Flash video is providing media savvy companies a low cost, low maintenance way of giving visually dazzling Web experiences to their audience. Leading companies including SYS-CON Media, ABC News, Comcast, National Geographic, Target Stores and CNET, are using VitalStream, a global content delivery network and streaming media solutions provider, to bring Macromedia's Flash video streaming technology to life. And according to VitalStream, it has seen continued growth and adoption of its services for Flash video streaming.

Chris Hock, Macromedia's director of product management - whose Exclusive Q & A with MX Developer's Journal appears in the next issue - explained Flash's appeal, "Companies that want their media to be available to the widest possible audience with the best possible experience are rapidly moving to Flash video. Media and entertainment companies, advertisers, agencies, retailers, and enterprises are taking advantage of the low hassle, seamless, and interactive nature of Flash to deliver extremely compelling web video experiences. As an early partner with Macromedia in delivering the Flash Video Streaming Service, VitalStream leads the way in guiding many customers through their first Flash video deployments with their innovative software and services."

Philip N. Kaplan, VitalStream president and CEO, said, "In 2003, VitalStream was the first service provider to see the potential for Flash as a ubiquitous format for delivering streaming video. In 2004 we saw rapid adoption of our services for Flash. We expect 2005 to be a breakout year for Flash video streaming and intend to bolster our leadership position in the global market by continuing to develop innovative software, like MediaOps SDK, that solve the real-world business needs of VitalStream customers."

An innovator, VitalStream recently teamed with Keynote Systems to develop the first independent, third-party solution for monitoring the quality of Flash video streams with measurement agents distributed throughout Europe, Japan and the United States.

While other streaming service providers are working on first generation products for Flash, VitalStream is developing its third generation console expected to be available in the first half of 2005. The third-generation platform will include new features aimed at bolstering VitalStream's leadership position in the Flash video streaming marketplace.

VitalStream is creating a new reporting system, a "reporting dashboard," that will provide VitalStream customers with fast, comprehensive and convenient reports. To help its customers meet worldwide demand for Flash video, VitalStream is continuously upgrading its network and adding capacity, and will continue to add international network capacity.

VitalStream will be showcasing its latest Flash-related offerings at, FlashForward2005 on April 6-8, 2005 in San Francisco and NAB2005 on April 16-21 in Las Vegas. VitalStream's full tradeshow schedule can be found at http://www.vitalstream.com/news/tradeshows.html.