REDMOND, Wash., and CALGARY, Alberta, May 1, 2001 — Microsoft Corp. and MicroVideo Learning Systems Inc. today announced the immediate availability of An Introduction to Windows Media Technologies, a self-paced, Internet-based training course from MicroVideo that uses advanced digital media technologies to teach the skills and techniques necessary to encode and serve digital media content using Microsoft® Windows Media™
Technologies.
To help unleash the use of digital media for corporate and Internet-based communications, MicroVideo is working with Activate Corp. and Compaq Computer Corp. to make the course available at no charge for streaming or download through May. After the free trial period ends, the course will be available for $59.95 over the Internet or on CD. More information on the course can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmedia/ or http://www.microvideo.com/windowsmedia/ .
“This course will take you from novice to digital media guru in a matter of hours,”
said Dave Fester, general manager of marketing for the Digital Media Division at Microsoft.
“Even experts will benefit from this resource, with its clear presentation of how you can make the most of the flexibility and superior quality of Windows Media.”
An Introduction to Windows Media Technologies covers what users need to know to begin creating and distributing digital audio and video over corporate intranets or the Internet. Balancing theory and step-by-step instruction, the course comprises more than 60 segments that cover such topics as content capturing, basic and advanced encoding techniques, Windows Media Services configurations for unicast and multicast delivery, embedding the Windows Media Player controls in a Web page, and building custom skins.
Befitting a training course on digital media, An Introduction to Windows Media Technologies uses Windows Media Audio and Video for rich multimedia instruction.
“Windows Media Technologies gives us the ability to integrate audio and video streams with text, diagrams and full Web interactivity to create a powerful learning environment,”
said Walter Schoustal, president of Multimedia Solutions Inc. and MicroVideo Learning Systems.
“The training course is not only a valuable learning tool, it also shows off the capabilities of Windows Media.”
In addition, Activate, the leading webcasting services company for the enterprise, is offering special incentives through May. Activate will give a 20 percent discount on all encoding and hosting of digital media content for new customers who sign up before June 1. (Certain offer restrictions apply.)
About MicroVideo Learning Systems
MicroVideo Learning Systems, the premier developer and publisher of media-based software training products and a pioneer of the industry, was originally founded in 1982 with the invention of the first-ever video-based training course.
Multimedia Solutions Inc., was founded in 1994 and became the developer of MicroVideo digital products in 1997. In 1999, the company purchased the assets of MicroVideo Learning Systems to continue MicroVideo’s pioneering ways. The company subsequently created or converted over 100 hours of high-quality, interactive Microsoft product training videos using Microsoft Windows Media Technologies. This translates into approximately a thousand hours of enjoyable, interactive and on-demand training for popular Microsoft products.
About Windows Media
Windows Media is the leading digital media platform, providing unmatched audio and video quality to consumers, content providers, solution providers, software developers and corporations. Windows Media offers the industry’s only integrated rights-management solution and the most scalable and reliable streaming technology tested by independent labs. Windows Media Technologies includes Windows Media Player for consumers, Windows Media Services for servers, Windows Media Tools for content creation, and the Windows Media Software Development Kit (SDK) for software developers. Windows Media Player, available in 26 languages, is the fastest-growing media player. More information about Windows Media can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmedia/ .
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software — any time, any place and on any device.
Microsoft and Windows Media are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
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