On2’s VP4 Video Compression Technology to Support RealPlayer and RealSystem iQ
Reprinted from an On2 Technologies press release:
NEW YORK—July 19, 2001– On2
Technologies, The Duck Corporation, a leading
technology and services company specializing in providing the
highest-quality video compression, today announced an agreement
with RealNetworks® to license its VP4 video compression technology,
for set-top boxes and other devices. As part of the agreement, On2
will enable RealPlayer® as the exclusive media player for the VP4
codec, and the RealSystem® iQ architecture will become the only
streaming media platform capable of delivering the VP4 codec. In
addition, RealNetworks has made an equity investment of $1,000,000
in On2 Technologies common stock. The VP4 codec is the first ever
compression technology to break the 1-megabit barrier for
full-resolution, 60 field-per-second digital video delivery - achieving
comparable quality to MPEG-2 at significantly lower data rates.
Under terms of the agreement, On2 will develop a software plug-in to
RealPlayer that will allow consumers to play files encoded in On2’s
proprietary VP4 format in the RealPlayer. In conjunction with the
development of the codec software, On2 will develop a software
plug-in to the RealSystem Server that will enable broadcasters to
stream VP4 encoded files.
RealSystem iQ is a robust, standards-based, end-to-end system
architecture that can provide a single common framework for global
Internet media delivery - from any platform, in any format, and to
any device.
On2 Technologies is a leading technology firm at the
forefront of video compression. The Company revolutionized video
encoding with the creation of its advanced full-motion,
full-screen,video compression and streaming technology
(TrueMotion® VP3/VP4). Today, On2 offers a suite of products and
services, including high-level video encoding, hosting, streaming,
interface design, customized technical support, and consulting
services. In addition, On2 licenses its high quality video codecs for
use in set-top boxes,electronic gaming devices and wireless
applications.