Concurrent Computer Corporation Acquires Video Server Competitor, Vivid Technology.ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 28, 1999-- -- Integration of Concurrent and Vivid's Technology Gives Concurrent Broadest Product Suite in Emerging VOD See video-on-demand. VoD - video on demand Marketplace -- Acquisition Expected to Be Accretive in First Full Year of Combined Operation Noun 1. combined operation - a military operation carried out cooperatively by two or more allied nations or a military operation carried out by coordination of sea, land, and air forces Concurrent Computer Corporation Please help [ rewrite this article] from a neutral point of view. Mark blatant advertising for , using . (Nasdaq:CCUR CCUR Center for Crops Utilization Research ) announced today the acquisition of rival Video-On-Demand (VOD) provider, Vivid Technology. Concurrent is one of the leading providers of digital video server hardware and software for VOD applications. Vivid Technology, based outside of Philadelphia, provides complete end-to-end VOD and interactive television solutions. The two companies believe that Concurrent's acquisition of Vivid strategically positions Concurrent as the leading video server provider by allowing it to offer customers the broadest VOD product offering including compatibility with both the Scientific-Atlanta and the General Instrument digital platforms. No competitor can currently boast active site installations of both Scientific-Atlanta and General Instrument platforms. In the merger, each share of outstanding Vivid capital stock was exchanged for 2.67831 shares of Concurrent common stock. In aggregate, Concurrent issued a total of 2,233,700 shares to the current stockholders of Vivid and has reserved 376,300 shares for issuance upon the exercise of assumed Vivid stock options. VOD enables cable operators to offer subscribers an information and entertainment medium that provides individual freedom, control, choice, flexibility, convenience, and simplicity through the use of a television set. The most exciting benefit of VOD technology is that it brings movies on-demand into the subscribers' homes with full VCR-type control, such as pause, rewind, fastforward, etc. For subscribers, VOD will equate to having the video rental store right in their home -- minus the late fees, selection limitations, and poor video quality. Many have already labeled VOD as the "killer app A software application that is exceptionally useful or exciting. Killer apps are innovative and often represent the first of a new breed, and they are extremely successful. For example, in the late 1970s, the VisiCalc spreadsheet was the killer app for the Apple II, providing reason ." Today cable companies have deployed 4 million digital set-top boxes in subscriber homes, with the majority of these boxes provided by General Instrument and Scientific-Atlanta. As the digital revolution continues, by the year 2004 the number of digital set-top boxes deployed is expected to increase seven-fold. Both Concurrent and Vivid are recognized technical leaders in VOD technology providing VOD and interactive applications to the cable industry. Each company has developed unique advantages that will now be available to their combined customers, providing the combined operations For the department of the British War Office during World War II, see . In the military, combined operations are operations conducted by forces of two or more allied nations acting together for the accomplishment of a single mission. See also
The Vivid and Concurrent video servers use industrial PC server hardware. Both solutions offer a fully integrated system including Video Streaming See streaming video and video stream. , Interactive Application Support VOD Set-top Management, and Purchase Tracking with billing system interface. Vivid's VOD System has been integrated with General Instrument's DCT (Discrete Cosine Transform) An algorithm that is widely used for data compression. Similar to Fast Fourier Transform, DCT converts data (pixels, waveforms, etc.) into sets of frequencies. The first frequencies in the set are the most meaningful; the latter, the least. 1000 and DCT2000 set-top boxes. Concurrent's VOD system has been integrated with Scientific-Atlanta's Explorer 2000 set-top box and head-end equipment. Concurrent is also working with content providers such as TVN TVN Televisión Nacional de Chile (Chilean official TV network) TVN Televisora Nacional (Panamanian TV Network) TVN Total Volatile Nitrogen TVN Telewizja Nowa (Polish TV network) , Viewer's Choice, and Intertainer. Concurrent's BackOffice Software Suite, co-developed with PRASARA Technologies, has been optimized to meet the operational and management requirements of cable operators. Concurrent is also working with several conditional access Conditional Access (acronymized CA) is the protection of content by requiring certain criteria to be met before granting access to this content. The term is commonly used in relation to digital television systems, most notably satellite television. providers, such as Nagravision and NDS See eDirectory. NDS - Netware Directory Services , in addition to the aforementioned set-top box manufacturers. The combined technologies of Concurrent and Vivid coupled with their existing partners provide Concurrent with the broadest product offering in the marketplace. Fred Allegrezza, Founder and President of Vivid Technology, stated, "As a result of all the consolidation in the cable industry, it makes sense for us to merge our GI digital video server solution with the company that offers the best SA digital video server solution. Concurrent's technology provides the most viable, robust SA-compatible solution; and thus we feel that Concurrent is the right company to leverage the Vivid technology." Robert Clasen, former President of Comcast Cable and Chairman of the Board of Vivid Technology added, "Based on my experience in the CATV (Community Antenna TV) The original name for cable TV. It used a single antenna at the highest location in the