DivXNetworks has announced a licensing agreement with the creators of mp3 technology, the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS and Thomson – also the licensing representative for mp3 patents and software.
The deal enables DivXNetworks to include mp3 technology in all DivX software and consumer electronic offerings. In the future, DivX will also be able to use mp3 Surround technology. DivX will now be able to license a complete video and audio Software Development Kit (SDK) coupling their video compression technology with mp3’s audio compression technology.
“Adding mp3 Surround audio to the DivX Media Format will improve the consumer experience throughout the connected home and ultimately help drive the distribution of secure premium content from the Internet to the living room,” said Jordan Greenhall, CEO and co-founder of DivXNetworks. “This deal also has the potential to broaden the competitive technology options for video device manufacturers and premium content publishers, particularly in device categories such as digital still cameras, digital video cameras and recordable DVDs.”
The deal is a boon for DivX, who, when coupled with mp3 can offer the largest device compatibility on the market, giving integrated circuit manufacturers, consumer electronics companies, PC manufacturers, content creators and software vendors a complete solution for the creation and playback of full-featured digital video.
“Thomson and DivXNetworks are making it easier for the entire digital video marketplace to provide the end consumer with a rich media experience,” said Henri Linde, vice president of growth initiatives, audio and mp3 program of the Intellectual Property and Licensing unit for Thomson. “With our recent addition of the surround capability, mp3 is the perfect match for video content distribution in DivX format. As mp3 helped create the market for digital audio, we believe that mp3, in conjunction with DivX technology, will accelerate the emergence of a digital video distribution market.”
Thomson and Fraunhofer IIS launched mp3 Surround, which will enable 5.1 channel surround-quality sound for a broad range of applications, in December. While the mp3 Surround sound is multi-channel, the file is still compressed.
DivX-compatible movies are now playable on most DVD players, due to deals the company has made with electronics manufacturers. The DivX Media Format, scheduled for release in the first quarter of 2005, is designed to enable “the ultimate media experience with advanced new multimedia features including interactive video menus, powerful metadata and a balance of compression and visual quality superior to any other technology on the market.”
“mp3 and DivX technology both have a long history of successful platform integrations. Together this enables an easy technology transition process for the industry, and an easy upgrade from stereo to surround sound in consumer’s homes, thus improving the consumer experience with this highly portable and widely compatible video format,” said Harald Popp, head of the multimedia real-time systems departments at Fraunhofer IIS. “We trust DivXNetworks will integrate our mp3 technologies seamlessly to give the industry and the consumer an outstanding multimedia experience.”
