newsAP Uses Wi-LAN's Wireless Product to Link Vendors Demonstrating New Industry Communication Protocol
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA--
EIGHTEEN COMPANIES SHOWING ENPS/MOS COMPATIBLE PRODUCTS AT NAB 2000 CONVENTION
The Associated Press announced today that Wi-LAN Inc. (TSE:WIN - news), an innovator in high-speed wireless communications products, is linking as many as 18 vendors at the NAB 2000 convention in Las Vegas to help demonstrate MOS, a new Media Object Server protocol designed to connect a variety of broadcast production systems and devices.
Using the I.WiLL 300-24 Access Point and based on its patented W-OFDM technology, Wi-LAN has formed a high-speed wireless network for the NAB project. In cooperation with its MOS partners and showcasing ENPS, AP's Electronic News Production System, AP's broadcast technology group is spearheading the network connectivity effort and continuous demonstrations in convention floor exhibits and suites.
MOS is a modern way of enabling television and radio journalists to see, use, and control a variety of devices including media servers and editors, still stores, character generators, and special effects machines -- even if the systems were provided by different vendors. NAB 2000 attendees will be able to experience real-time MOS control from a variety of locations, with Wi-LAN's wireless link helping demonstrate how MOS allows fast and seamless exchange of video and audio information.
``We're excited that our W-OFDM could play such a significant role in the demonstration of AP's MOS,'' said Bill Hews, Wi-LAN President and COO. ``OFDM technology is revolutionizing the wireless market and impacting industries such as broadcasting by delivering data at high speeds in a wireless environment providing greater access to information and enhanced productivity.''
``It's been very exciting to work with Wi-LAN on this project,'' said Lee Perryman, Deputy Director of AP's Broadcast division and Director of Broadcast Technology. ``In addition to showing how ENPS and MOS work in traditional environments, the magic of wireless networking, connecting so many separate sites in such a unique way, demonstrates how new kinds of technology can be easily and reliably put to work where standard network connectivity simply isn't possible or practical.''
The MOS protocol is a broad industry alliance formed to develop a single communication standard for newsroom computers to communicate and share information. With ENPS, the world's most popular new broadcast newsroom software, AP has been at the forefront of the effort to help improve and standardize the way various components are interfaced and integrated.
At NAB 2000, products from Chyron, Dalet, Grass Valley Group, IBM/Radioman, Informix, Leitch, Louth, Management Data, Microsoft, Netia, Omneon, OmniBus, Philips, Pinnacle, Proximity, Quantel, Sony and Vibrint will be linked by Wi-LAN and sharing different types of audio and video objects through ENPS and MOS.
About Wi-LAN Inc.
Wi-LAN Inc., based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, is a leading innovator in the field of high-speed wireless data communications, specializing in high-speed Internet access, LAN/WAN extension and wireless access. The company's patented W-OFDM technology is at the foundation of the IEEE 802.11a standard. Wi-LAN's recently launched I.WiLL(TM) 30 Mbps wireless access point is based on the company's patented W-OFDM technology. Wi-LAN's Hopper(TM) and Hopper Plus(TM) products have been sold in more than 50 countries on six continents. Wi-LAN(TM) common shares trade on The Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol ``WIN.'' Detailed information on Wi-LAN can be found on the Web at https://www.wi-lan.com.
About AP
The Associated Press is the world's oldest and largest newsgathering organization, providing text, audio, graphics, video and technology to more than 15,000 news outlets worldwide. AP's broadcast news software and systems, including ENPS, AP NewsCenter, and AP NewsDesk, are used by more than 2,500 television stations, radio stations and networks in more than 50 countries. Founded in 1848, today's AP employs more than 3,500 staffers in 240 bureaus, and its broadcast division is based in Washington, D.C.