedia applications and their deployment in 1997, Cisco, Intel and Microsoft are working closely with the independent software vendors (ISVs), Internet service providers (ISPs), system integrators and value-added resellers (VARs), and the corporate IT organizations that supply end users with computing solutions. The three companies will be offering:

  • The Networked Multimedia Lab – A complete end-to-end networked multimedia facility for development and interoperability testing, located at Cisco headquarters, is scheduled to open by the end of the month.
  • Tool Kits – Comprehensive management tools and deployment services aimed at speeding adoption by IT services will be available in conjunction with the Lab. These NMC tool kits, will include SDKs from the three companies, sample code, utilities and hyperlinks, and documentation.
  • Technical Support – Technical consultations will be available to program participants from staff from all three companies.

Support for Industry Standards
The NMC believes the establishment and adoption of networked multimedia standards are key to the success of its combined effort. Together, the three companies are working to establish related technologies as standards with the IETF, ITU, and other international bodies. Standards the three companies support include IP Multicast, a definition for sending one copy of information to many recipients over a network; the ITU H.323 standard, which defines how PCs can share audio and video data over computer networks; and the ReSource reserVation Protocol (RSVP), which provides a means for networks to support special quality of service applications. The NMC will jointly work within the standards process to develop and implement other open standards to make new networked multimedia applications possible and to overcome barriers to their deployment.

Delivering Leadership Technologies
The NMC collaboration recognizes – and amplifies – each company's essential contribution to the overall networked multimedia infrastructure. Those contributions include:

  • Networking Products – Cisco networking hardware and CiscoIOS™ software delivering network services that enable multimedia applications
  • Intel Architecture PCs and Internet technologies– Intel's ProShare™ software implementation of key standards, including H.323, RSVP, and Active RTP, which catalyzed networked multimedia development, plus Intel's own products: Pentium® and Pentium® II processors, MMX™ technology, and ProShare video conferencing.
  • Latest Software and Platforms – Microsoft's networked multimedia platforms including, NetShow 2.0 multimedia broadcast software, NetMeeting conferencing and collaboration software and Internet Explorer, plus powerful operating systems, Windows* NT Server, Windows 95 and Internet Information Server

Broad Industry Support
More than 20 companies have demonstrated support for the NMC. These leading ISPs and ISVs participated in the first networked multimedia design seminar, sponsored by the NMC, on March 5 and 6. This first design seminar provided information on the objectives of the Networked Multimedia Connection and a host of resources to bring the networked multimedia community together.

For more information about the Networked Multimedia Laboratory and the joint activities of Cisco, Intel and Microsoft, readers can visit the Networked Multimedia Connection website at http://developer.intel.com.

Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet. News and information are available at http://www.cisco.com.

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.

* Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.