Video interest sparks Forbidden share leap

Forbidden Technologies' shares jumped 51 per cent today as it demonstrated its new video technology.

The company claims that it has developed compression technology that will allow it to transmit high-quality full-frame video across a standard 56K modem. Its shares on AIM, where it listed in February of last year, jumped to 86p by 14:30 (GMT). The demonstration on the company website http://www.forbidden.co.uk/videos/ is a self-promotion full-frame video running at 25 frames per second at 41kbs. The standard frame speed for the internet has been 8 kbs, which many viewers have found unsatisfactory. Forbidden claims that its data compression has been improving at a rate of about 2.5 per cent per week since September. Its technology will currently allow websites with up to 50,000 users to play short, simple videos. Forbidden is continuing to develop its technology and its annual results are due soon.