Microsoft buys VXtreme and announces streaming media strategy

Microsoft Corporation announced this afternoon that it has purchasedVXtreme Inc., an award-winning developer of streaming media solutions. Thecompany also used this time to announce the release of NetShow 2.0, astreaming media server and client.

"The Internet and intranets are empowering technologies that advance thefunctionality of broadcast networks such as radio, television, cable andsatellite," said Bill Gates, chairman and CEO of Microsoft. "Our goal is toenable everybody--media companies, businesses and consumers--to receive,originate and interact with these next-generation broadcasts. That's whyMicrosoft is making significant investments in this technology andintegrating it into our Windows and BackOffice platforms."

These two events, along with the Progressive Networks licensing deal, isexpected to encourage the growth of a broad streaming media industry, allowMicrosoft to provide comprehensive industry support, and accelerateadoption of streaming media for in-house corporate use. VXtreme technologywill enhance future versions of NetShow.

You can download NetShow 2.0 server and client for free from the MicrosoftWeb