Macromedia Announces Flash Media Server 2; New Release Solidifies the Flash Platform as the Best Choice for Web Video

Macromedia, Inc. (Nasdaq:MACR) today announcedMacromedia Flash(R) Media Server 2, server software that offers aunique combination of traditional streaming media capabilities and aflexible development environment for creating and deliveringinnovative, interactive media applications. Flash Media Server 2complements the recently announced Macromedia Flash Professional 8 andFlash Player 8, making the Flash Platform the leading solution forcreating and delivering interactive rich-media applications acrossbrowsers and operating systems of all kinds. Pioneering media,entertainment, telecommunications, retail, and advertising companiesare quickly adopting Macromedia Flash Video to deliver customized,seamless video experiences to millions of viewers worldwide.Macromedia will demonstrate Flash Media Server 2 during the IBC2005Exhibition at the RAI Convention Center in Amsterdam, September 9-14(Hall 7, Stand 118). For more information, please visithttp://www.macromedia.com/go/fmsannounce/.

The Flash Platform delivers a superior web video experience.Today, the vast majority of web video is presented with a bewilderingarray of options and downloads that stand between a viewer andcontent. The ubiquity of Flash Player coupled with the new Flash MediaServer 2 reliably delivers a hassle free, instant-on video experienceacross platforms, various connection speeds, and browsers. Publisherscan integrate video into their websites and applications with completecontrol over playback, interactivity, and branding for a seamlessexperience.

"The Flash Platform is the best way to deliver web video and richmedia applications to the widest audience on the Internet," said TomHale, senior vice president and general manager, Macromedia. "Forstreaming video integrated into the web experience, there is no betterchoice than Flash Media Server 2."

Flash Media Server 2 is the foundation for delivering bothrecorded and live Flash Video in large-scale deployments such as videoon demand, live web broadcasts, MP3 streaming, video blogging, andvideo/audio chat applications. The new release introduces new scalableEdge-Origin servers, an optional, enterprise-ready architecture thatsimplifies load balancing, failover, and clustering to ensure greaterreliability and scalability of streaming rich interactive experienceseven during peak traffic times. Flash Media Server 2 has a uniqueprogrammable streaming environment that includes a robust API forprecise code control over media streams, assets, and features -- likecustom interactivity, user authentication, and bandwidth detection --to deliver truly distinct user experiences. Flash Media Server 2 videoexperiences take advantage of the new high-quality video codec inFlash Player 8, complete with automatic detection of the client'sbandwidth connection and capability to adjust the stream accordingly.

"At HGTVPro, our main challenge is to create an engaging broadbandvideo application that can accommodate the evolving needs of theend-user and those of our advertisers," said Tim O'Hare, Flashdeveloper, Scripps Networks. "Using Macromedia Flash Media Server 2with Macromedia Flash Professional gives us the advantage of creatingand presenting HGTVPro's broad range of interactive content to ouraudience. Flash Media Server 2 now provides enhanced new options forstreaming Flash Video, letting us deploy a greater array of contentthat can be viewed across multiple platforms. With the mostinteractivity and creative control, Flash Video offers online contentthat just isn't possible through any other media player."

Flash Media Server operates across standard Windows or Linuxservers, and integrates with existing databases, and web and dataservices. Expanded extensibility functionality enables customers tomanage XML-based media meta-data, access local system resources, andcontrol logging and reporting for tighter integration with existingmedia ingest and management systems.

PRICING AND AVAILABILITY

Macromedia Flash Media Server 2 pricing is based on configurationand number of licenses. Prices start at $4,500 for a two-CPUconfiguration Professional Edition license. Expected to ship inOctober, Flash Media Server 2 is the next generation of MacromediaFlash Communication Server. Customers with current Flash CommunicationServer maintenance contracts are entitled to free upgrades to FlashMedia Server 2. The Flash Media Server 2 public beta will be availablein September. To learn more, please visithttp://www.macromedia.com/go/fmsannounce/.

Flash Media Server 2 is also available through select hostingproviders to customers who prefer to outsource their mediadeployments. To learn more about these programs, please visithttp://www.macromedia.com/go/fvss.

ABOUT MACROMEDIA

Experience matters. Macromedia is motivated by the belief thatgreat experiences build great businesses. Our software empowersmillions of business users, developers, and designers to create anddeliver effective, compelling, and memorable experiences -- on theInternet, on fixed media, on wireless, and on digital devices.

Copyright 2005 Macromedia, Inc. All rights reserved. Macromedia,the Macromedia logo, and Macromedia Flash are trademarks or registeredtrademarks of Macromedia, Inc., which may be registered in the UnitedStates and internationally. Other product or service names mentionedherein are the trademarks of their respective owners.