REDMOND, Wash. — June 1, 2005 — Microsoft Corp. today announced that the Microsoft® Connected Services Framework was selected by Millimeter magazine as a winner of the NAB2005 Pick Hit Awards. Coming out of the National Association of Broadcasters convention each year, the Pick Hit Awards are presented to the most technologically innovative products that promise to have a significant impact on the broadcast and film industries.
“The Microsoft Connected Services Framework is designed to help facilities develop dynamically connected workflows in an organic and flexible way,” said Cynthia Wisehart, editorial director for Millimeter. “The Connected Services Framework model shows that Microsoft understands a fundamental need: As new technologies come online and workflows change to accommodate new efficiencies or business plans, facilities cannot be locked into old models by their infrastructure. They need elegant networks that are competitive tools, so they can continuously adapt their businesses and get cumulative return on their infrastructure investment. We’re pleased to have included the Connected Services Framework as a Pick Hits winner coming out of NAB this year.”
The Millimeter Pick Hits are awarded to products that promise to have a positive impact on the day-to-day working lives of professionals in the fields of production and postproduction. The Microsoft Connected Services Framework was selected during the annual NAB convention from among hundreds of new products for breaking new ground in workflow innovation, performance advancements and potential to drive artistic progress.
The Connected Services Framework is an integrated server-based software product that utilizes a service-oriented architecture (SOA) approach to enable broadcast companies and film studios to streamline the creation, management and delivery of content. By connecting existing technologies and supporting a dynamic production process across organizational and geographic boundaries, the Connected Services Framework helps companies to do the following:
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Reduce the cost and time of integrating new technologies
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Optimize their existing infrastructure
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Generate new revenue streams
Strong Industry Support
Since its launch to the broadcast and film industry this April, the Connected Services Framework has received significant attention, including adoption and successful deployment at Sony Pictures Entertainment, where it is seamlessly connecting workflows across the company, streamlining marketing production processes and enabling access to associated digital content from virtually anywhere.
The product also has gained broad industry support through Microsoft’s collaboration with leading companies such as Accenture, Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD), Avanade, Avid Technology Inc., North Plains Systems Corp., OmniBus Systems, Panasonic and Telestream Inc., which have integrated their respective products and services to offer comprehensive solutions with the Connected Services Framework at the core.
“We are truly honored and excited to be receiving this award from such a recognized and well-respected publication as Millimeter,” said Kimberly Till, vice president of the Worldwide Media & Entertainment Group at Microsoft. “The Connected Services Framework has seen tremendous industry support from partners and customers alike, and this award underscores the significant value this product brings to the media and entertainment industry.”
About the Microsoft Connected Services Framework
The Microsoft Connected Services Framework is an integrated, server-based software solution for building and managing services using a service-oriented architecture.
For media and entertainment organizations, the Connected Services Framework provides an SOA that manages how disparate applications work together to help companies streamline the creation, management and delivery of content.
For telecommunications operators and service providers, the Connected Services Framework allows them to aggregate, provision and manage converged communications services for their subscribers across multiple networks and a range of device types.
The Connected Services Framework can simplify how content owners and operators work together to deliver fresh new content to a broad audience of consumers. With the Connected Services Framework, companies across the content and service delivery value chain can reduce the cost and time of integration, get more from their existing infrastructure, and generate additional revenue streams through new services and content.
More information about the Connected Services Framework for media and entertainment companies can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/resources/mediaandentertainment/solutions_connected_services_framework.mspx. More information about the Connected Services Framework for service providers can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/serviceproviders/solutions/csf.mspx.
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.
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