SRS Aims to Wow Audiences; Conexant Backs New Modem Standard
FutureLink Corp. of Irvine and Personable.com of Fountain Valley, two early evangelists for the application service provider model, got what amounts to a blessing from the Pope in the software world this month when tech behemoth Microsoft Corp. announced its “.NET” initiative.
The strategy, which involves selling software as a service over high-speed Internet connections rather than as off-the-shelf packages, validates a bet by FutureLink, Personable and other ASPs that consumers and businesses would rather leave upgrades and maintenance to someone else.
Market researcher International Data Corp. expects the ASP market to grow from annual revenue in the single millions of dollars now to more than $2 billion by 2003. This comes despite reservations from other market research firms such as Scottsdale, Ariz.-based Cahners In-Stat Group, which predicts that business, while increasingly eager to outsource their computer upkeep, will more likely turn to traditional computer integrators rather than untested ASPs.
Microsoft unveiled details about the software rental plan earlier this month and expects to formally launch the service in August.
Though Microsoft’s .NET program is far more ambitious than just renting its standard Office applications online, an early test will be in how customers adopt the software-for-rent model, which requires thinking about software as a service rather than a product.
Last month, Microsoft invested $10 million in FutureLink, an ASP pioneer, while Personable, backed by computer memory seller Kingston Technology Co., is one of only a handful of firms renting out Microsoft Office applications to individual consumers.
ESynch Goes for Gold
Tustin-based software designer eSynch Corp. scored a surprising win this month when an NBC-affiliated company selected the tiny firm’s multimedia software player to present live online broadcasts of this summer’s Olympic games in Sydney, Australia.
NBCOlympics.com, a joint venture between NBC and San Francisco-based Quokka Sports Inc., picked eSynch’s ChoiceCaster,even though NBC has a partnership with Microsoft, which is heavily pushing the newest version of its own multimedia player. MSNBC, a news Web site backed by Microsoft and NBC, uses Microsoft’s player exclusively.
ChoiceCaster plays a variety of digital music and video clips. The software also makes it easy to add e-commerce functions and advertising around broadcasts.
For more: www.esynch.com.
WOWcasting About for an Audience
And speaking of deals involving music, motion pictures and Microsoft, Santa Ana-based SRS Labs Inc. is set to formally launch its first attempt at Web-based programming with SRSWOWcast.
The site, which uses SRS’ sound-enhancement technology to provide beefed up stereo and surround-sound, signed a handful of deals with figures ranging from celebrity chefs John Crean and Barbara Venezia to TV shrink Carole Lieberman. SRS will offer a lineup of interactive programming, news, entertainment and unsigned musical acts.
The site marks SRS’ first attempt at programming. The company sells technology used to enhance the sound in consumer electronics devices such as portable music players, home stereos and televisions.
Though content-oriented dot-coms have not fared well in recent months, SRS hopes to parlay its close connections with Microsoft to attract viewers and advertisers.
Microsoft has invested an estimated $7 million in the company and uses SRS technology in the newest version of the Microsoft Windows Media player, also launched this week. SRS’ sound-enhancement hardware, the translucent blue WOW Thing, also appeared in a Microsoft giveaway promotion this week.
Conexant Upgrading Modems
Remember dial-up modems? Orange County’s broadband sector may have stolen whatever luster was left in the venerable technology, but don’t write off those slower connections just yet.
Newport Beach communications chipmaker Conexant Systems Inc. and Cisco Systems Inc. hope to inject new life into plain old telephone modems with support for the pending v.92 standard. The upgraded protocol promises to speed up connection setup time and offer faster uploads and the ability to make and receive voice telephone calls while connected to the Internet.
Conexant and Cisco, which contributed to the V.92 standard, jointly announced their support as it goes before the standards-setting group International Telecommunications Union for approval.
Though it’s no slouch in the broadband arena, Conexant still has a huge stake in traditional modems, its original business. In September, the company plans to host an event called Plugfest to promote the standard to other modem makers.
For more: www.conexant.com.
Ken Spencer Brown can be reached at kbrown@ocbj.com or at( 949) 833-8373, ext. 239.
