Signiant Provides Seamless Connection to the Windows Azure
Platform, Enabling Xbox 360® and Zune Developers to Aggregate
Content From Multiple Sources
By: Tony Lapolito, vice president of product management and marketing for Signiant
Microsoft developers for the Xbox 360® video game platform and
Zune digital media player will use Signiant’s content distribution
management system to enable the seamless and secure
movement of video and gaming content into and out of the
Windows Azure platform. The combination of the Signiant solution
and the Windows Azure platform gives Xbox and Zune developers
a comprehensive platform for aggregating content and code from
a wide range of media companies, game developers, and
software engineering teams.
The teams behind Xbox and Zune are among the software developers and media content delivery
organizations to take advantage of the link between the Signiant Workflow Modeling Engine and
the Windows Azure platform, which provides a means for transporting large files to consumer
devices. Previously, the two development teams relied on third-party content delivery networks
(CDNs) for delivery of video and gaming content to consumers. By facilitating the movement of
large files, Signiant is enabling developers to take advantage of the complete portfolio of Windows
Azure services, including the Windows Azure compute application hosting environment, Windows
Azure virtual storage, and the Windows Azure CDN, which helps to enhance end-user
performance and reliability by placing copies of data closer to users.
“The link between the Signiant content distribution platform and the Windows Azure platform offers
a powerful advantage to our Xbox and Zune development groups. Now that they can seamlessly
connect to the Windows Azure platform to upload and work with media files, our developers can
take advantage of all the cloud has to offer in terms of speed, security, operational continuity, and
business resiliency,” said Jake Winett, director of Media & Entertainment Industry Solutions,
Microsoft Communications Sector. “The door is wide open for Signiant to help accelerate delivery
of content to mass audiences through the Windows Azure platform.”
“The Xbox LIVE® online entertainment network and Zune are ideal examples of Signiant’s
technology used in a cloud-based environment — and they’re demonstrating how this solution can
be used effectively by any media organization that needs to deliver massive amounts of content to
consumers,” said Tony Lapolito, vice president of product management and marketing for Signiant.
“The Signiant solution is the vital link in the content supply chain, enabling content suppliers to
leverage cloud computing in innovative new ways to get their content out to their audiences.”
###
ENDS