Microsoft and Siemens to collaborate on developing media industry solutions

At IBC, Microsoft and Siemens Business Services announced that they are working together to develop integrated solutions, including supporting a collaborative-environment architecture, for the media industry.
Built on proven Microsoft Office and conferencing products, the new platform will enable media companies to transform the way they communicate and collaborate.
With programming becoming increasingly complex, the new platform will help media companies work more effectively, both externally with partners such as production companies and post-production houses as well as internally among employees.
As part of its strategic collaboration strategy, the British Broadcasting Company (BBC) will become the first company to benefit from the Siemens and Microsoft relationship.
Using their combined expertise, Siemens and Microsoft plan to deliver an integrated communications system over the next 12 to 18 months that includes instant messaging, videoconferencing and integrated telephony. This will enable the BBC to offer industry partners and employees access to a security-enhanced extranet through mobile platforms, supporting its proactive and innovative approach to flexible working.
Vikas Agrawal, head of Strategy & Innovation for Siemens Business Services Great Britain and Ireland (GB&I), said, "Siemens is pleased to be involved in this industry-leading collaboration, which will transform the way that media companies communicate and share resources. Working with Microsoft, we will be able to design an integrated solution using industry-leading technologies and off-the-shelf products to support media companies. Again, the BBC is at the forefront of this new and highly innovative approach to working."
Maria Martinez, corporate vice president for the Communications Sector at Microsoft, said, "Microsoft's real-time collaboration solutions, combined with Siemens' track record for delivery at the BBC, will help increase the efficiency and effectiveness of this solution. We are pleased that the BBC is one of the first companies set to benefit from this. The culmination of our work will enable new ways of collaboration both within the BBC and across its vibrant partner ecosystem."
Siemens acquired BBC Technology in 2004 in a £2 billion, 10-year partnership, hailed as a landmark deal with the BBC places the company at the forefront of IT, communications and media innovation.
Clients include news, BBC Natural History Unit, BSkyB, DIRECTV Inc., ESPN Inc., NPR, 3UK.
(SP)