Q&A with Andrea Cappellari, CEO, Unit.Net AG

Unit.Net AG is a leading provider of value-added streaming media solutions to large corporations and media companies in Europe.

The company has been in business for 10 years, and has been active in streaming media since 1996.

Streamingmedia.com: Andrea Cappellari, Unit.Net AG is a leading provider in Europe of streaming media for broadcasting of live events over the Internet and in intranets. You recently announced the cooperating with EUREKA Global Teleconferencing Services GmbH, a subsidiary of the TIME Communications Services AG in Germany. How does this improve your services - the business communication services?
Andrea Cappellari: We're very pleased with the announcement of our relationship with Eureka. Our partnership enables Unit.Net to provide clients full capability of streaming live and on-demand audio and video conferences with less than 24 hours notice. Many existing communication events, like analyst meetings and earnings announcements, benefit from this short time-to-market advantage that our solution offers.

Unit.Net's deal with Eureka is unique because no other European streaming media company can provide customers with this type of service today. This is also an example of Unit.Net's first mover approach to supplying the market with innovative streaming media services.

Q: Another as important segment of your business is concentrating on the media & entertainment market - a key project is the coverage of the world-famous Montreux Jazz Festival. Can you describe the type of projects you are currently involved in and what role streaming technology will have in the near future?
A: Yes. Our long-standing involvement with the Montreux Jazz Festival has been successful on many fronts, as well as fun. Unit.Net is proud of the fact that site traffic for this event has increased almost twenty-fold over the past 2 years. This year, the Montreux Jazz Festival, and other European event organizers will benefit from updates to our complete ‘We Do It'(tm) solution package.

Additionally, Unit.Net is working closely with its radio clients to create new revenue opportunities from streaming applications by building site volume and stickiness. With ‘Freestream It'(tm), radio stations partnering with Unit.Net can benefit from the growing online radio market at no cost. In addition, Unit.Net's other solutions, such as ‘Traffic It'(tm) and ‘Netvoice It'(tm), provide clients' sites with unique features, which attract and retain users. This translates into incremental revenue opportunities.

Q: Unit.Net is primarily a service company providing customized streaming services for the business as well as for the consumer market. To maintain a high level of service you even have an R&D department and you also offer your own proprietary Broadcast Network.
A: Unit.Net's commitment to R&D is consistent with its first mover strategy. This permits us to consistently be first to market with innovative streaming solutions, which help our clients differentiate themselves in the marketplace. In addition, Unit.Net's proprietary broadcast network provides high levels of streaming quality to end-users. The network also increases our ability to respond quickly to the changing needs of our clients.

Q: There is obviously a considerable difference between the European market and market the States. Andrea, how does your company differ from American companies and can you explain what works in Europe?
A: Your question raises 3 interesting aspects.

First, the European market when compared to the US is more fragmented due primarily to cultural differences. Accordingly, uptake has lagged the US, where common language facilitates the wide-spread adoption of innovative products and services. Nevertheless, according to media reports, Europe is poised for growth and today boasts 7 of the top 10 Internet markets worldwide.

Second, the web is unique in that it allows companies to personalize their interactions with customers. Unit.Net's location in Switzerland, itself home to 4 different languages, is typical of the company's ability to understand the needs of its local customers. Unit.Net's European presence allows companies to benefit from local access to industry leading streaming solutions.

Third, European technology companies have suffered from restricted access to capital. In Europe, financial markets and venture capital in particular, have developed at a slower pace than in the US. However, this is changing, and Europe is increasingly attracting investors' interest and capital.

Q: Andrea Cappellari, thank you for the interview.