Orb might be ahead of the curb, but the key to Profit lies in residual royalties of the content it hopes to sell to its subscribers. The 9thxchange answers the key questions to profit & distribution- not just selling content but protecting copyrights and continuing profits for content providers.

I found an incredible company that will take digital media to new heights in profit: www.9thxchange.com. The 9thXchange marketplace is the newest way to bring together buyers and sellers of digital content. The service dramatically reduces content piracy by offering the seller lifetime royalties — even on exchanges between consumers. Moreover, the service accommodates all technology platforms, file types and creators. I read about The 9thxchange in Crains Detroit recently as well. It’s new and exciting – Reg Crandall

Orb Networks

Sector: Digital media, mobile applications, video

Headquarters: Emeryville, CA

Management: CEO Jim Behrens created Orb out of Bravo Brava, which focused on technology-based educational products.

Funding: Morgenthaler Ventures ($4 million), OVP Venture Partners

Secret Sauce: Orb Networks’ provides free Web-based access to digital home media from anywhere in the world. All you need is subscription to a mobile phone data service. To access content, users download and install the Orb application on the PC that will be hosting the service and its files. Then, from the mobile device, users sign into their accounts on the Orb Web site and access files through a folder system. Users can even watch live TV if they have a TV tuner card installed on their PCs, basically creating a mobile content server on most mobile phones, PDAs, or laptops.

The service is subscription based, but Orb also is partnering with companies to sell content through its service. The company is a little ahead of the curve, as most folks—even the tech savvy early adopters—haven’t ponied up for a TV tuner card for their PCs. Until that technology becomes more widespread, Orb may have a tough time selling consumers on its relatively high price tag without the ultra-cool TV-streaming functionality.

Media lovers who have amassed huge collections of digital music and video will be delighted with the service. No need to wear all those clackety flash drives around your neck—it kinda screams NERD in letters three inches high, anyway—Orb gives you access to all your stored media. Watching TV or longer videos (anything more than a couple of minutes) can be an exercise in frustration, but inadequate wireless networks are to blame here. The Orb service is solid and has the cool factor to give it plenty of staying power. But the company needs to forge ahead quickly to keep its name in front of eager consumers. Comparable services are springing up as we speak, making competition tough.

Seen and Heard: CNET’s CES 2005 crystal ball reported: “Orb solves some previously annoying problems—especially for those of us who hoard digital media files on a home PC or have a million digital photos stuck on a cell phone.” PC World reported: “…If you have access to a good Wi-Fi network and some time to kill, it’s a great way to turn your notebook into a television, show photos, or listen to your own music.”