GSA adds streaming media provider

Streampipe.com last week became the first Internet broadcasting service

provider to receive approval to have its streaming media services included

on the General Services Administration's Federal Supply Service schedule.

Streaming media enables government organizations to broadcast real-time

activities such as press conferences, distance-learning programs, computer-based

training and product or campaign launches. Video and/or audio content can

be made available live or in archives.

Government agencies can use the streaming media for in-house communication

or widespread message distribution, said Bob Green, director of federal

sales for Streampipe.

"We had a good position and a technology advantage, and we were able

to garner some deals in the federal arena," Green said, adding that getting

GSA approval was the next logical step for the company. "Our technology

is an excellent fit as government agencies seek to share information with

each other and give full disclosure to the public."

Streampipe's federal clients include the Navy, the Coast Guard, the

Commerce Department, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the Social Security

Administration and the House of Representatives' Science, Space and Technology

Committee, Green said.

As an example of their success in the federal space, Green mentioned

a recent Commerce event. Streampipe provided the technology that carried

a speech by Commerce Secretary Norman Mineta and a panel of experts live

via the Internet, while also setting up a chat room that welcomed questions

from viewers worldwide.

"We received and translated questions in 22 different languages and

then delivered them to the secretary and the panel," Green said. "We encourage

the government agencies to think out of the box a little bit and realize

that this [technology] offers them a global reach."

Green said Streampipe also is talking to several state and local governments

that are particularly interested in streaming video from traffic cameras

to provide commuting information to constituents.

The Alexandria, Va.-based company has five offices across the country,

with expansion plans for at least 13 domestic offices and three international

locations by the second half of 2001.