News from Acorn: Acorn branches out into Interactive Multimedia
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Acorn Branches Out Into Interactive Multimedia With Launch Of Online Media
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The Acorn Computer Group has announced its entry into the interactive
multimedia market with the launch of Online Media, a new operation within
the Acorn Computer Group. Online Media, based in Cambridge, aims to exploit
the technical expertise of the Acorn Computer Group to bring affordable
interactive multimedia products and services to the huge market emerging
from the information superhighway. To achieve this aim, Online Media will
be working with major players in this arena. Examples of current important
partners include: Olivetti, Advanced RISC Machines Ltd, Advanced
Telecommunications Modules Ltd, BNR/Northern Telecom, News International,
MAI, Anglia Television, Oracle and Cambridge Cable.
Online Media's revenues will derive initially from the supply of set-top box
equipment. Longer term, Online Media is looking to develop additional
revenue streams in the areas of design license sales, authoring software
sales, a range of on-line services and consultancy. Online Media will be
headed by Malcolm Bird who has 16 years of IT and consultancy experience and
is Technical Director of Acorn Computers Limited. Online Media has 20 staff
at launch, several of whom have transferred from design, and sales and
marketing roles within Acorn Computers Limited.
The first of Online Media's products, the Online Media set-top box, has
already generated interest from large communications providers such as
Northern Telecom and Alcatel. In the future, Online Media plans to develop
products relevant to the broader multimedia market. These will include
software for creating services running on set-top devices, services to
support the creation of new applications for interactive use and personal
multimedia devices. In addition, an interactive service to support
education in the home and school is being planned which will draw upon
Acorn's considerable expertise in the education sector.
Commenting on the launch of Online Media, Sam Wauchope, Managing Director of
the Acorn Computer Group, said: "Interactive multimedia is set to have an
even more profound long-term impact on society than the advent of popular
microcomputing.
"Acorn's proven ability in delivering low-cost, RISC-based systems and our
experience in multimedia equip us ideally for the move into the burgeoning
information superhighway marketplace.
"I am very confident that the launch of Online Media will be a significant
step towards us becoming a key player in this emerging market" he added.
Malcolm Bird, Chief Executive of Online Media, commented: "The launch of
Online Media and its technologies is a major contribution to the European
effort in this area. The different installed infrastructure and regulatory
controls across Europe allow us to gain experience across a range of
technologies and develop an early lead.
"We will be using the strengths of ARM processors and optimised systems
design to create extremely cost effective products.
"To this end, we are in the process of identifying and developing new
partnerships on a global scale. We already have established key supporters
within the telecoms and cable markets such as BNR/Northern Telecom and News
International. Online Media will give the Acorn Computer Group a solid
stake in the global multimedia market," concluded Bird.
Founded in 1978, with 1993 revenues of #54.3m, Acorn Computers is the
premier supplier of IT solutions to UK education and has been the leading
provider of 32-bit RISC based personal computers since 1987. Acorn works
closely with a strong community of industry partners, users and software
developers to provide innovative technology solutions for the education,
consumer, publishing and international markets.
The Acorn Computer Group is a holding company for Acorn Computers Limited,
Acorn Australia, Acorn New Zealand, Acorn GmbH and Online Media. Acorn
Computer Group owns 43% of Advanced RISC Machines Ltd.
Ends
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