[M4IF News] ISMA And M4IF Announce Joint Interoperability Testing Program

[Rob Koenen]

The following Press Advisory was sent to our press contacts
database yesterday, and is being distributed in our Press Kit
at IBC today.
Best,
Rob
(If you are a member of the press and wish to be added to our
database, please drop Martin Jacklin, CC-ed, a note.)
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http://www.m4if.org/public/documents/vault/m4-out-20026.php
ISMA And M4IF Announce Joint Interoperability Testing Program
Internet Streaming Media Alliance and MPEG-4 Industry Forum make it possible
for over 120 companies to test each others MPEG-4 streams and players.tions,
provides basis for rollout in MPEG-4 major markets
Amsterdam, 13th September 2002 - The Internet Streaming Media Alliance
(ISMA) and the MPEG-4 Industry Forum (M4IF) are to engage in joint
interoperability testing, starting with a joint interoperability-testing
event of ISMA v1.0 -based products and services in October. Both
organizations are dedicated to the promotion and/or development of products
and technologies that adhere to industry standards, but this is the first
time their combined membership, over 120 companies, will be able to exchange
encoded content and interconnect streaming equipment in real-time, in one
world-wide event.
"To deliver on the promise of open MPEG-4 and IP standards [IETF], we must
make sure that all elements in the ecosystem work together. The market
expects seamless interoperability between different products, and these test
will ensure products and services will meet these expectations" said Tim
Schaaff, Board member of ISMA and M4IF.
The ISMA v1.0 specification defines an end-to-end, implementation agreement
for streaming ISO-compliant MPEG-4 video and audio over Internet Protocols
(IP).
ISMA's interoperability program has held over ten (10) "Plug Fests" where
any one event generally involves around 20 to 30 of ISMA's member companies
testing and refining their ISMA v1.0 implementation. M4IF's growing
interoperability program, now in its 4th round, has over 30 participants who
have exchanged MPEG-4 content for over a year. These events help member
companies get interoperable products to market quicker, one of the many
benefits of membership in ISMA and M4IF.
About ISMA
The Internet Streaming Media Alliance is a non-profit corporation founded by
Apple (AAPL), Cisco Systems (CSCO), IBM (IBM), Kasenna, Inc., Philips (PHG)
and Sun Microsystems (SUNW) to accelerate the market adoption of an
international ubiquitous open implementation specification for streaming
rich media over the Internet Protocol (IP) that encompasses scalability,
ease of use and effectiveness.
The ISMA is a diverse alliance with representatives from all points of the
streaming workflow. In addition to the founders, the following companies are
members of the ISMA: AOL Time Warner Inc., Analog Devices, Bitband, Dolby
Laboratories, Envivio, France Telecom, Fraunhofer Institute, Hitachi,
Inktomi, iVast, Nagravision, National Semiconductor, NeoMagic, Network
Appliance, Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd., On2 Technologies, Optibase,
Panasonic AVC Laboratory Co., Serome Technology, Sharp Laboratories, SGI,
Sigma Designs, Sony, SRI International/Sarnoff, Streaming21, Telecom Italia
Lab, Thomson Multimedia and Volera. Additional information and a complete
list of members can be accessed at www.isma.tv.
About MPEG-4
MPEG-4 is the interactive coding standard for all digital multimedia
platforms. Developed by the "Moving Picture Experts Group" that designed
MPEG-2 (the digital television standard), MPEG-1 and MP3. Being object-based
and extending beyond video and audio, MPEG-4 supports rich, interactive,
standards-based multimedia from low bandwidths to transparent quality.
About M4IF
M4IF represents more than 100 companies from diverse industries evenly
distributed across North America, Europe and Asia, addressing MPEG-4
adoption issues that go beyond the charter of ISO/IEC MPEG. Activities of
the forum include an interoperability program, certification, several
working groups, access to ISO/MPEG committee members, and an annual
conference (WEMP-4). For more information visit: http://www.m4if.org
More information
Martin Jacklin, M4IF Media Relations, (Switzerland), +41 (79) 291 1882 (m)
martin.jacklin   m4if.org