REDMOND, Wash. and HONG KONG, March 22,
2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Microsoft Corp. and Movideo Pty Ltd.
today announced a four-year strategic agreement in which Movideo
will migrate its integrated online video platform to Windows Azure
to drive business growth across Asia
Pacific (APAC) and beyond.
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Movideo is a media-centric and integrated online video platform,
delivering positive business outcomes via an end-to-end video
solution, encoding, storing, managing, syndicating and delivering
audiovisual content to multiple end-user devices, and featuring
powerful business intelligence tools for detailed analysis. Movideo
is owned by the ASX-listed MCM Entertainment Group Ltd. (MEG).
"The global alliance with Microsoft is first a technical
alliance whereby Windows Azure becomes the infrastructure platform
for our cloud software as a service product, Movideo," said
Tony McGinn, Movideo CEO and MEG
founder. "The strong road map for Windows Azure resources the
scalable infrastructure that underpins the Movideo offering,
allowing us to get on with our role of optimizing the management
and delivery of our customers' great content. Second, the alliance
is about sales and marketing support and coordination to drive
growth for Movideo and Windows Azure. We can leverage tremendous
advantages working beside such an experienced and far-reaching
software partner."
Movideo is planning to take full advantage of the booming global
online video market, which is forecast by AccuStream Research's
January 2012 Video Value Chain report
to grow from $4.4 billion (U.S.) in
2011 to more than $10 billion (U.S.)
by the end of 2014. AccuStream forecasts that video platforms and
content delivery will account for approximately 50 percent of this
value chain.
Movideo is focused on becoming a dominant force in the digital
media environment, specifically with media customers across
APAC.
"We are excited about the growth prospects for Movideo in APAC,
particularly since we are based in and very committed to the
region," McGinn said. "However, we are looking at the broader
worldwide opportunities that now exist thanks to this new
collaboration with Microsoft."
Movideo is undertaking one of the largest Java transitions to
Windows Azure.
"We come from an open source background and typically used a
Java stack inside our environments. It is a big transition moving
onto the Microsoft stack, but working closely with the Microsoft
China Cloud Innovation Center, Microsoft Hong Kong office and the
Microsoft Redmond product engineering teams, we are making it a
smooth transition," said Cameron
Moore, chief technology officer, Movideo. "The migration is
expected to be completed in May. By migrating to Windows Azure, we
can now take advantage of the added services that Windows Azure
provides beyond just being infrastructure and accelerating our
development road map of product features for our media customers
with assurances that the scalability, redundancy and robustness of
the back-end infrastructure are taken care of."
Kathy Lee, Azure Platform
Strategy advisor, Microsoft Hong Kong, said, "Movideo has a proven
track record in delivering great content to customers, and the
strategic relationship announced today provides incredible scale,
vast expertise and a proven ability to execute. By leveraging the
power of Windows Azure, Movideo is creating a scalable solution
that can be easily customized to grow with the needs of its
customers."
The global alliance between Movideo and Microsoft incorporates a
long-term pricing agreement, technical support, and sales and
marketing backing.
Background
Movideo launched to market in 2010 and now services 30
customers, including Network Ten in Australia, MNC Group Indonesia, South China
Morning Post Hong Kong, Reader's Digest Singapore and Astro Group
Malaysia, and is focused on the rapidly emerging markets in
APAC.
More information about how Movideo is betting on Windows Azure
and its growth strategy across APAC can be found in the Q&A
with McGinn and Moore. Those interested in further information
should visit these websites:
- Microsoft News Center — Cloud Virtual Press Room
- STB News Bytes Blog
- Interoperability@microsoft blog
- Movideo video
About Movideo Pty Ltd.
Movideo is the largest Software as a Service (SaaS) Online Video
Platform business based in the APAC region. Movideo was developed
within the publicly listed Australian media business, MCM
Entertainment Group from 2006. Following its success within the
domestic media market for MCM, Movideo was established as a SaaS
and consulting business within the group in 2008. It now has
offices in Melbourne, Sydney, Singapore and Shanghai. www.movideo.com
About MCM Entertainment Group Ltd.
MCM Entertainment Group (ASX: MEG) comprises three stand-alone
businesses; MCM Media Pty Ltd. one of Australia's leading media production companies
offering premium content creation delivered across radio, digital,
television and events; Igloo digital Pty Ltd. — a full service
digital agency providing outstanding web design and; Movideo Pty
Ltd. — a world-class digital media software solutions provider.
Combining the strengths of MCM Media, Movideo and Igloo, MCM
Entertainment Group can draw upon each individual company's
expertise in content, technology and design to develop powerful
solutions for clients across multiple media platforms.
www.mcmentertainment.com
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) is the worldwide
leader in software, services and solutions that help people and
businesses realize their full potential.
SOURCE Microsoft Corp.