community in order to deliver a quality signal to homes in areas with hilly terrain or other interference. industry and my early involvement with Vivid, I am a firm believer that VOD is the most exciting application yet for digital customers. Combining the Vivid and Concurrent technologies gives Concurrent a tremendous advantage over other VOD vendors. With this deal, we expect to win the Time-to-Market race." E. Courtney Siegel, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Concurrent Computer Corporation commented, "With Vivid's lead in the GI marketplace, this acquisition made perfect sense. For Concurrent, this deal will broaden our product suite and customer base and be accretive almost immediately." Vivid Technology (http://www.vividtech.com) will be integrated into the XSTREME Division of Concurrent Computer Corporation, headed by Steve Nussrallah, President of Concurrent's XSTREME Division. Fred Allegrezza, President of Vivid Technology, will continue on with Concurrent reporting directly to Nussrallah. The Vivid facilities in Chalfont, Pennsylvania Chalfont is a borough in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 3,977 at the 2000 census. Chalfont is named after Chalfont St Giles in Buckinghamshire also known as Bucks County, England. will become a new Concurrent office. Steve Nussrallah, President XSTREME Division, added, "I am pleased to welcome Vivid to the Concurrent team. This deal will enable Concurrent to offer a VOD solution to every cable operator - no matter what its platform requirements are." He added, "Vivid brings other assets other assets Assets of relatively small value. For financial reporting purposes, firms frequently combine small assets into a single category rather than listing each item separately. to the deal such as its integrated QAM (1) (Quality Assessment Measurement) A system used to measure and analyze voice transmission. (2) (Quadrature Amplitude Modulation) A modulation technique that employs both phase modulation (PM) and amplitude modulation (AM). technology, its network management, its Pennsylvania facility, and the talent that resides there." The Principals of Vivid have over twenty years TWENTY YEARS. The lapse of twenty years raises a presumption of certain facts, and after such a time, the party against whom the presumption has been raised, will be required to prove a negative to establish his rights. 2. experience in communications technologies, including interactive digital cable networks. Their extensive backgrounds include Product Management, System Design, Software and Hardware Design, Product Development, System Integration, and System Deployment The deployment of a mechanical device, electrical system, computer program, etc., is its assembly or transformation from a packaged form to an operational working state. Deployment implies moving a product from a temporary or development state to a permanent or desired state. . About Concurrent Concurrent Computer Corporation (http://www.ccur.com), headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, is a leading provider of high-performance computer systems, software, and servers. Concurrent Computer Corporation's XSTREME Division is a leading supplier in the emerging digital video server marketplace. This market includes the broadband/cable, corporate training, education, hospitality, and in-flight entertainment In-flight entertainment (IFE) refers to the entertainment available to aircraft passengers during a flight. After World War II commercial aviation flights became a daily event in which entertainment was requested by passengers to help the time pass. industries. Operating in 32 countries worldwide, Concurrent provides sales and support from offices throughout North America North America, third largest continent (1990 est. pop. 365,000,000), c.9,400,000 sq mi (24,346,000 sq km), the northern of the two continents of the Western Hemisphere. , South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. Certain matters discussed in this news release may be "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (PSLRA) implemented several significant substantive changes affecting certain cases brought under the federal securities laws, including changes related to pleading, discovery, liability, class representation and awards fees and of 1995. Concurrent Computer Corporation cautions investors that any forward-looking statements made herein are not guarantees of future performance and that a variety of factors could cause its actual results and experience to differ materially from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties that could affect Concurrent Computer Corporation's performance or results include, without limitation, changes in product demand; economic conditions; various inventory risks due to changes in market conditions; uncertainties relating to the development and ownership of intellectual property; uncertainties relating to the ability of Concurrent Computer Corporation and other companies to enforce their intellectual property rights; the pricing and availability of equipment, materials, and inventories; technological developments; delays in testing of new products; rapid technology changes; the highly competitive environment in which Concurrent Computer Corporation operates; the entry of new well-capitalized competitors into Concurrent Computer Corporation's markets; and other risks and uncertainties. Note to Editors: For additional company or product information from Concurrent Computer Corporation, please contact Concurrent Computer Corporation, 4375 RiverGreen Parkway, Duluth, Georgia 30096. Call toll free in the U.S. and Canada at (877) 978-7363 or (678) 258-4000, or fax (678) 258-4300. Readers can also access information through the company's web site at http://www.ccur.com. Concurrent Computer Corporation is a registered trademark and MediaHawk is a trademark of Concurrent Computer Corporation. All other products are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. |
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