Starlight Networks introduces StarWorks 3.0; release signals first software media server to support live and stored video on Windows NT.

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 1, 1996-- Starlight Networks, the leader in mixed media networking software, today announced the release of StarWorks 3.0, the first NT-based digital video networking software. StarWorks 3.0 gives corporate enterprises the power to share and manage both live and stored mixed media content (video, audio, graphics, etc.) over Intranet LANs and WANs by breaking through the bottlenecks typically associated with transaction-oriented networks and servers. StarWorks' high quality video-on-demand is revolutionizing the way companies approach manufacturing, customer support, information dissemination, and collaborative computing. Now, integrated support for Windows NT brings StarWorks' real-time video capabilities to Microsoft's large NT user base for the first time.

"StarWorks enables us to deliver unprecedented speed, quality and performance for network multimedia applications," said Jim Long, President of Starlight Networks. "With the unprecedented acceptance of Windows NT in the corporate environment, StarWorks 3.0 is well positioned as the first multimedia networking product to enable corporations to bring their corporate Intranets to life."

StarWorks 3.0 is a major addition to the StarWorks product family, representing the next generation of Starlight performance. Along with managing high performance streaming from a Windows NT Server, StarWorks also provides stream-specific management and controls. This allows the streaming media to safely mix with traditional applications and data types on corporate servers and networks. The software controls the delivery of the streams through standard browser plug-ins, including Netscape and Explorer.

"StarWorks' integrated support for Windows NT Server enables companies to harness the power of mixed media technology and bring it directly to the desktop, where it can deliver the most impact," said Mike Nash, director of marketing for the Desktop and Business Systems Division at Microsoft. "Utilizing Windows NT Server's security and management controls, Starlight allows mixed media to peacefully co-exist with Intranet applications and traditional mission-critical applications for an effective, high performance network environment."

StarWorks 3.0 can be easily integrated with an NT web or file server, as well as BackOffice systems, providing common management and security capabilities. StarWorks administrators can use the familiar tools and management processes of the Windows NTFS file system to manage their video and audio assets. Remote management is provided through both an SNMP MIB and a Windows NT administrative console. The combination of powerful PC servers and the Windows NT operating system provide an ideal environment to achieve the price/performance benefits of mixed media enterprise computing.

"As the platform of choice for StarWorks 3.0, Compaq worked with Starlight to develop and deliver a media server solution that powerfully handles multimedia content distribution in an enterprise," said Mary McDowell, Director of Marketing, Server Products Division. "We are pleased that the Compaq and Starlight media server solution offers customers the ability to distribute both live and stored multimedia content throughout an enterprise."

Unlike other multimedia products, StarWorks, open architecture and standards-based approach provides high resolution video and audio streams to hundreds of simultaneous users on the LAN with no disruption to other traffic or applications. StarWorks is also not dependent on specific video formats; it supports Indeo, MPEG1, MPEG2, Motion JPEG, and others, ensuring support for all types of video and audio content and applications.

StarWorks 3.0 forms an integral part of Mitsubishi's New Media Server, providing the software component of the video server subsystem. "Mitsubishi Electric Corp. is pleased to be able to participate in this important announcement with Starlight Networks, the leader in mixed media networking software," said Kazuyoshi Nagasawa, General Manager, Information Systems Engineering at Mitsubishi Electric. "Mitsubishi has been a leader in providing innovative technology to the international marketplace, and this announcement further strengthens that position. Through our strong alliance with Starlight Networks, we are able to bring important new technology to the marketplace."

Pricing and Availability

StarWorks 3.0 is available immediately from Starlight Networks. StarWorks supports servers running Windows NT, Solaris, HP-UX and Novell Netware, and clients running Macintosh, Windows (3.1.1/DOS, 95, NT), and UNIX. Pricing for StarWorks is based on total streaming capacity and ranges from $6,495 for 15Mbps to $31,995 for 100Mbps.

Starlight Networks

Starlight Networks is the worldwide leader in providing cost-effective, scalable solutions for the delivery, storage and management of streaming data types, such as digital motion video and audio, via enterprise networks and Intranets. Starlight's InterMedia software enables corporate, educational, retail and government organizations to significantly increase productivity and reduce costs by bringing critical information -- audio, video, images, graphics, and/or text -- directly to users, desktops. Starlight products enable organizations to combine the information power of mixed media content, the open architecture of the Web, and the strength of collaborative computing to create integrated, enterprise-wide business applications. Starlight's family of products include StarWorks, StarWare and StarCast.

Starlight Networks is located at 205 Ravendale Drive, Mountain View, CA 94043. Phone: [phone]. Fax: [phone]. WWW: http://www.starlight.com.

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CONTACT: Starlight Networks

Tanya Candia, 415/528-6285

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Melanie Flanigan, 415/548-9088

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