Bytemobile has introduced a new video optimisation solution that significantly reduces data traffic across mobile broadband networks.

"The media optimisation application of the Media Fidelity Suite acts as a transparent video proxy to minimise congestion situations and significantly reduce video traffic load on wireless networks," Stacey Infantino, a Bytemobile spokesperson told IT Examiner. "The design philosophy behind the optimsation (concept) is to reduce video traffic while minimally impacting user experience. The server-based [software] does not require any special client, and it interoperates with standard Adobe Flash players," said Infantino.

Infantino explained that Bytemobile improved user experience when wireless bandwith was at, or below encoded video rate.

"In such conditions, users would typically experience interrupted video play while the player wait for its buffer to fill. The media optimisation application minimises such conditions by dynamically adjusting video rate to available network bandwidth, thus improving overall user experience," added Infantino.

According to Bytemobile, wireless laptop connectivity generates the majority of network data traffic, with figures as high as 90 per cent reported on 3G networks. In addition, consumers are increasingly accessing video downloads and multimedia streams, with video already surpassing web browsing as the dominate form of traffic over some networks.

"Bytemobile's media optimisation solution enables operators to stay ahead of escalating video traffic within the limits and spectrum of their existing wireless network and minimises expensive network expansions," said Adrian Hall, Bytemobile's chief marketing officer. "As a result, the application helps operators to utilise their network infrastructure more efficiently and reduce capital expenditures while enabling them to provide smoother video play to their customers."

As IT Examiner previously reported, online streaming is a lucrative medium that has rapidly increased in popularity. For example, Akamai, a Massachusetts-based company, has successfully marketed a bufferless Flash streaming service to prominent clients like Hulu.

Akamai apparently avoids slowdowns and quality degradations by sending multiple copies of the same stream over different routes. The application forms a single, optimal thread after determining the connection speed of a user. Akamai is then able to compensate for abrupt slowdowns by automatically shifting to a lower-quality stream, which allows for seamless and uninterrupted viewing.

An Akamai representative told IT Examiner that companies like Hulu could very well represent the future of online streaming, as the service successfully shields consumers from tedious back-end load-balancing and annoying buffering delays.

Akamai, which operates a network of 34,000 servers in 70 countries, offers support for Apple Quicktime, Microsoft Windows Media, Real Systems G2 and Adobe Flash Streaming. The firm also provides hosts with detailed reports on streams and visitors, including average time played, player version and geographic location. X

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