Speedera, a leading provider of content delivery services and hosting services over distributed networks, jointly announced with Macromedia the availability of a new live version of Flash Video Streaming Service. Macromedia has of late extended its offering of "on demand" tools, providing pay-as-you-go plans, for example, to small and medium-sized businesses wishing to use the company's rich development tools in meetings. This latest initiative provides live video versions of Macromedia Flash Video Streaming Service. Speedera will power the service and distribute it through its on-demand server infrastructure criss-crossing the globe. Speedera has collaborated with leading design firms to offer free and discounted version of the service, in order to boost interest.

Enterprises and other organizations are the target customers for the new live version of FVSS. Using Macromedia's Flash Communication Server MX plugged into Speedera's distributed on-demand network, will serve as the main delivery conduit. Possible uses of the offering include live broadcasts of corporate communications events and shareholder meetings. On the education front, the service is one way to offer distance learning. In addition, with the rich, dynamic media capabilities that Flash provides, it could be used to deliver live entertainment events.

Chris Hock, director of product management, Macromedia, commented on various uses that customers can make from the live version of Flash. "Macromedia Flash enables companies to deliver expressive, streaming content that redefines how users can interact with video." He said, adding, "Speedera has a proven track record of handling Flash and can scale to manage massive throughput, while providing the reporting tools to enable marketers and IT staffers to analyze the results. Our relationship with Speedera is key to helping further the success of Flash video. The company's reputation and ability to work with large enterprise customers speaks for itself."

The benefits of live, real-time streaming Flash video centers around the convenience offered by a product that does not require setting up massive servers that have to be constantly monitored to allow free data transmissions. Speedera leverages its network of distributed servers - their top-of-the-line servers guarantee that video and network links will not be overtaxed by high traffic. There is likewise no need to set up any kind of equipment, as it is  fed through Speedera's network. Other features that are comparatively minor, but important to individual users nonetheless, include automatic tracking, and report generation at the touch of a button. And the initiation of services with very little lag time between when a user clicks "play," for example, and the start of a video stream.

Speedera's president and CEO Ajit Gupta, noted that the technology is already generating major shifts in streaming media deployment over the Web. He said,  "Flash video enables companies to provide a seamless experience across a broad range of desktop platforms. Now developers can create and broadcast remarkably rich, live content that is already spurring a revolution in the use of streaming media on the web." Gupta further added that the initiative has been initiated at a strategic time since " the demand for Flash video has ramped sharply."

Macromedia's partnership with Speedera is new, but the relationship between them is an established one. Macromedia is familiar with the quality and scope of its partner's network. Speedera has long been relied upon to deliver Macromedia Flash Player throughout the world.