A rchive Date
[ 07-12-2000 ]
Category
[ Information Technologies ]
sub-Categoy
[ Microsoft ]
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[http://www.microsoft.com/Windows/windowsmedia/en/content_provider/Broadband.asp
Join the Broadband Revolution
The broadband revolution is on. Already, millions of users have fast access to the Internet through their workplace or educational institution. At the same time, DSL and cable modem connections are in increasing demand by home consumers.
These high-bandwidth users expect more from the Web. They don't want to just read about sports -- they want to see the highlights. They don't want to just buy a CD -- they want to preview it in CD-quality. And they're already looking for Web sites where they can download their rental movies and not have to leave the house.
On Your Marks, Get Set, Stream!
Just as in the early days of the Internet, there is an opportunity for early entrants to take the lead by meeting customer demand before the market is flooded with contenders. Windows Media™ is the platform that can help you bring your broadband digital media solution to market. This guide will tell you how to get started in a cost-effective manner. Remember, with Windows Media there are no per-stream fees to pay, unlike other streaming technologies.
What is Broadband Multimedia?
Broadband multimedia is audio or video that is encoded, or prepared for the Internet, at speeds that take advantage of broadband connections. For near CD-quality audio, this speed is 64 kbps (kilobits per second), which is about twice the speed of a typical modem. For video, the speed is 100 kbps and higher.
With Windows Media you can watch full-screen, TV-like video at 300 kbps and higher. As an example, the Windows Media.com Broadband Guide features audio starting at 64 kbps and video at both 100 kbps and 300 kbps.
We recommend that you encode at both rates, since broadband connection speeds vary. Some users have connections that are 1 Mbps (1000 kbps) and higher, but these are not as common. Windows Media 4.1 scales from 20 kbps to 5 Mbps.
How Do I Get Started?
First decide what you want to do yourself and what services you'd like to outsource (like encoding or hosting). For a list of third-party service providers who are members of the Windows Media Service Provider program, see Windows Media Service Providers.
After your content is ready, sign up for the Windows Media Program for Content Providers so we can gather important contact information and pointers to your content. Remember to indicate that you have broadband content available.
Encoding Content for Broadband
You can either encode your multimedia content yourself or hire someone to do it for you. Encoding instructions are available at the MSDN Online Developer Center .
For a list of third-party service providers who are members of the Windows Media Service Provider program, see Windows Media Service Providers. For information about joining the Service Provider program, see Windows Media Business Center
The Microsoft encoding tools are free for download at the MSDN Online Developer Center . (Like all Internet use, connect-time charges may apply while downloading.)
Content Distribution
Once your content is encoded, you can provide it to end users by hosting it on a Windows Media server. Again, you can either do this yourself or you can hire someone to do it for you. Either way, Microsoft does not charge a per-stream license fee.
Microsoft has four partners providing hosting services for Windows Media content. All of these companies have exceptional network architectures tied directly into several epicenters on the Internet backbone to ensure the best connectivity for your content users. Most of these content distribution partners use so-called "edge distribution" that places copies of Windows Media content all around the Internet, so the digital media takes the most direct and efficient path to the end user, providing fast and scalable content delivery. Please contact the content distribution companies to learn more.
Content Distribution Partners
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