Entera, Motorola, and Liberty Digital Join Forces to Shape Internet Content Delivery

Motorola Inc.n technology the companies say will bring streaming media to the broadband data market Entera Inc. (Fremont, CA), <%=company%> (Schaumburg, IL), and Liberty Digital Inc. (Los Angeles) Monday announced they will join forces to develop standards-based technologies for content delivery over next-generation platforms to include streaming media and broadband networks. Motorola and Liberty Digital have made strategic investments in Entera in support of this development program.

Through this strategic partnership, Entera, Motorola, and Liberty Digital are partnering to meet the customer needs of the cable, satellite, and broadband markets. Entera's technology is optimized for the broadband networks and includes streaming video and audio, stream caching, web caching, and content management.

"Entera combines caching software, proxy and streaming media to make content deliveries efficient, and we believe their technical solutions will accelerate the introduction of new services in the interactive television and broadband markets," states Craig Enenstein, Liberty Digital senior vice president of business development and strategy. "By teaming with Entera and Motorola, we are demonstrating our commitment to fostering creation of technological standards that enable content to be produced and distributed more broadly and cost-efficiently."

Liberty Digital (formerly TCI Music) was formed when cable programmer Liberty Media, a unit of AT&T Corp. (New York), transferred all of its Internet assets to Liberty Digital and transformed the company into a new media and Internet investment firm. The company's primary goal is to develop and distribute interactive TV programming, such as cable and satellite channels dedicated to travel and music. It also acquires interests in entertainment Websites and portals, firms that make interactive TV products, and e-commerce companies. Liberty Media owns nearly 95% of the company.

ComVentures, Crescendo Ventures, and Spectrum Equity Investors, the existing venture firms, participated in the round of funding announced yesterday. Additionally, Entera received private backing from a team of private investors. This round of investment brings the total amount raised for Entera to nearly $50 million.

Edited by John Spofford, Managing Editor