CDN Strategy Blog

On Friday evening Gerard from Initio dbk called that our iPad 3G’s were finally in store, in Bremen (Germany). So we had a great trip on the Autobahn. 250KM/h (155MPH) :) The iPad is a wonderful and addictive device. It is great for video. We run some test live streams in our lab (shielded off from the internet) so I actually could watch the World Soccer Championship today live in my garden. Netherlands vs Slovakia. We won!

Anyway, the short demo video below demonstrates how easy it is to stream live and vod video to mobile devices. The fact that we can stream to an iPad isn’t that exciting though. What is exciting is that our CDN solution is 100% web-based controlled…

With VideoExchange, CDN operators can manage and control the entire CDN on any device with a browser. Setup servers, manage geo IP networks, provision accounts, optimize routing, monitor the CDN status and monitor the CDN servers. All in the palm of your hand, in the train, on the road, in your garden, anywhere where you can get online through 3G or WiFi. That is extremely powerful compared to other CDNs that need to be controlled from a NOC control room by many controllers, through various screens, terminals and complex applications.

Content owners can manage their content, setup live streams, see statistics and reports, generate URL’s and previews, all in a few clicks. Because the VideoExchange interface is 100% AJAX, it runs in any browser on any device: no Flash needed. Can you  manage your entire CDN content account from your iPad?

Short demo video

View with iPhone, iPad, QuickTime X (HTTP streaming)

View in Flash (any PC or Mac with Flash, RTMP streaming)

View in Silverlight (any PC or Mac with Silverlight, Smooth Streaming)

The demo is limited in showing how you can generate previews and embed codes for live and vod streaming to iPads. Feel free to contact my office for a full demo account so you can see for yourself that you can now operate and manage a CDN from your iPad, on the go.