IBM, RealNetworks to supply streaming media

RealNetworks, a maker of software for sending audio and video files over the internet, has teamed up with IBM to equip Big Blue's Unix servers with RealNetworks' RealSystem technology.

RealSystem 8 will be immediately available for IBM's RS/6000 systems as well as the new eServer pSeries line of Unix server products. Both vendors will also promote products combining the two companies' technologies.

RealSystem 8, which includes RealServer, RealProducer and RealPlayer, is operating system independent and supports more than 40 media data types.

Tom Hull, vice-president of media systems at RealNetworks, said the deal will enable IBM customers to reach the broadest audience with rich media content. "Internet media helps ebusinesses connect with their customers by adding an element of excitement and emotion to their online content," he said.

For RealNetworks the agreement means access to new customers as it faces competition from Microsoft, which also offers server software.

Marty Roberts, RealServer product manager, said the IBM deal is very similar to the type of relationship the company also has with Sun Microsystems and Red Hat. Last month RealNetworks signed a similar agreement with Hewlett Packard to resell RealServer along with HP's Unix machines.

"It's a natural addition to deploy on whatever server lines, because we work across all kinds of different Unix platforms," said Roberts. "As streaming media becomes more and more of a mission-critical application, companies look for more reliability and scalability."

RealNetworks has also joined the IBM Partner Programme. IBM, which said it has sold more than one million of its servers, said IBM Unix servers were used to run the official website of this year's Sydney Olympics.