Move Networks cuts 30 percent of staff

Move Networks, the American Fork, Utah-based adaptive streaming company, announced it has cut its workforce by 30 percent Friday. The company said it was making the reductions in an attempt to reach profitability more quickly. It said the tough economic times required it to make "some difficult, but appropriate decisions" to have a sound budgetary position.

As Ryan Lawler at Contentinople points out, Move was first to market with its adaptive streaming technology, but has since seen challenges from Adobe and Microsoft, through the Flash and Silverlight media platforms respectively (which is somewhat odd, given Microsoft's investment in Move). Adaptive streaming monitors the Internet connection speed of the end-user and delivers the highest-quality video it can given the users parameters, in an effort to eliminate waits and buffering.

Move was quick to assure customers like ABC, Discovery and ESPN that the layoffs would not affect product performance or customer service, saying in a statement about the layoffs: "These movements only renew our commitment to our customers that we are and will continue to be their long-term provider of Internet television services for the profitable monetization of premium content. Our new team is built around servicing our customers even more effectively than in the past." 

For more:
- see the Contentinople article here 

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