Multimedia networking

Juniper Networks Inc., Sunnyvale, Calif., is spearheading development of a new set of standards to guarantee service quality for multimedia applications running over the Internet.

The idea behind the Infranet Initiative is to develop ways in which high-level, content-based services, such as Web services, online gaming and video on demand, can reserve the bandwidth needed across the network, according to Scott Kriens, president and chief executive officer of Juniper. The network would also simplify billing for delivery across multiple network providers.

Lucent Technologies Inc., Murray Hill, N.J., and Microsoft Corp., Redmond, Wash., are also working with Juniper to develop a networking standard for carrying television shows online. For more information on Juniper's Infranet Initiative, see http://www.juniper.net/company/jyn/.