LONDON-European carrier Orange plc announced it will offer wireless streaming-video services starting early next year through a new deal with PacketVideo Network Solutions, which was purchased by Alcatel Corp. only a few weeks ago.
Orange said it will install PacketVideo’s pvServer and pvAuthor products in its network to manage its streaming services. The deal is the culmination of three years of work and testing between the two companies. Orange said it will launch streaming video over its GPRS networks starting in the United Kingdom and France.
The announcement follows a similar move by European wireless giant Vodafone Group plc, which will install technology from streaming-media company RealNetworks Inc. The move gave RealNetworks a leg up, but PacketVideo’s deal with Orange solidifies the company’s position in the streaming-video market.
“By partnering with some of the most innovative companies, Orange is delivering a superior experience to its customers,” said Ian Germer, Orange’s director of communication services for global brand marketing and products. “Here, by working with PacketVideo Network Solutions, we will be able to offer our European customers high-quality, fast video clips on their Orange phone, either on current or next-generation networks. We understand that interoperability is fundamental to consumer adoption and business success and believe that the widespread adoption of the 3GPP open standard is the best way.”
Alcatel recently purchased PacketVideo Corp.’s network business for an undisclosed sum. Along with Orange, the network business also counts Japanese giant NTT DoCoMo as a customer. Less its network division, PacketVideo said it will now focus on selling its video player to mobile-phone makers. Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications L.P. has already installed the PacketVideo player on its advanced P900 device.
