Monsoon Multimedia Launches Vulkano

SAN MATEO, Calif., Aug. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Monsoon Multimedia, a leading provider of video convergence products, today announced the general availability for Vulkano and Vulkano Pro from select retail and distribution partners and Vulkano Deluxe and Vulkano Deluxe Pro direct from Monsoon at www.myvulkano.com. Vulkano integrates multiple disruptive technologies – DVR, web video, place shifting, Universal Plug and Play streaming and Mobile Video Recording – while eliminating the need for multiple boxes.

Vulkano, a sleek consumer device with a tightly integrated hardware and software platform that has a powerful video processor and local storage, is set to replace multiple boxes such as TiVo, Slingbox and Roku providing consumers incredible performance at a low cost. Vulkano is available now at prices ranging from $259 to $379, depending on storage capacity.

When connected to a set-top box and a TV, Vulkano enables a complete video experience across Android, iPhones, iPads, PCs, the living room TV and soon on Macs and BlackBerry smartphones. Vulkano allows users to experience their TV channels, videos and photos on whichever screen they want, when they want it.

Consumers can now watch and control any home TV channel through a wired or Wi-Fi (and soon on 3G) connection from anywhere in the world simply by installing a Vulkano and downloading a free software application on to their device of choice from www.myvulkano.com or from the respective app store. They can watch and control live TV and schedule a recording through an included EPG (electronic program guide), transfer, watch and control these recordings at any time on their TV, computers, smartphones or iPad type devices.

Vulkano lets users watch YouTube on their big screen TV and by leveraging UPnP (Universal Plug n Play) they can stream video and photos from their smartphones, computers and cameras wirelessly onto their living room TV without having to use messy cables. In the near future, Vulkano will offer free service upgrades such as Google TV, Yahoo! Widgets, Netflix, Hulu and others.

In recent weeks, the industry has seen announcements from Dish, AT&T and Motorola hinting at products that will stream video. However, these solutions are geared toward their own users to whom they provide services and cannot be used by those of other services and set-top boxes. "Vulkano can be enjoyed by any worldwide user who has a set-top box and an Internet connection," said Steve Stone, Monsoon CTO. "Our products are available at retail and you don't need to buy a new set-top box or subscribe to new, expensive services. Moreover, we offer a complete solution, not separate pieces."

"Vulkano is the next-generation entertainment standard that allows consumers to access services including YouTube and enjoy a total video experience on their smartphones, iPads, PCs and soon Macs," said Colin Stiles, EVP Sales and Marketing at Monsoon. "We are proud to the be first to deliver your live and recorded TV content anywhere, anytime and will continue to deliver new apps to Vulkano owners for free as we integrate new technologies, content streams, devices and all their TV and Internet media needs."

Summary of Vulkano Features:

• Transforms smartphones, iPads, iPod touches, PCs and soon Macs into Mobile Video Recorders
• Recorded programs play back on smartphones, iPads, PCs and soon Macs
• Direct record mode allows for Pause, Fast Forward/Rewind
• Schedule TV recording by show, channel or date and time
• Browse EPG for shows and episode descriptions
• Mark channels as Favorite for quick access
• Watch and control your live TV on the go via Wi-Fi or 3G
• Watch at home on iPads and computers in near HD resolution
• Change channels just like at home
• Search and watch YouTube videos on your home television
• Enjoy photos, video and music on home TV from UPnP supported devices, such as smartphones, PCs/Macs and cameras
• Multiple users can have recordings on Vulkano hard-drive and access independently
• Control Vulkano features and settings through intuitive television menu
• Connect to all major TV sources - cable, DVD, satellite, DVR, TiVo
• Stream video at H.264 and MPEG-4 standards at rates as low as 150kbps
• Includes 8GB or 16GB of SD card storage or e-SATA hard drives up to 1TB
• Connects wirelessly through Vulkano's on board .11n WiFi to home router
• TV content is passed from the set-top box's analog output (component, composite) to Vulkano; using resolutions up to 1080i

Pricing and Availability

Both Vulkano Deluxe and Vulkano Deluxe Pro are available immediately at www.myvulkano.com. Vulkano Deluxe comes with 16GB of SD storage costing $279 and Vulkano Deluxe Pro comes with 1 Terabyte e-SATA hard disk and costs $379. Select retailers such as www.amazon.com are shipping Vulkano, which comes with 8GB SD storage and costs $259 and the Vulkano Pro at $349 which includes a 500GB e-SATA hard disk. Monsoon will release its 3G version for the recently introduced iPhone 4 in August 2010.

About Monsoon Multimedia

Monsoon Multimedia provides advanced, standards-based multimedia products and convergence technologies for the PC, Mac, iPad and major smartphones. Founded by the founders of Dazzle and Emuzed, the company has offices in California, India, Russia and Singapore. For more information, please visit www.monsoonmultimedia.com.

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SOURCE Monsoon Multimedia