EETimes

EETimes.com - Skype founders dub Internet TV service Joost

http://www.eetimes.com/news/latest/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=1...

Newsletters | Print Subscription Feedback

EE Times: Latest News

Skype founders dub Internet TV service Joost John Walko EE Times Europe

(01/17/2007 6:30 AM EST) LONDON — The founders of Skype, who pioneered free voice over Internet phone calls using computers, are hoping to repeat the phenomenon with a broadband TV service. Niklas Zennström and Janus Friis — who also established the music-sharing site Kazaa — came out of stealth mode Tuesday ( Jan. 16) with what was formerly known as the 'Venice Project', and dubbed the service Joost. They describe the service as "a new way of watching TV on the Internet".

• Private equity still hot for tech sector buyouts

The backbone of what is now called Joost is a secure P2P streaming technology that allows content owners to bring TV-quality video and ease of use to a TV audience, though Zennström and Friis stress it is not a file-sharing application or a video download service.

• Renesas sees mixed outlook

Like other "on-demand" services, Joost will let viewers watch a show when they like and pause and rewind programmes. According to the founders, the main aim is to improve the quality of video content viewed online on sites such as YouTube. The service will be funded through advertising once subscriber numbers have picked up. Thousands of users have downloaded the Joost software despite the company being in trial phase. As with Skype for VoIP, the free software will allow users to browse the Internet for channels and content clips. Others involved in Joost include Henrik Werdelin, a leading light of the Venice Project, who will act as executive VP, creative and product development (who was previously VP product development at MTV

1 of 3

FEATURED TOPIC

• MIT enables 'Spider-Man' fabrics, nanotech apps • Counterpoint: Does OS X really outshine Vista?

• Apple confirms 802.11n download fee

>>

Phase-Locked Loop Simulation - Modulated Analysis

>>

Via Doubling to Improve Yield

>>

Save up to 15% on a new AFG3000 from Tektronix

All White Papers »

ADDITIONAL TOPICS Visit the Verification Insider: from plan to closure at block, chip, and system levels Slim down inventory. Read about small-volume fulfillment Flash File Systems Overview

20/1/07 18:56

EETimes.com - Skype founders dub Internet TV service Joost

http://www.eetimes.com/news/latest/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=1... Take a giant leap forward with multi-core. Read the E-Book.

Networks) and Fredrik de Wahl, who will be CEO. Dirk-Willem van Gulik has been named Joost's CTO. The company said in under a year working on the Venice project, it gathered "the world's best engineers, web gurus and media visionaries", and that starting from a handful of people, it now employs 150, with offices in five countries. However, it added on its website, which went live Tuesday (Jan.16) : "It is still early days for us, but Joost is getting bigger and better every day - and we're still waiting for it to become self-aware."

Designing Mobile, Multi-media Infotainment systems? Check out this New Resource Center

Friis and Zennstrom will continue their day jobs at Skype and e-Bay while daily management of Joost is handled by de Wahl. They funded the Venice Project using part of the money from Skype's sale in late September 2005 to e-bay for $2.5 billion.

Sponsored Products EE Times TechCareers Search Jobs

"People are looking for increased choice and flexibility in their TV experience, while the entertainment industry needs to retain control over their content," said de Wahl.

Enter Keyword(s):

We have received positive and constructive feedback from our early beta-testers and are now at a stage where were ready to reveal our true brand," he added. "The Joost name has global appeal, embodies fun and energy, and will come to define the best of TV and the best of the internet."

Function: Engineering & Arch.

State:

Search

Over time, the aim of the company is to move the Internet service to TV sets where users will access the service through digital IPTV set top boxes. STBs with various operating systems will be offered, and a Linux version of the box is in the works.

Post Your Resume ----------------Employers Area Most Recent Posts

Related Links: Ebay pays $2.6 billion for VoIP pioneer Skype Ushering in the era of free phone calls

ENGINEER, SENIOR (10149) Parsons Saint Louis, MO US 1/14/2007 11:55 AM Diesel Engine Aftertreatment Engineer John Deere Waterloo, IA US 12/14/2006 9:25 AM

eeProductCenter Launches SpecSearch速, New Parametric Parts Search Engine In our continuing effort to enhance our site, eeProductCenter introduces SpecSearch速 powered by GlobalSpec. Click here.

More career-related news, resources and job postings for technology professionals

Free Subscription to EE Times First Name

Last Name

Company Name

Title

Business Address State

City Select State/Province

Email address

Electronics Marketplace

2 of 3

Zip

Site Features Calendar Events Conference Coverage Forums Career Center Multimedia

Print Edition Column Archive Special Reports Subscriptions Print | Digital

20/1/07 18:56

EETimes.com - Skype founders dub Internet TV service Joost

http://www.eetimes.com/news/latest/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=1...

• Get Your Complimentary EDA Tech Forum Journal Don't miss out on the premier publication for EE Designers. Sign up for your online subscription now.

• Membrane Switches and Membrane Keyboards Pannam Imaging, with its ISO 9001:2000 certification is the worldwide leader in the design and manufacture of custom membrane switch assemblies. Our digital printing capabilities allow for prototypes in less than 2 weeks.

• Special offer: Fabless Semiconductor Startups HiPer Silicon analog/mixed-signal IC design tools give you fast start for end-to-end design. They're flexible, user-friendly, and configurable. Get great performance at the right price. Download a free 30-day demo now plus customer design wins.

• New Acqiris 10-bit Digitizers, 1-4 ch., 2-8 GS/s Acqiris unveils new 10-bit digitizers with sampling rates of up to 8 GS/s. Single, dual or four-channel modules featuring a choice of front-end input mezzanines providing up to 3 GHz input bandwidth or switchable high impedance input coupling.

• PicoScope PC Oscilloscopes High speed USB 2.0 PC Oscilloscopes from Pico are the cost-effective replacement to traditional benchtop oscilloscopes. Availalbe with up to 4 channels, 1 GS/s real-time sampling, and 250 MHz bandwidth. Secure online ordering.

Buy a link NOW:

3 of 3

20/1/07 18:56

Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook