Net Ventures News

Michael JP Page Insights - US Update

Dear Friend,

We're still in the USA and as you'll be aware from the extensive media coverage, the Apple iPad has launched here to great fanfare. In just a matter of days it will launch in Australia too. >> read Michael's review of the iPad. This is particularly exciting for us as we've just unveiled our iPad application, revix for the iPad. We received positive feedback at AdTech in San Francisco - one of the most internationally established digital marketing, media and technology shows - where we unveiled how the application works.

For more information on revix for iPad, please click here.

In other industry news, the recent arrival of internet TV in Australia signals a smarter platform for advertisers to reach consumers. This marks a new era of non-intrusive monetisation opportunities, which we're calling push-commerce.

Thanks for reading,
Michael JP Page.

Internet TV brings smart push-commerce to life

With internet TV now a reality in Australia, we will see the emergence of a new generation of consumption, based on the principles of push-commerce. Advertisers and broadcasters will build new business models based on consumers being able to watch TV and purchase products related to the type of program they're viewing. Viewers will be served targeted, relevant and interactive ads - without their viewing experience being interrupted.

For example, imagine you're watching Masterchef. It pauses with an overlay with all of the ingredients used in the recipe you've just seen, giving you the chance to purchase these items, straight from your nearest online grocer. If you want to buy all the ingredients for the dish which Poh or Julie is preparing on TV, you can do so quickly and easily at the click of a button.

There are obvious benefits for marketers; the opportunity to better understand who's watching which programs and, most importantly, purchase products and services in-program.

Michael JP Page comments: "We will see push-commerce initially being used by DIY, house-garden and other instructional programs. Highly engaged viewers will be able to opt-in to the ad to purchase the products or services that they're interested in, seemingly straight from the program they're watching. Itâ��s a huge leap forward for television broadcasters, advertisers and retail outlets.â��

revix for iPad receives thumbs-up at official launch

We were thrilled to unveil our patented application, revix for iPad in the US last month at AdTech and are pleased with the reception it's received so far. For organisations that have invested in Flash technology, the revix for iPad is an effective way to overcome the iPad's inability to run Flash and the need for transcoding.

Downloading and streaming sports, news and television programs on YouTube and other video content sites is already hugely popular in Australia. Giving consumers the ability to do this on Apple's latest device is the logical next step for Net Ventures. It also gives our advertising, broadcast and publishing partners the chance to reach increasingly savvy audiences.

So how does it work? The application catalogues an inventory of video snippets which audiences can interact with through a touch-drag-and-drop interface. Sporting organisations, for instance will find this tool useful as fans will be able to engage with their team and favourite players by splicing and re-organising and content to create a mash-up of game highlights.

"Where we see huge opportunity - and have had great feedback - is in the sports sector. Fantasy sports in the US is big business and many of the major leagues are excited about our application as they can see its potential to help fans to follow their favourite players. This technology has the capacity to re-energise the fantasy sports industry, which hasn't had a major technological breakthrough since its inception in 1980s", said Michael.

Fantasy sports are also popular in Australia with users creating AFL, rugby league, soccer and cricket teams. The revix for iPad will allow fans to get right inside the game by using the mash-up tool to create sporting highlights made by their favourite player and team.

Net Ventures' revix for iPad application will be available in Australia on May 28, as soon as the iPad launches here.

Michael's review of the iPad

We've read and heard so much about the iPad, but not many people have had the chance to see it. Michael has and this is what he thinks:

What do you love about the iPad?

Since I'm travelling so much these days, the iPad is really handy - it's particularly great for watching TV shows and listening to music while I'm on the road. Rather than relying on a hotel to have my favourite TV show, I know I will be able to download and watch it on my iPad.

What needs work on the iPad?

There's not much really. I wish the iPad had a camera. Like everyone else, I would also like a USB port so I can connect my camera and other devices which I need to charge.
The only other thing is the apps - there's huge potential for these to be further developed to take advantage of the big screen, rather than just being repurposed from the iPhone. But that will come with time.

Does it have good functionality?

Yes, it has astounding battery life and it's very simple to use.

How do you see it improving your life?

The biggest thing for me is the instant syncing that happens between my iPod and iPad. If I download some music, iTunes will automatically update the two devices without me having to prompt it.

Do you think the take-up in Australia will be as strong in the US?

Yeah, there's every indication that it will be. Only 100,000 Australians need to get an iPad for us to match the US in per capita take-up. I've been really encouraged by Telstra's pricing plans, which I think will encourage early adopters.

Michael JP Page Insights - iPad

Greeting from New York! I'm here as part of an AusTrade Digital Trade Mission where Net Ventures is showcasing our exciting video technology to an eager American audience. One of the things people are really getting excited about is the imminent release of the Apple iPad.

On April 3 we are launching the first patented online video touch application for the iPad that can mash-up and publish video instantly. Our application will enable video publishers and rights holders to connect with their audiences more interactively. People will be able to custom-build videos of their favourite sports game, television program, even university lectures, by using a touch-drag-and-drop interface.

To date we have presented this patented technology to more than 100 advertising, marketing, and publishing agencies in New York and San Francisco.

The full capabilities of the iPad are yet to be seen and we will have to wait until its launch in Australia to see what the consumer response will be but one thing is for sure, marketers, publishers and educators see it as a great opportunity. 2010 is marked by experts here as a year when we'll see explosive growth in video consumption and the emergence of push-commerce. What's push-commerce? I'll talk about this more in the next edition of Net Ventures News - after we exhibit in NAB, Las Vagas, April 12-15.

