Agreement with Microsoft

Posted: 16/03/2016

Forbidden Technologies plc (AIM: FBT), the AIM-quoted owner and developer of Forscene (the market-leading cloud video platform), Captevate (the consumer video editor), and eva (the video social network), is pleased to announce it has agreed a deal with Microsoft to enable the US corporation to sell Forscene through its Azure Marketplace. Azure is Microsoft’s flagship cloud computing offering and Azure Marketplace is the associated online store providing pre-configured software applications, developer services and data for use on the platform.

Media companies are an important vertical for Azure, with thousands of businesses in the space relying on the platform for their cloud computing needs worldwide. As a result of the agreement, Microsoft will now be able to offer its current and prospective clients a true cloud-based, feature-rich video post-production platform for the first time.

‘Speed to market’ of content is a key competitive advantage for users of Forscene and its deployment on Microsoft Azure will deliver even greater efficiency gains for users through removing the need for ‘on premise’ hardware.

In line with Forbidden’s focus on driving sales growth, the agreement provides the Company with access to Microsoft’s substantial sales force and a new sales channel. It also represents further, significant validation of the technology.

Forbidden anticipates that the Forscene sales team will provide Microsoft’s international sales team with training in the coming months.

Nicole Herskowitz, Senior Director Product Marketing at Microsoft Corp, said:

“Performance is non-negotiable for our customers, and is critical to the success of their cloud-driven businesses. The addition of Forbidden Technologies to the Microsoft Azure Marketplace will help maximize application performance, and offer customers added choice and flexibility in how they build their cloud strategies over the next several years.”

Jason Cowan, Business Development Director at Forbidden Technologies, said:

“Our clients and prospects have been crying out for the ability to set up and run their own Azure – Forscene solution. It’s difficult to overstate the impact this new workflow could have on rapid turn around productions. As professional media companies continue their shift away from high capital expenditure workflows to variable cost workflows, Forbidden’s partnership with Microsoft positions us perfectly to meet a variety of customer needs.”

Aziz Musa, CEO of Forbidden Technologies, said:

“Not only is this agreement a further validation of the efficacy of our technology, it’s an important milestone as we further expand our sales apparatus. Whilst we expect to generate some income directly from this agreement in 2016, we anticipate its financial impact being most acutely seen from 2017.”

Enquiries:

Forbidden Technologies plc
Stephen Streater, Chairman
Aziz Musa, Chief Executive
Tel: +44 (0)20 8879 7245

Allenby Capital Limited (Nominated Adviser and Broker)
Nick Naylor
John Depasquale
Richard Short
Katrina Perez
Tel: +44 (0)20 3328 5656

Redleaf Communications (Financial PR Adviser)
Rebecca Sanders-Hewett
David Ion
Susie Hudson
Tel: +44 (0)20 7382 4730
Email: forbidden@redleafpr.com

About Forbidden Technologies plc

Forbidden Technologies plc (AIM: FBT, www.forbidden.co.uk) floated in February 2000.

The Company develops and markets a powerful cloud video platform, which is used by broadcasters, in professional web video, in education and by consumers. The Company platform is one of the world’s most advanced browser-based and mobile platforms, which underpins Forscene in professional markets, its eva video social network and its new consumer video editor, Captevate.

Websites:
www.forbidden.co.uk
www.forscene.com
www.eva.co
www.captevate.com

Social media:
www.facebook.com/FORscene
www.plus.google.com/+Forscenepro/posts
www.linkedin.com/company/forscene
www.twitter.com/forscenepro
www.youtube.com/user/ForsceneTraining