(Telecompaper) Seven leading internet companies have formed the Alliance for Open Media, an open-source project to develop next-generation media formats and codecs. The founding members are Amazon, Cisco, Google, Intel, Microsoft, Mozilla and Netflix. The Alliance's initial focus is to create an open, royalty-free video codec. Each member will contribute technology and help develop binding specifications for the media format, content encryption and adaptive streaming. A non-profit joint development foundation has been set up to manage the work. The alliance said the new codec aims to be interoperable and open; optimized for the web; scalable to any modern device at any bandwidth; designed with a low computational footprint and optimized for hardware; capable of consistent, highest-quality, real-time video delivery; and flexible for both commercial and non-commercial content, including user-generated content. Additional information on the Alliance, including how to join, will be available later this year.