Microsoft announces new Smooth Streaming customers, plans to release IIS Media Services 3.0

This morning, in advance of the International Broadcasting Convention (IBC) in Amsterdam on September 11 – 15, Microsoft made a series of announcements about Silverlight and IIS Smooth Streaming. Today’s announcements, which will be highlighted in the Microsoft booth at IBC, include:

· Plans to release Internet Information Services (IIS) Media Services 3.0, enabling delivery of true HD, Live Smooth Streaming video to Silverlight-based media players.

· Plans for new and existing customers - including Canal+, France 24, NBCSports, Sat 1, ProSieben and TV 2 - to adopt Silverlight and IIS Smooth Streaming for various online broadcast purposes.

· An early preview of new media-specific features planned for Silverlight 4.

· The release of its IIS Smooth Streaming Transport Protocol and Protected Interoperable File Format (PIFF) specification under the Microsoft Community Promise, helping to ensure openness and industry interoperability.

Additionally, key partners including Level 3 Communications LLC, Two Four Digital, Envivio Inc. and iStreamPlanet Co., who have helped Microsoft deliver some of the world’s premier sporting and entertainment events such as Wimbledon, the Tour de France and the IAAF Athletics World Championships, will accompany Microsoft in their booth at IBC to demonstrate the capabilities of their IIS Smooth Streaming solutions.

To find out more about today’s announcements, please visit the Silverlight and Expression Virtual Pressroom to view the press release or visit https://www.iis.net/media to learn more about IIS Media Services and IIS Smooth Streaming.