Press Releases

Blackstone's flagship product viaMedia 2.0, has been redesigned and built on the .NET framework. viaMedia is a hosted application intended to give non technical users the ability to publish interactive material to the Internet, including the ability to incorporate questions with optional evaluation. Obvious applications would include tests, surveys, and training materials. In addition to the new functionality, design and underlying technology, the product is specifically aimed at helping consultants make money.

While many organizations have a need to circulate information via the Web to a specific group of users, being able to confirm this information is actually understood by those users poses new challenges. viaMedia addresses this need without requiring the consultant to be technical or provide the entire associated infrastructure.

"It's critical to support a Consultant's existing business model; it's all about using technology to bring increased value - not turn consultant into resellers", said Ray Murphy, President of Blackstone.

Designed to meet IMS specifications means any module created in viaMedia will run in any other player that follows this international standard. "This goes way beyond XML. It's a comprehensive standard that every customer will insist on to ensure that whatever modules they create will be compatible with other and future systems".

A separate Authoring tool allows a consultant to maintain control of the process while using existing resources to build content. Although the product is designed to help in specific phases of an engagement, not all consulting firms stay involved during all the phases.

Providing value across the spectrum, Blackstone positioned the new viaMedia in four unique ways.

• Data collection - surveys and assessments, a great opportunity to take an automated process phase and turn it into a renewable revenue stream.
• Implementation - viaMedia's framework is designed to bring significant value in the rollout of new solutions or managing the change process. The ability to reuse existing content, and combine them with new pages a trivial exercise. Unlike technology that requires high technical competency, viamedia is a "One click, drag and drop experience".
• No IT infrastructure is required - Blackstone provides a hosted environment. Since the core market is small to medium size consulting firms, offering a complete turnkey IT service allows consultants to bid and deliver project with online resource requirements - previously out of their reach.
• A revised pricing strategy aimed to support consulting engagements, with monthly licensing options that span multiple companies provide the ultimate in flexibility. Blackstone's goal is to have consultants make money on their first project and every engagement thereafter.

"We are exited to be able to offer solutions specifically designed for consulting professionals. It's always fun helping people drive revenue, in addition to just saving money" said Mr. Murphy.

As President Ray Murphy stated "While we are not abandoning our ties to the Education space, and our customer base will have a seamless upgrade path to our re-invented viaMedia. The new product, along with the experience of our new executive management team, will allow us to build on our experience of learning and teaching, applied to mid tier companies throughout North America."

Details on the new version of viaMedia will be communicated at a future date.

As Shana Corporation was acquired by FileNET Corporation in April 2003 both Don and John Murphy, founders of Shana, have teamed up with Ray Murphy. Both Don and John bring over 18 year of experience in the software industry, to now provide a significant boost to the nine year old Blackstone organization.

Don Murphy will join Blackstone as VP. Business Development. Murphy says "This is a great opportunity to take the lesson learned over the last 18 years and apply them at Blackstone. The success of the Shana acquisition has taught us what we have done well and where we could have done better".

John Murphy who spent 18 years at Shana as VP Sales and Marketing joins Blackstone and continues in the role of VP Sales and Marketing. I'm looking forward to having a lot of fun at Blackstone", said John. "Based on the strength, flexibility and stability of the viaMedia Product line I hope to help drive significant growth in the first year and reposition the company to take advantage of opportunities in the Corporate Sector."

Still located in Edmonton Alberta, Blackstone President Ray Murphy said, "this new location is better suited for growth and fosters a great atmosphere for software development work. We are committed to helping build Edmonton and can benefit from the pools of highly educated resources coming out of Edmonton institutions, other hi-tech companies and other locations throughout Alberta". To see our new address, go to the Contact section.

"This is an aggressive move as the split will leave the existing architecture selling in China while the new framework will be targeted to North America." said Ray Murphy, Blackstone President.

"This is no trivial task" said CTO Ken Prat, " the goal is to have our team rewrite the entire viaMedia product line in less than 12 months — the benefits will be well worth it since the maintainability, scalability and our plans for integration are all well supported by this framework.

A more targeted release date was not disclosed.

Although details of the Project are to be announced by ECL at an undisclosed date, Chief Architect Robert Buffel commented, "By taking on this new product we will have the opportunity to further our testing on core Blackstone technology as well as provided a more well-rounded product line for ECL".

Blackstone has also developed for ECL the 8 in 1 dictionary, and world renowned Pronunciation Power1 and Pronunciation Power 2. This entire suite of products helps those learning English as a second language master proper English enunciation.

Blackstone relationship with EleNet Corporation saw it renew the distribution rights for the viaMedia product line throughout China.

It is our hope that Mr. Cheng, the EleNet President, will position viaMedia as the tool of choice for class content and delivery throughout Beijing and eventually throughout China.' said Blackstone President Ray Murphy. "With over one million schools in China this is a very exciting play".