The announcement was made jointly at Streaming Media West (www.streamingmedia.com), the world's largest digital exhibition, in San Jose by Henry Siegel,President/CEO of Streamedia, and Gregory Santore, CEO, ScreenFriends.
The ``voice-rich'' media software utilizes voice recognition and animation to create unique, interactive characters, which reside on a user's computer to navigate the web and operate computer applications. ScreenFriends recently announced the release of even more functionality in its ``Generation Two'' version.
``The ScreenFriends Inter (Face)(TM) delivers an entertaining and creative way for people to interact with their computers using vocal dialogue, instead of a mouse or keyboard. ScreenFriends work with just about any PC computer and there is no training or special equipment required,'' said Santore. ``Users can choose from an ever-expanding set of characters that appear on the computer screen, ready and able to operate the entire system. ScreenFriends can open computer programs, read email, search the web and help users buy merchandise online.''
Corporate partners include Universal Studios (NYSE:VOS - news), Seventeen.com, Kazoo 3D, Global Icons, Andrea Electronics (AMEX:AND - news) and Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT - news), and the patented application is a feature of many affiliate programs as well.
``ScreenFriends is a tremendous application for rich media,'' said Siegel. ``We are very pleased to enter into this strategic marketing agreement with ScreenFriends, as it becomes yet another product we can offer exclusively for streaming websites. No longer do you have to point and click to find a favorite web-based audio or video. With Streamedia's ScreenFriends, you can simply tell a virtual character on the computer what program you want to see, and the ScreenFriend will acknowledge you and fetch it.''
Siegel said Streamedia will be able to create custom-designed animated interactive streaming characters for any company or organization needing a virtual host for websites. He stated the potential applications for the product are virtually endless.
ABOUT SCREENFRIENDS:
ScreenFriends Corp. was founded in 1998 and acquired by WENR Corp. October of this year. With the ScreenFriends(TM) Personal Inter (Face)(TM) software installed, a user can operate their computer and navigate the web simply by speaking to an interactive character in everyday language (instead of using the keyboard or mouse). ScreenFriends(TM) Corporation partners with companies to provide a valuable ``relationship branding'' and ``voice-rich'' direct marketing tool, allowing these corporations an infinite number of impressions with customers who interact with their ScreenFriends(TM) character. For more information, visit the company's web site at www.screenfriends.com.
ABOUT STREAMEDIA:
Streamedia Communications, Inc. (TM) (NASDAQ: SMIL, SMILW; BOS: STA, STAW), located at www.streamedia.net, is a dynamic streaming media services company that redefines how businesses communicate utilizing the power of the Internet and streaming media. As part of its overall streaming solution, Streamedia conceptualizes and designs its clients' IT infrastructure to optimize their streaming strategy as well as provide web design, application development, third-party technology integration, encoding and hosting services. Streamedia has signed an L.O.I. to acquire a strategic interest in Nomad Media Corp. AG, Zurich (www.nomad.ch), a leading European streaming media solutions provider.
Additionally, the recent acquisition of the celebrated Bijou Cafe (www.bijoucafe.com), touted as a world-class showcase for independent films, has advanced Streamedia.Net's presence in the critical online, and offline, film distribution industry. The company was recently referenced by U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray, whose analysts concluded that ``streaming media is the next macro growth driver on the Internet ... the Internet of tomorrow (two to five years) will resemble television of today in terms of audio and video quality, while enabling users to control the media viewing experience.'' The research report is located at: http://www.gotoanalysts.com/piperpublic/goto/feature_streamingmedia.asp.
Certain statements contained herein are forward-looking`` statements (as such term is defined in the Private Securities Reform Act of 1995). Because such statements include risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include continued acceptance of the Company's products in the marketplace, the timing of significant orders, delays in the Company's ability to develop or ship new products, market acceptance of new products, competitive factors, general economic conditions, currency fluctuations, and other risks detailed in the Company's registration statements and periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
By making these forward-looking statements, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release.
Contact:
DeMonte Associates
Cynthia DeMonte, 212/473-3700
cdemonte@demonte.com
or
ScreenFriends, Corp
Jonathon Barbato, Exec. VP Marketing, 303/331-8091
jbarbato@screenfriends.com.