Web graphics software maker Macromedia (Quote) is padding
its Flash Video Streaming Service with the help of a new provider.
The company struck a deal with Mirror Image today to deliver
Macromedia's live and on-demand streaming media services across its
branded Content Access Point (CAP) network. The enrollment service lets
content publishers of all experience levels send Flash video to online
users via a hosted service instead of clogging up their own networks.
The platform requires Flash Video Exporter for Flash MX Professional
2004 and lets a subscriber upload video files through a browser or FTP
(define).
Overall, Macromedia professes Flash video content as the better
end-user experience because it can allow for interaction with the
content, the ability to synchronize the video to other site elements,
and play back within the browser -- not through a third-party player.
With the increased number of broadband users, Macromedia said it sees
real momentum for its products, considering the video is viewable using a
simple Flash player. In a recent survey of Web professionals, Macromedia
found the majority are already planning to add video to their sites: 70
percent want to use Dreamweaver to embed Flash video on the sites, and
74 percent want to build interactive video applications with Flash MX
Professional 2004.
"As Flash video continues to gain rapid adoption, Mirror Image
customers now have access to audiences worldwide without the burden and
cost of setting up and maintaining their own streaming server hardware
and network," Chris Hock, Macromedia director of product management said in a statement.
Woburn, Mass.-based Mirror Image makes the third such partner for
Macromedia's Flash Video Streaming Service. Macromedia debuted
the service in a "Lite" version back in December 2003 with the help
of streaming media provider VitalStream and followed it up a year later
with a full rollout by adding content network Speedera's services to the
mix.
Mirror Image says its value-add includes a customizable player,
automatic advertisement insertion into rich media, video playlist
generation and seamless system implementation.
"As an increasing number of our advertising, media and entertainment
customers are moving to integrate streaming video to dramatically
increase online interaction with their end users, partnering with
Macromedia was a natural step," Jeffrey Schutzman, vice president of
global sales and marketing for Mirror Image, said in a statement. "Mirror
Image's partnership with Macromedia allows us to continue providing a
complete solution for streaming video and content delivery."
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