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| EMagazine Volume 5 Issue 2 April / May 2000 |
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INTERVIEW Our platform will enable appliance manufacturers to build smarter, faster and leaner appliances. Since they will be based on Strings, these appliances will be far more flexible, dynamic and ultimately responsive to users. In addition, Strings seamless ability to network appliances together means that manufacturers do not have to over-specify hardware resources on their appliances since that functionality will be distributed in a network. |
Edward Balassanian founded BeComm Corporation in 1996. A privately held company, based in Redmond, WA, BeComm designs next-generation communications technology that focuses on delivering a broad range of Media Appliance™ solutions. |
QUESTION 1:
Please tell us (in Layman's terms) about BeComm's primary business focus and
products?
ANSWER 1:
BeComm develops unifying software platforms for communications, networking
and multimedia. Our primary product is a software platform called Strings.
Strings provides what we call Dynamic Application Synthesis which allows users,
computers and networks to dynamically assemble applications by stringing
together a distributed software objects called beads . Our first application of
Strings is in the home environment. In the home, Strings will provide an
environment where appliances work together to share software and hardware
resources.
QUESTION 2:
Where does BeComm fit into the Home Networking Market? Who are it's allies and
competitors?
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Our platform will enable appliance manufacturers to build smarter, faster and leaner appliances. Since they will be based on Strings, these appliances will be far more flexible, dynamic and ultimately responsive to users. In addition, Strings seamless ability to network appliances together means that manufacturers do not have to over-specify hardware resources on their appliances since that functionality will be distributed in a network. The settop box can now leverage a disk appliance for storage of video. The webpad can use a PC for a text-speech engine enabling email to be read. A handheld can serve as a telephone, universal remote control and MP3 player with only the minimal requirement in hardware resources. Strings leverages objects called Beads to interface to virtually any existing network, application or device. This means that Strings enabled devices can run on top of existing operating systems if necessary. They can also leverage processing capability in existing applications. This means manufacturers, technology vendors and ISV's do not have to abandon their current infrastructure. BeComm has developed Beads to work with all major home-networking standards as well as most popular embedded operating systems including windows CE, VxWorks and Linux. At this time no other company has taken a platform approach to home networking. Based on 4 years of R&D Strings will provide a platform that finally enable a distributed network of appliances that seamlessly work together to give users the experience they dictate. Though we have no direct competition on the technology front, we will have to capture mind share –our biggest challenge going forward.
QUESTION 3:
What set's BeComm software (Strings) apart from other Home Network offerings?
ANSWER 3:
Strings provides Dynamic Applications Synthesis. There are no static
applications in Strings. By stringing together software objects called Beads,
Strings is able to assemble applications in real-time that precisely match the
needs of the user rather than relying on static applications that have a fixed
notion of what a user should or should not do. In addition, the 4 years of
research that went into Strings was also focused on enabling the most efficient
multimedia, networking and communications platform possible. Strings devices
will do more, run faster and use less resources. Another key differentiation is
Strings ability to not only string together Beads on a single device, but to
extend these strings across multiple devices providing Distributed and Dynamic
Application Synthesis. This is critical in the home space given the
proliferation of new devices and the untold new technologies that will be
developed over coming years. For example, what would a web-browser app look like
if you wanted the web content on your tv but you wanted to use the touch screen
on your palm pilot for navigation? What about a TV-app if you wanted to listen
to the audio on your car stereo's while have the video stored on your PC's disk
drive for later viewing? Clearly, the app must be dynamically assembled based on
user requirements, computer requirements and network requirement. This is the
only way to provide the true potential of a home network to a user. Strings in
the only platform that provides this capability. Finally Strings is a unique
platform in that it solves many of the problems of home networking but it is not
predicated on ubiquity. In other words, everything does not have to be running
Strings for a Strings appliance to be useful. By developing Beads to interface
with virtually all networks, interfaces, protocols and devices, we have created
a platform that is truly future proof.
QUESTION 4:
Does BeComm software (Strings) adhere to any Home Networking standards?
ANSWER 4:
Since Strings provides a platform for developing discrete software objects
called Beads, interfacing to new standards or providing new protocols is as
simple as authoring new Beads. Based on the DAS approach that Strings employs,
these interface Beads will be available to any application (dynamic application
in the case of Stings) on the network since Strings will be able to dynamically
string them as needed. We currently support all major network standards and
platforms. In addition, Beads allow us to interface with applications to
leverage applications for content processing. We have Beads to interface with
Desktop components such as speech engines, media players and telephony systems
to name a few. In addition as new standards in the home are ratified such as
HAVI, UPNP, and JINI, we will develop Beads to enable Strings based devices to
communicate with these appliances.
QUESTION 5:
When and where will we see the first implementations of Strings?
ANSWER 5:
Strings is available today to top tier manufacturers. We are focused on high
volume and credible players in the home market to ensure we expend our efforts
on the highest return customers. We are working with customers to enable Strings
appliances which should be available by end of the year.
QUESTION 6:
How will the consumer benefit from this technology? How will he/she interface
with it?
ANSWER 6:
To begin with, Strings will function behind the scenes, magically letting dad
rewind a television show by streaming the content to a remote disk drive, or
perhaps letting dad turn on a home video camera from the office to check on a
dog run… webpad's will be able to access any content available on the net
without needing expensive hardware and software… existing stereo's will be
able to play MP3 files or any other type of audio content. Over time BeComm will
push the development of more software Beads to enable everything from
interactive TV to residential gateways and user interfaces.
QUESTION 7:
Looking into your crystal ball ... what will the networked home be capable of in
the year 2005?
ANSWER 7:
A user will be able to marshall a network of appliances to work together
seamlessly to carry out an experience. Interfaces will be available that will
give users access to content without forcing them to be mired in the intricacies
of where it came from. Hardware will be increasingly networked over wireless and
wired networks. Finally, my mom will still use her same old cellular phone, but
now she will be able to use it to turn on her television, listen to her email
and to tap into a internet audio feed of her favorite station. But of course,
this is all available today with Strings, so this is not so impressive of a
prognostication.
Edward Balassanian founded BeComm Corporation in 1996. A privately held company, based in Redmond, WA, BeComm designs next-generation communications technology that focuses on delivering a broad range of Media Appliance™ solutions. The company’s vision is to create an operating environment that seamlessly manages the flow of media across disparate networks, processors, media types, applications and devices. Mr. Balassanian is responsible for the company’s long-term product, technology and marketing strategy as well as day-to-day operations. He also sits on the company’s board of directors.
Prior to forming BeComm, Mr. Balassanian held engineering positions within Microsoft Corporation. He has over ten years experience developing networking software.
Balassanian has a degree in Computer Science from the University of Washington. He has recently spoken to audiences at Princeton University, and was recently a featured speaker at DEMO 2000.
