News Releases


Video Furnace previews next-generation IP video solution for higher-education at ACUTA Conference
System gives schools unprecedented management capabilities to control use of video on the network, deliver targeted messages, save energy and customize the viewing experience


LAS VEGAS – July 13, 2008 – Video Furnace, a leading provider of enterprise-class IP video solutions, this week at the ACUTA Annual Conference is previewing the next version of its IP video solution. The Video Furnace IP video solution, version 4.3, available later this month, includes a wide range of next-generation features for higher education.

“With this new release, higher education network administrators will have unprecedented management capabilities to not only control every aspect of how IP video is used on their network, but also to remotely control any viewer on the system, deliver specific messages to targeted viewers or groups, save energy and customize the end-user viewing experience,” said Howard Weinzimmer, CEO, Video Furnace. New features in the Video Furnace IP video solution allow network administrators to control and interact with all open viewers on the network. This enables them to:

• Send real-time messages to all open viewers, from campus event reminders to emergency communications.
• Send unique messages to specific viewers on the system, so different messages can be sent to individual viewers or to all viewers within a specific building or geographic location.
  
• Remotely control content and change stations on any viewer in the system.
  
• Scroll messages to any viewer in the system, such as weather updates or any event that needs to be communicated either immediately or via a schedule.
  
• Create on/off schedules for each plasma television display to save energy.
  

Other new features enable schools to:

• Create and maintain discrete groups for specific message dissemination.
• Restrict the number of simultaneous viewing for licensed content.
  
• Upload and incorporate custom icons and logos to channels and lineups.
  
• Send slide shows with live video in a singe viewer.
  
• More easily schedule and manage events.
  
• Customize the end-user viewing experience, such as providing access to specific portions of a video, customizing the viewer interface, turning on closed-captioning or SAP audio program, and more.
  

The system also:

• Supports multiple, customizable lineups with specific channels and VODs for individual users or groups of users for more intuitive and speedy navigation.
• Includes advanced search capabilities for VOD, making it easier to find specific videos.
  

Education institutions beta testing version 4.3, including an Ivy League university, a Big 10 university and a university in the Atlantic Coast Conference, are giving it glowing reviews. Among the feedback is high praise for the new Command and Control features that let administrators remotely control many aspects of the system, including changing stations on a viewer and rebooting a set-top box. Benefits cited include reducing the resources (energy and time) required to maintain the system, control content, change viewer stations and support end-users.

In addition, one school official says the enhancements to the system’s Slide Casting feature make it easier to use, and therefore expects more professors to begin broadcasting their lectures and seminars.

The new icon manager feature also is a big hit. Being able to use the Video Furnace system to incorporate icons unique to a school means the administrator doesn’t need to tap the school’s Web development group for assistance, making it faster and easier to customize channels and lineups.

Finally, among the accolades being given is the system’s unprecedented message customization functionality. Administrators can create and send tailored messages to one viewer, certain viewers or all the viewers within a building, geographic location or an entire campus.

About the Video Furnace IP Video Distribution System
The Video Furnace IP video distribution system is a complete, highly scalable solution that leverages a school’s existing network to enable the secure and cost-effective delivery of live, broadcast and on-demand TV-quality video to any network-connected device, including desktops, laptops and TVs connected via Video Furnace’s digital set-top box. Easy to deploy, affordable to maintain and simple to use, it is the only fully integrated solution that supports all operating systems, and it is the only one that does not require any resident player software, browser plug-ins or hardware on the connected devices. That’s because what’s needed for viewing, Video Furnace's patent-pending viewer, InStream, is delivered in real-time to the connected device. It arrives with the video stream and disappears when viewing ends, eliminating the need to install or manage end-user software.

Numerous prestigious schools, including Boston College, Brown University, Dartmouth College, North Carolina State, Northwestern University, UCLA and University of Arizona, use the Video Furnace system to securely deliver live and recorded events and for distance learning, digital signage, security monitoring, TV distribution, mission-critical communications, and much more.

About Video Furnace
Video Furnace is a leading provider of end-to-end, enterprise-class IP video solutions. With more than 2.5 million users daily worldwide, the six-year-old company quickly has established its IP video system as the video distribution technology of choice in commercial, education and government settings.

The Video Furnace IP video distribution system is a complete, highly scalable solution that leverages an organization’s existing network to enable companies to securely and cost-effectively deliver live, broadcast and on-demand TV-quality video to any network-connected computers as well as to any TVs connected via Video Furnace’s recently announced digital set-top box. Easy to deploy, affordable to maintain and simple to use, it is the only fully integrated solution that supports all operating systems, and it is the only one that does not require any resident player software, browser plug-ins or hardware on the connected devices. Organizations use the Video Furnace system to securely deliver live and recorded events, distance learning, corporate training, digital signage, security monitoring, TV distribution and mission-critical communications.

Privately held, the Chicago-area company distributes its products through value-added resellers, system integrators and distributors. More information is available at www.videofurnace.com.



The Video Furnace IP video distribution supports Windows, Mac OS X, Linux and Solaris 10 operating systems.

Video Furnace and InStream are trademarks of Video Furnace.

Video Furnace, 14052 Petronella Drive, Suite 202, Libertyville, IL 60048, 847-362-6800,




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