SunnComm's MediaMax Version 5.0 Expands Business Opportunities Beyond the Protection of Audio CDs 10/29/2004 8:41:00 PM
PHOENIX, Oct 29, 2004 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- SunnComm International Inc. (SCMI), the developer of MediaMax(TM), the most widely used and accepted audio CD copy management and enhancement technology in the United States, has finalized the newest version of its technology. MediaMax Version 5 now enables SunnComm to pursue additional lucrative revenue opportunities outside the core music business initiative of protecting commercial audio CDs. These new areas include protecting and enhancing CD+G formatted karaoke CDs, on-demand audio and video downloading from the Internet, DVD protection for movies and stand-alone music kiosks that allow consumers to create legal compilation CDs from licensed reputable online music sources, to name just a few.
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Independent third-party testing of MediaMax Version 5, in addition to the extensive testing and review by many of the large record labels, is complete. The final testing results are extremely positive which validates that SunnComm has a finished product that is ready for rollout in the U.S. market and ready for deployment around the world. SunnComm's chief technology officer, Eric Vandewater, confirmed, "We are very pleased with the validation and confirmation of the extensive testing platform required to release MediaMax products into the market. I am instituting a MediaMax product code freeze at this point, so our sales and operation division can get this newest edition into production immediately. This Version 5.0 suite of products is far more than just an update to our current product being used today in the U.S. market. It incorporates breakthrough technological advancements like On-the-Fly Technology(TM) that have never been accomplished before in a commercially released program. The technology has performed beyond our expectations in every tested environment and we are prepared to move forward quickly."
Prior to MediaMax Version 5 (http://www.quiettiger.com/MediaMaxv5.0.html), CD copy management applications that involved DRM-protected songs required the content to be encoded and stored on the CD itself in what is referred to as a "second session or data session." The MediaMax Version 5 platform allows copyrighted digital music to be encoded with the required DRM security information and instantaneously delivered to the consumer's computer in real-time, or "on-the-fly" directly from the audio content on the CD. Utilizing this new product means there is no longer a need to store "pre-protected" copies of each music track on the disc and it also means there is more room for music and other enhanced bonus features on each new release. It is important to recognize the value proposition provided by the newest version of MediaMax in order to understand that this new platform reduces any potential publisher royalty liability the labels might incur when a second protected copy of every track is placed on the CD.
In addition to SunnComm's proprietary On-the-Fly Technology, MediaMax Version 5.0 features another component called Secure Burn(TM). Secure Burn allows the consumer to make personal backup copies of the CD; however, these backup copies are protected and will inhibit the user's ability to make a copy of the copy on their computer.
SunnComm's MediaMax Division VP, Michal Avniel, affirmed, "Most of our independent record label customers have decided to begin integrating MediaMax Version 5 into their commercial releases immediately. Our major label clients will start to use Version 5 on a number of promo and pre-release CDs already scheduled and will be incorporating it in their commercial release schedule by year-end."
SunnComm's MediaMax suite of products delivers security for digital CD audio along with an enhanced consumer experience that provides additional bonus content and value-added features available in a user-friendly multi-media session that is mastered directly on the audio CD and accessible using a personal computer. Bonus features include on-board press kits, artist-related promotions, videos, song lyrics, artist bio page, photo gallery, Web links and tune-sharing capability through SunnComm's MusicMail(TM) functionality. MusicMail or TuneShare is an interface for the legal authorized sharing of selected song tracks with friends and family for a pre-determined number of days or plays. CD buyers can share music legitimately without illegal file sharing networks and without tying up their e-mail system with huge files. This is a powerful word-of-mouth marketing tool for the record labels. Metrics associated with forwarded MusicMail files are available to SunnComm's record label customers on a 24/7/365 basis.
About SunnComm
SunnComm International Inc. copy management and protection technology was first commercially released by Nashville's Music City records in 2001. The album, "Charley Pride - A Tribute to Jim Reeves," became the first commercial dual-session, copy-managed CD in America. SunnComm also became the first company to commercially release a content-protected audio CD utilizing an early version of the Windows Media Data Session Toolkit.
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In just four years, SunnComm has become the leader in digital content enhancement and security technology for audio compact disc media with its MediaMax suite of products. MediaMax has been successfully implemented on some of today's best-selling music including Velvet Revolver, which reached the No. 1 spot on Billboard's Top 200 Album Chart in addition to other gold and platinum best-selling releases. MediaMax has been used by 25 record labels on more than 60 commercial releases generating more than 6,000,000 copy-managed CDs.
SunnComm's MediaMax suite of digital content enhancement technologies are created by integrating the company's own proprietary technology with the Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT - News) Windows Media 9 Series media player, but still operates on both Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL - News) and Microsoft Windows-based systems (NASDAQ:MSFT - News). For more detailed information about the company, its vision or philosophy, personnel, partners and customers, please visit the company's Web site at http://www.sunncomm.com, or call the company directly at 602-267-7500. For additional information or investor relations, please contact:
Company contact: Investor contact: Peter H. Jacobs Investor Communications Consulting 602-267-7500 602-231-0681 peter@sunncomm.com SCMI@investorcc.com
Notes about Forward-Looking Statements
Statements contained in this release, which are not historical facts, may be considered "forward-looking statements" under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and the current economic environment.
We caution the reader that such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. Unknown risk, uncertainties as well as other uncontrollable or unknown factors could cause actual results to materially differ from the results, performance or expectations expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.
SOURCE: SunnComm International Inc.
SunnComm International Inc., Phoenix Peter H. Jacobs, 602-267-7500 peter@sunncomm.com or Investor Communications Consulting (Investor) 602-231-0681 SCMI@investorcc.com
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