Viewpoint signs deal with AOL

Viewpoint, a digital-marketing technology and service provider, said it has inked a licensing and distribution deal with America Online. Under the deal, AOL will use Viewpoint's media player to provide customers with rich media, including interactive 3D, Flash, character animation, video and audio. Viewpoint said AOL will pay the company annual license fees, but financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

New York-based Viewpoint, formerly known as MetaCreations, licenses its technologies for e-commerce initiatives. The company has a proprietary compression technology that enables people to view and interact with 3D visuals in real time on any connection speed. Viewpoint's customers include Sony, Nike, Toyota, Dreamworks and Universal Pictures. America Online is a division of AOL Time Warner.