VBrick Offering Appeals To Broad Spectrum Of Clients

The technology that serves such a diverse customer base is video-delivery equipment from Wallingford, Conn.-based VBrick Systems.

With its latest product release, EtherneTV Media Distribution System, VBrick this month launched a new offering that delivers both archived and live video to desktops and televisions over a customer's existing LAN and WAN infrastructure, said Richard Mavrogeanes, president and founder of VBrick.

Using EtherneTV, solution providers can implement an on-demand video system that can deliver live television broadcasts and archived video content to an average of 100 simultaneous users, he said.

The system uses MPEG video standards to deliver DVD-quality video to workers' desktops, classroom TVs, conference rooms and common areas.

"What's significant is that they're allowing customers to integrate streaming, live television signals along with traditional media such as VHS, DVDs and laser discs, and have central management," said Jay Seaman, director of sales and business development at solution provider Priority One Communication, Charlotte, N.C.

Priority One recently completed a $400,000 EtherneTV implementation for a South Carolina school district that enabled the customer to provide five satellite TV feeds and its library of archived educational videos into its classrooms.

"Most of these school systems have small IT departments. EtherneTV's management software is very easy to operate, so it's not a resource draw on the customer," Seaman said.

Enterprise and government customers are interested in the technology for training and news distribution, Seaman said.

The EtherneTV solution includes multiple components. The heart of the system, Media Control Server, controls the video inventory and delivers the necessary desktop components so users can view the video within a Web browser. It is built on a Dell server running Microsoft Windows.

The Video On Demand NXG, a Linux-based Kasenna video server, enables content recording as well as playback features such as fast forward and rewind.

It also includes VBrick's line of network video appliances, including the 1000 to 6000 series encoders and its EtherneTV Set Top Box.

A typical system costs $15,000 to $50,000 and is available now.

Mavrogeanes said about 70 percent to 85 percent of VBrick's sales go through channel partners, who earn margins of 20 to 40 points.