RealNetworks Discontinues Helix Media Delivery Suite of Products
In a scary Halloween surprise, RealNetworks announced on its site that it has discontinued the Helix Media Delivery Platform suite of products. The company didn't offer a press release or even a blog post about the decision. The listed press phone number doesn't appear to be in service, and an emailed request for information wasn't answered by press time.
Rather than leaving its customers completely in the cold, RealNetworks arranged for comparable products to be sold from three vendors, and posted contact information on the Helix page. Helix Broadcaster customers should look to DVEO for Gearbox products, Helix Media Library customers should go to StreamingLTD to buy Helix Media Library, and Helix Webcaster customers can go to Intermedia Solutions to purchase Webcaster products.
For other components in the Helix line, RealNetworks had only this to say: "The Helix Universal Server, Helix Producer, and Helix Enterprise Player are no longer available for license from any supplier."
RealNetworks is one of the pioneers of streaming media. In April 2013, this site covered the launch of Helix Broadcaster, a streaming appliance that combined an encoder and media server in a single box. RealNetworks was founded in 1995 and is based in Seattle, Washington.
The company's stock hit a 52-week low earlier this month. RealNetworks will release its third quarter results on November 3rd.
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