Media

What is Streaming Media?

Streaming Media makes CD-quality audio and near-broadcast-quality video available in real time to homes, businesses and PDAs worldwide, effectively changing the way we conduct meetings, experience news, listen to the radio and watch movies. There is no file to download or take up space on the user's hard drive, resulting in a streamlined format that allows truly interactive, on-demand media.

With streaming media, the beginning of the file is downloaded and begins playing while the rest of the file is downloading. This alleviates the aggravation of waiting minutes, or even hours, for audio or video files to download. Video and audio can now be experienced as they are happening, allowing for virtual meetings, international broadcasts and free or pay-per-stream live events. Streaming media can also be used to transmit pre-recorded media files on demand from a server.

Inroads offers Real Media streaming capability for our Linux and Windows customers and Windows Media streaming for our Windows customers.

Microsoft Windows Media

Windows Media, Microsoft's set of digital media components and features for personal computers and consumer appliances, can deliver high-quality digital media across the Internet and corporate intranets. Its innovative digital media platform enables you to develop powerful applications, create high-quality multimedia content and reliably distribute your content. Microsoft's incorporation of Windows Media Player into the Windows operating system creates a wide user base for this format.

Real Media

With the release of the first RealPlayer in 1995, RealNetworks became one of the true innovators of streaming media. The current versions of the widely-used RealPlayer, RealServer and RealJukebox incorporate SMIL and Macromedia Flash to create a more interactive user experience.

Why would I need this product feature?

This interactive feature provides visitors coming to your site the ability to listen to audio clips or view video clips without having to wait for extended periods of time. Analyst research shows that sites with sound and video help maintain the viewer's attention for a longer period of time, keeping them within your website.

For more information about the technical side of setting up Real Media files, key features and functionality, please visit Real.com.

Customers can purchase additional streaming with their suggested hosting plan in the following increments:

Real / Windows Media - 5 Additional Streams $25.00/month + $35.00 setup fee
Real / Windows Media - 10 Additional Streams $50.00/month + $35.00 setup fee
Real / Windows Media - 15 Additional Streams $75.00/month + $35.00 setup fee
Real / Windows Media - 20 Additional Streams $100.00/month + $35.00 setup fee