Thanks for reading, Michael

Net Ventures expands to the US

After 13 years of strong domestic growth, Net Ventures is excited to establish its presence in California's Silicon Valley as part of its expansion into the US to better meet strong demand for our online video services by US clients. The move is boosted by the company's appointment to Austrade's Digital Media Trade Mission to New York, which is in progress as you read this.

The Digital Media Trade Mission will be a strong launching pad for the US expansion and provides a great platform to showcase Australia's cutting-edge digital technology to major advertising and interactive media companies in New York, and more specifically, Net Venture's newly developed iPad application for custom-built video.

CEO Michael Page says, "Testing our mettle in the US is important because it will help to demonstrate that we are serious about engineering innovation, and prove that our Australian-developed technology is truly world-class.

"The Net Ventures' team is committed to making our foray into the US successful in the long-term. There's a certain pride involved in delivering creative, easy-to-use technology to some of the most demanding and forward-thinking media and advertising companies in the world."

To find out more about Net Ventures' iPad application, click here.

Net Ventures welcomes Peter Wallace

Net Ventures welcomes newly appointed Peter Wallace to the team. Peter will provide strategic direction for the company's expansion into the US market, as well as take on a local marketing and business development role.

Peter has more than 25 years of experience in the media, IT, technology and telco sectors and has provided senior counsel to some of the country's biggest media and publishing companies including Telstra, Austar, Fairfax and Lonely Planet.

We're looking forward to working with Peter.

In recent years, Peter has worked with some of Australia's fastest growing new media and technology companies as a venture capitalist investor and advisor. Peter was an early investor in Seek Communications Limited and has worked with a number of other new ventures from their first round of capital to reaching number one in their market sectors.

If you wish to contact Peter, he can be reached on 0419 410 683 or peter@bluegumventures.com

Create your own AFL highlights show online

The AFL grand final might be done and dusted but fans of the sport can still research next season's draft picks or revel in their team's stellar season by creating a mash-up of their favourite player's finest moments.

With iVideo, by Net Ventures, footy fans can generate their own AFL highlights show. AFL Mash-up highlights, which is free on Bigpond TV, allows users to mash-up highlights from the season, round, team, player; right down to goals, marks, behinds, free kicks, tackles, clangers and super goals. And if you're a cats fan, you can even save the clipping and send it to your mates in St Kilda!

The footage of the game is delivered via optic-fibre from the broadcasting vans at the ground, with the guys at Net Ventures tagging every player who takes each mark, behind and free kick. So you know who to take to the next footy trivia night!

Create your own AFL highlight show or find out more here to get in touch.

Michael JP Page Introduction

Dear Friend,

Excuse me for arriving uninvited! This is the first ever Net Ventures News, a monthly update of what's happening in our industry, what Net Ventures is working on, and developments which we want to share with you first.

You're receiving Net Ventures News because you're a friend of ours and we want your thoughts on how insightful our new newsletter is, and ideas about how we can make it even more useful and entertaining. So feel free to provide feedback.

A journalist recently asked me what I think is going to be the next big thing in communications technology. You'd expect me to say online video - and I'm going to! What's emerging is that Australians are now consuming video in new and unprecedented ways. The iPhone took mobile up-take to a whole new level, and the next technology leap is just around the corner.

Cross-platform integration will become truly possible as better, high definition content accelerates its penetration onto the mobile screen. This is challenging us to make the embedding process for video content on mobile easier. And we're working on it.

With up-coming advances such as Telstra's T-Box, the Sony Playstation movie downloads service and the prominence which internet-enabled TV sets had at the recent Consumer Electronics Show, video consumption within the home looks set to make our lounge-rooms the centre of family time once again. The recent success of the major motion picture Avatar has put 3D video on the agenda - bigtime. Consumers will start to demand 3D-enabled technology to recreate this viewing experience in the comfort of their very own homes.

HD video with full interactivity will become accessible seamlessly across platforms, delivered via the NBN and high bandwidth wireless IP-connections from emerging 4G/LTE services. We're working on making this a reality! And rather than becoming a short-format screen to view in transit, the mobile is becoming the second TV screen for viewing within the home. Welcome to the unpredictable mobile movement.

Enjoy the read,

Michael

Net Ventures partners with AFL Auskick

How do you train a geographically disperse group of volunteers at a time that suits them while maintaining a high level of quality and engagement?

NAB AFL Auskick has found a way by building an interactive e-learning platform - with a little help from Net Ventures - to train the many volunteer coaches involved in the game, from mums and dads to experienced trainers.

The program delivers effective tips for coaches in an interactive and entertaining way, and includes first-hand guidance from AFL legends Kevin Sheedy, Paul Roos, Nathan Buckley and Luke Darcy.

Michael Page says, "We've had a long association with the AFL and the boys had a lot of fun building this one, which included interviewing and filming some of AFL's greatest names on the ground at the MCG."

The NAB AFL Auskick program will be officially launched at the AFL National Coaching Conference in January. Parents will be able to access the program via the NAB AFL Auskick website www.aflauskick.com.au.

This program complements the work Net Ventures has done delivering e-learning platforms to the Central Queensland University. To find out more about this technology, click here.