Sonic Solutions and Widevine to deliver movie streams and downloads to mobile devices

Sonic Solutions and Widevine have teamed up to deliver movies to mobile devices such as Android, iPhone, and BlackBerry smartphones as well as Apple’s iPad tablet computer.

Novato, Calif.-based Sonic Solutions provides the RoxioNow infrastructure for online movie services such as Blockbuster’s online movie business. Widevine has digital rights management and adaptive streaming technology. The DRM allows for secure delivery of purchased content, and the adaptive technology allows movies to be streamed to a mobile phone over Wi-Fi or a 3G network. The stream’s bit rate — related to its quality level — can be varied depending on the quality of the network connection.

Brian Baker, chief executive of Widevine in Seattle, said in an interview that his software can make the experience of watching movies on a phone more like watching a DVD movie. The video is delivered in H.264 format. Widevine’s rivals include Microsoft. Using the two technologies, multiple companies such as Blockbuster or Best Buy could stream movies to a wide variety of mobile devices. Mark Ely, executive vice president of Sonic Solutions, said that the best quality experience is delivered when movies are downloaded to the client device.

The next-best quality experience comes with Wi-Fi, and 3G delivers an experience that varies, depending on the quality of the connection. To date, video experiences over mobile phones are pretty sketchy when it comes to delivering smooth video over 3G data networks. But the adaptive streaming technology represents an improvement. In addition to Blockbuster, RoxioNow partners include Best Buy, Dell, HP, Kmart, Lionsgate, and Sears. Rivals include PlayOn, which streams media from online video services like Netflix and Hulu to a variety of devices.

“This technology will let our partners reach more consumers in more places with their movies,” Ely said.

Widevine’s technology is used by internet content services and large cable, satellite and telecommunications companies. Widevine has 65 employees and was founded in 1999. Its investors include Cisco Systems, Charter Ventures, Constellation Ventures, Dai Nippon Printing, Liberty Global, PaceSetter Capital Group, Phoenix Partners, Samsung Ventures America, Telus, and VantagePoint Venture Partners.

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