When Windows Media Player 9 Series connects to a server running Windows Media Services 9 Series, broadband users can benefit from the Fast Streaming technologies of Windows Media 9 Series providing an instant-on/always on playback experience. Windows Media 9 Series Fast Streaming consists of three (3) new technologies:

• Fast Start - Fast Start delivers eliminates buffering time whether playing a single piece of content, or switching seamlessly between on-demand clips or broadcast channels to deliver to users an instant-on playback experience.

• Fast Cache - Communicating with the Windows Media 9 Series server, Windows Media Player caches the stream as far in advance as the network connection will allow, reducing the likelihood of an interruption in play caused by network issues.

• Fast Reconnect - Windows Media Player 9 Series automatically restores live or on-demand connections if it is disconnected during a broadcast instead of simply displaying an error and quitting. Combined with the Fast Cache technology, most users will not even know their player was disconnected from the server.