RealNetworks and Equiinet Maximise Broadband Usage in Schools

RealNetworks, the leading creator of digital media services and software, has announced a licensing deal with Equiinet, the leading provider of caching hardware to the UK education market. The deal will enable schools to maximise the performance of streaming eLearning applications.

Equiinet's caching and smart content delivery appliance CachePilot will now come pre-loaded with RealNetworks' Helix Forward Proxy allowing content to be locally cached and distributed to multiple PCs on a network, optimising the performance of eLearning applications. The Helix Forward Proxy supports market leading digital media formats including RealAudio and RealVideo, Apple QuickTime, Windows Media and MPEG-4.

Streaming content is available from a wide array of sources including the BBC, Channel 4, British Pathe, NASA TV, Thomas Telford and foreign language radio and television, making the eLearning experience more engaging and interactive.

"The strong demand for content in UK schools was previously inhibited by both bandwidth constraints and the cost of streaming software licenses," said Mike Taylor, Director, eLearning Solutions, Equiinet. "Adding streaming technology from RealNetworks to the CachePilot under RealNetworks' Education Licensing Program makes real time streaming a viable proposition for schools."

The combination of the CachePilot and RealNetworks' Helix Forward Proxy eliminates bandwidth challenges by storing frequently used sites in local cache, and by caching and splitting live audio and video streams in real time. RealNetworks has introduced the Education Licensing Program which includes Helix Forward Proxy and other Helix components to reduce the investment needed to support streaming media whilst allowing schools the freedom and flexibility to share and access digital video and audio across their networks.

"Working with Equiinet will enable us to reach new customers in the education market. Adding RealNetworks' streaming media to Equiinet's significant portfolio of content partnerships will further enhance eLearning in schools" said David J Smith, Channel Director at RealNetworks.

Helix Forward Proxy is one component available under the Education Licensing Program from RealNetworks. The Program also includes Helix Universal Server, RealProducer and RealPlayer Enterprise Manager.