Microsoft and Eloquent Partner

Microsoft and Eloquent (www.eloquent.com) announced on Tuesday, they are partnering to develop an enterprise streaming solution, integrating Windows Media into Eloquent's server.

Eloquent produces rich media software for companies looking to roll-out streaming. The Eloquent Communications Server enables audio and video to be searched and navigated and includes functions like slides, discussions, polls, URLs and more.

Interestingly, Eloquent supports a variety of formats. In August, Eloquent introduced Eloquent Communications Server 6.0, with support for RealNetworks files. It also works with QuickTime, Windows Media and Eloquent's own file format.

Microsoft has always touted Windows Media as a powerful enterprise solution and this collaboration will strengthen that offering. For Eloquent, this deal makes lots of sense because of Microsoft's huge marketing and distribution platform.

"Windows Media has quickly emerged as a leading digital platform amongenterprise customers, and we recognized the market opportunity ofcollaborating with Microsoft," said Abe Kleinfeld, president and CEO ofEloquent. He said the combination of the two companies is a "huge step in accelerating the adoption of rich media business communications."

According to an April 2000 study of 1,200 large organizations, by independent researchfirm Market Decisions Corp., the useof streaming media among large organizations has doubled from 10 percent to 20 percent since October 1999. Plus, the use of streaming media among enterprise organizations is growing dramatically with the number of companies intending to deploy streaming media solutions rising by 125 percent.

As part of the deal, Eloquent's system will be promoted by Microsoft's enterprise sales force.

Publicly-traded Eloquent, is based in San Mateo, California and says it has over 220 companies using its products and services.