This engine, developed by the Bangalore-based Nashsoft is a software which can compress audio and video files and can download and decompress them about 15 times faster than the MP3 format, according to Depinder Chaudhary, GM, content, ZeeNext.com.

What this means for ZeeNext is that the portal can actually feature moving images with audio with just a marginal increase in the bandwidth currently required for text and graphics.

The portal can now feature ad films, chat shows-these audio and video files will use the Nashsoft engine for its compression and decompression features."We have just signed a revenue sharing deal with Nashsoft and will have exclusive rights over the engine for at least the next three months" says Chaudhry.

ZeeNext is also currently in talks with Monster.com, the international recruitment portal which is trying to enter the Indian Internet space. Chaudhary says that he is in talks with multiple portals in a variety of spaces including health, finance, travel and other career portals to offer the ZeeNext customer variety.

ZeeNext is also in talks with publishing houses like Magna and magazines like Car and Bike for content aggregation.

Chaudhary also said that the portal was in the process of designing a branded interactive celebrity show for which it had already taken up studio space in Mumbai. Utilising the Nashsoft engine ZeeNext will be able to feature celebrity talks whilst transmitting video as well.

ZeeNext also features the Unimobile technology which allows instant messaging between PCs and wireless devices globally. The portal has also introduced a digital diary on its site.

Chaudhry said that ZeeNext had plans of launching a major media blitz which involved advertising in terms of TV spots as well as hoardings shortly.The site features 49 channels currently has received about 10 million page views since its launch last month, according to Chaudhry.