Orb Videomail Launched For Users Of Mozilla Thunderbird And Microsoft Outlook
Emeryville, CA – May 24, 2006 – Orb Networks, the pioneering developer of software for instant enjoyment of content everywhere, today announced the release of Orb™ VideoMail for users of Mozilla® Thunderbird™ and Microsoft® Outlook.
For the first time, Orb VideoMail frees video-based communication through email from the constraints of file sizes and file formats and extends videomail’s reach to millions of mobile devices. Right from the email applications they use every day, users can express themselves with all the passion and precision that only video can provide.
"Until now, file-transfer through email was what passed for videomail. This was bad enough for a PC-only experience. It’s completely untenable in today’s world of mobile Webmail," said Jim Behrens, CEO of Orb Networks. "Orb removes the barriers to videomail communication in our multidevice world. You shouldn’t have to think about file sizes or file formats when you’re sending a videomail, any more than you do when you’re writing a text email. With Orb VideoMail you don’t. This is true video mail: you author your message right from within the interface of your everyday email client; you make your message as long as you want; and you’re sure that your contact can get your message, even on mobile devices."
"Combining Orb VideoMail with a Creative® webcam is the perfect way to make video-based email as simple and as universal as text-based email," said Dr. Jeff Stoen, general manager for cameras at Creative. "From right within the email application you use daily, Orb integrates with Creative webcams – such as the new Live!® Cam Voice – to provide a seamless way to communicate with personalized, high-quality video messages."
The Orb application running on the user’s always-connected PC streams the videomails that are authored within the Thunderbird or Outlook plugin on any PC and then securely transferred in the background from the plugin to the user’s Orb PC. The videomails stream to recipients in the right media formats, bitrates, and screen resolutions for the devices on which they open the videomails. Any device with a streaming Windows Media® Player, RealPlayer®, Winamp Player, 3GP Player, or Macromedia® Flash™ Player can play an Orb videomail, including mobile phones on any carrier network.
"Orb VideoMail puts the power of the Orb platform at the service of communication," said Behrens. "Up until now, Orb has mainly been focused on empowering our users to ‘mycast’ all their home and Internet television, music, and video content to themselves wherever they are. Orb users could already share photos and streams of home videos right from their home PC without having to upload them. Now Orb-enabled mycasting includes videomails from our users to all their contacts."
"The evolution of extensions like Orb VideoMail for Mozilla Thunderbird is exciting for users and a testament to the success of open source, community-driven projects," said Scott MacGregor, the Mozilla Thunderbird project lead.
Orb VideoMail is available now for free download at www.orb.com/videomail.
About Orb Networks, Inc.
Orb Networks is the pioneering developer of software and services that give people secure, free, and instant access to all their digital media everywhere. The award-winning Orb software makes it easy for consumers to enjoy their home and Internet TV, music, videos, photos, podcasts, and other digital content from mobile phones, PDAs, and laptops everywhere. Orb is a member of the DLNA and is a privately held company in Emeryville, California. For more information about Orb, please visit www.orb.com.
Orb is a trademark of Orb Networks, Inc. All other trademarks and/or registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
 | To sign up for an RSS feed from Orb, please use www.orb.com/news_rss/feed/news_rss/feed in your news reader. |