When Oracle decided to pursue the potential cost reduction benefits of streaming media, it chose RealNetworks as its streaming platform. Working from basic beginnings, Oracle has expanded its use of RealNetworks’ products and services to almost every aspect of corporate communications, internal and external marketing, and product training.

Because Oracle is a major software supplier, its internal IT staff is experienced in dealing with new and emerging technology. Oracle first chose RealNetworks as a streaming product supplier in 1997 because, “RealNetworks was the only game in town,” said Nathaniel Robinson, Oracle’s senior director of broadband marketing. RealNetworks dominated the desktop player market and, just as important, offered strong, reliable support.

Even with its internal expertise, because of the scale of implementation, Oracle required quality support. The need for continued support would only increase as the importance of streaming grew within the company.

As expected from an IT company, Oracle continued to build out the majority of the streaming infrastructure itself. It designed its own content management system, built a customized user interface for the management system and the streaming network, and integrated the RealPlayer into its own internal application.

Oracle uses almost all of RealNetworks’ products. At the server level, Oracle has deployed four RealSystem Servers, two to serve content to internal audiences and two to external audiences. At the user-interface, Oracle uses RealPlayer internally, and has also integrated it into many Web-based applications.

For content creation, Oracle uses RealPresenter to combine media with Power-Point presentations. Oracle encodes its content with RealSystem Producer. The company has handled the majority of integration, upgrade, and installation work internally, and reports that although RealNetworks has been there to provide help if needed, the majority of work has been straightforward.