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Untitled Document
ENRON COMMUNICATIONS LAUNCHES ePOWERED MEDIA TRANSPORT™ AT NAB FOR NEW METHODS OF BROADBAND VIDEO MEDIA TRANSFER
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, April 19, 1999
PORTLAND, Ore. - Enron Communications, Inc, a leader in the delivery of high bandwidth information and applications, announced today it has launched one of its first application services for the broadcast industry, ePowered Media Transport™. The announcement was made at the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) annual conference in Las Vegas. ePowered Media Transport creates unique, new options for content producers and video distributors to move their broadband video content from city to city with unparalleled convenience, flexibility, affordability and user control.
ePowered Media Transport is the first industry broadband video transmission service that allows users to move MPEG II data and other broadband video data types at speeds from 1Mb to 270Mb, while paying only for the amount of data actually transferred. The application offers a wide range of real-time and store-and-forward options and is controlled via a browser interface from the desktop.
"ePowered Media Transport demonstrates the incredible capabilities of the Enron Intelligent Network, and video is one of the most demanding, quality-of-service sensitive applications to run over an Internet Protocol (IP) network. However, the Pure IP Enron Intelligent Network has proven it can enable user control and electronic provisioning of video content from the desktop," said Rex Shelby, Enron Communications, Inc. senior vice president of engineering and operations. "The Enron Intelligent Network can cater to traffic types with any quality of service requirements -- an example of the radical potential of coupling gigabit IP routing with an intelligent network to address real-world customer needs. The result is a reduction of costs, an increase of end user control, and a step towards realizing the potential of broadcast and IP network convergence."
ePowered Media Transport allows content producers and editors to deliver content in a variety of formats including G2™, MPEG 1, MPEG 2 (2-24 Mbps) and uncompressed digital data (270 Mpbs). Users feed video signals from their existing video local loop to switch and teleport operators. Switch operators cross connect video signals directly into encoders within the Enron Intelligent Network. Video is streamed or forwarded as files over the network to a remote playout facility or customer location. Bandwidth reservations, delivery intervals, selection of cost and quality variables, billing and reconciliation are conveniently handled over the Internet.
ePowered Media Transport uses embedded technology including Enron Communications InterAgent®, Sun Microsystems servers, Tektronix video encoding and decoding equipment, and Cisco gigabit routers.
"Coupled with ePowered Media Cast service, we represent the first commercially available end-to-end IP platform able to meet every and any need for video production and backhaul, and web-casting and transmission," Shelby added.
ePowered Media Transport will be commercially available on July 1, 1999.
The Enron Intelligent Network: The Enron Intelligent Network is an application delivery platform enabled with InterAgent®, an intelligent messaging software that enhances Enron Communications' Pure IP™ (Internet Protocol) fiber-optic network to create next generation network application services. IP is the optimal network protocol for digital communications. Using a distributed server architecture, developed in alliance with Sun Microsystems, the Enron Intelligent Network is designed to store information and application services just one hop away from end-users. By limiting the number of routers each transaction passes through, the network is reliable, fast and efficient.
Network expansion will continue through December 2000. The Enron Intelligent Network currently covers Portland, San Francisco/ San Jose, Los Angeles, Houston, Dallas, Chicago, Washington, DC and New York.
ePowered Network Applications: Applications that have been optimized to take advantage of the IP-based Enron Intelligent Network are called "ePowered™". By design, ePowered application services are delivered to the Enron Intelligent Network point of presence (POP) in the customer’s city, just one hop away from the end user, to ensure the highest quality of service possible.
About Enron Communications, Inc.: Enron Communications, a wholly owned subsidiary of Enron Corp. (NYSE: ENE), is a leader in the delivery of high-quality, high-bandwidth business information and applications. Enron Communications is building a long-haul fiber-optic network on strategic routes throughout the United States to create a data-centric national Pure IP backbone known as the Enron Intelligent Network. It is extending the capabilities of that network through agreements with ISPs and carriers seeking to generate new revenue sources and improved services.
Enron Corp. is one of the world's leading integrated natural gas and electricity companies. The company, which owns approximately $30 billion in assets, produces electricity and natural gas, develops, constructs and operates energy and water facilities worldwide and delivers physical commodities and risk management and financial services to customers around the world. Enron's Internet address is www.enron.com. the stock is traded under the ticker symbol, "ENE."
Click here to download this press release in Microsoft Word format.
For additional information please contact:
Tracy Smith
(503) 464-7837
tracy_smith@enron.net
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