Archive notice: This article was originally published on September 9, 2010. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
The next generation of Flash technology continues to drive innovation in delivering high-quality video experiences on the web. At IBC, Adobe announced the Flash Media Server 4 product family for video streaming and real-time communication.
The solution is available in three versions: Flash Media Streaming Server 4, Flash Media Interactive Server 4 and Flash Media Enterprise Server 4. These combine maximum reach with minimum network load by delivering content via peer-assisted networking. Flash Media Server technology is intended to enable providers to create and deliver high-quality media experiences in a network-efficient and cost-effective manner, thereby reaching the broadest possible audience.
The Adobe Flash Media Server 4 product family includes solutions for companies of every size – from small and medium-sized providers through to use in large enterprises. All versions of Adobe Flash Media Server 4 make use the advantages of 64-bit operating systems. These provide virtually unlimited address spaces for increasing caching capacity, improved delivery of interactive services and higher quality for these services.
With Adobe Flash Media Streaming Server 4, small and medium-sized customers can implement high-quality live and on-demand streaming of content quickly and easily on a wide range of platforms and services, including content protection and optimal playback.
Adobe Flash Media Interactive Server 4 enables secure, scalable live and on-demand playback together with real-time and social-media applications. Through the new IP Multicast and Live Packaging with HTTP Dynamic Streaming, which provides improved playback quality across a broad spectrum of platforms and devices, customers now benefit from optimised network utilisation.
Building on the capabilities of Flash Media Streaming Server and Flash Media Interactive Server, Adobe Flash Media Enterprise Server 4 enables companies to implement video communication and collaboration through a new software approach for large-scale video streaming, as well as deployment in social applications on a wide range of screens. The new RTMFP technology reduces bandwidth requirements without network upgrades by using connected Adobe Flash Player clients to deliver data in real time across the network. This reduces costs and enables more efficient network management. Customers can use IP multicast or peer-to-peer delivery independently or combined as Multicast Fusion, thereby further increasing capacity and quality within private and public networks.
