Belgacom announces an investment and an exclusive strategic partnership with OnLive

Belgacom and OnLive, Inc., the cloud gaming pioneer, announced today their strategic co-operation. Belgacom has taken a 2.6% shareholding in OnLive alongside Warner Bros., AT&T, BT, Autodesk and Maverick Capital.

Through this initiative, Belgacom continues to position itself at the forefront of innovation in digital media and entertainment. The investment in OnLive is part of Belgacom’s innovation and convergence strategy by expanding in areas such as interactive entertainment, cloud computing and online gaming with access to exclusive services and features for its customers.

OnLive is a US-based start-up company pioneering cloud-based gaming with a unique digital entertainment delivery platform using proprietary compression technology and cloud-based computing for the distribution of high-end video games delivered instantly through the Internet to PCs, Macs and TVs, without the need for specialised computers, expensive game consoles or large downloads.

Quote from Didier Bellens

Didier Bellens, CEO of the Belgacom Group commented: “This agreement perfectly meets the strategic objectives of Belgacom to maintain leadership in innovative and convergent products and services as the partnership with OnLive will contribute to and enhance our interactive entertainment offering with new exclusive services. We are particularly enthusiastic to work together with OnLive’s seasoned management team and bring digital entertainment in a new and unique way to our customers. We are convinced that our strategic partnership with OnLive will be constructive, fruitful and visionary”.

OnLive was founded by Silicon Valley technology entrepreneur Steve Perlman (who was the man behind QuickTime®, WebTV® and Mova® Contour™). The company has spent seven years in development before officially unveiling its platform in March 2009 and will realise a full commercial launch in the United States this Summer.

Quote from Steve Perlman, CEO of OnLive

Steve Perlman, CEO of OnLive commented: “OnLive is delighted to expand its European reach into Belgium and Luxembourg in partnership with Belgacom. Belgacom is already a pioneer in online media services and it is extremely well-positioned to distribute the OnLive® Game Service through its advanced broadband network. OnLive moves the computing power required for high-end videogames away from expensive hardware in the home and into Internet-based data centres, enabling the convenience of instant-play videogames while eliminating the cost and complexity of specialised game hardware. Through OnLive, the latest game titles are always available and up-to-date, compatible with almost any video-capable device attached to the Internet. Belgacom-connected OnLive gamers will not only be able play with OnLive gamers throughout Europe, but they will be able to watch other OnLive gamer across the globe play games. OnLive is ushering in an entirely new era in entertainment and we are very excited to be partnering with Belgacom as we expand into Europe.”

About OnLive

OnLive is the pioneer of on-demand, instant-play video game services, delivering real-time interactive experiences and rich media through the Internet. With groundbreaking, patent-pending video compression technology, OnLive harnesses cloud computing to provide the power and intelligence needed to instantly deliver the latest, high-end game titles directly via a sleek, inexpensive MicroConsole TV Adapter, or on PCs and Macs via a small browser plug-in. OnLive technology is backed by over 100 patents and patents pending. The company is headquartered in Palo Alto, CA and investors include Belgacom, Warner Bros., AT&T, BT, Autodesk and Maverick Capital.

OnLive, Brag Clips and MicroConsole are trademarks or registered trademarks of OnLive, Inc.

More info : www.onlive.com