According to CISCO Research, since the end of 2015 mobile video represents more than 66 percent of the world’s mobile data traffic! Besides, Internet video consumption in the context of whole internet traffic increased from 40 percent in 2012 to 62 percent in 2015. Quite a good dynamics, isn’t it? Don’t you want to launch a new video media platform or the next “Netflix” giant yet?
Well, even if your ambitions are a little bit lower, you have certainly done in-depth research on how to live stream your videos without any sudden connection problems or how to have your video-on-demand catalogue always ready to be streamed at a high-quality level. Sure, YouTube or Vimeo work well, but it’s obvious that if your business offers some specific video streaming as a core service, these platforms are not a good fit for you at all. In this article, we will try to catch this difference and understand whether you need an individually crafted video streaming solution like Wowza or not.
First of all, how does video streaming work?
Streaming is a process of real time transmission of any media files from a server to the audience without the direct transfer of the whole files. When you are watching your series on Netflix or anywhere else, Content Delivery Networks (also known as CDN) or just the main server don’t upload a full-size file for you, but give you a constant flow of the content. It means, that your online video watching looks rather like watching a train – some train wagon appears for a while and then disappears to be replaced by the next one.
Using the encoder and codecs themselves (e.g. h.264 video codec) your video content may be compressed and transmitted faster, as well, as stored safely on the servers.
When do businesses need custom video streaming servers?
That’s how we smoothly came to the answers. Using an independent video server (Wowza, Flussonic, Evostream or any other) you can customize video streaming experience for your audience. Depending on your specific business needs, video streaming server developers can set up your individual streaming architecture to fit your mobile app interface, website UI features or security demands.
For example, let’s compare Wowza or Flussonic functionality with YouTube/Vimeo in the context of different business needs.
Live Broadcasting
If your business uses broadcasting services, then YouTube functionality is definitely not enough just because the technical options and opportunities it offers. Live Streaming feature on YouTube is still at Beta stage and there are too many standard testing issues to use it as your reliable business tool.
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Unlike YouTube, Wowza was developed not as a video hosting for entertainment needs, but as a professional video streaming services complex. Wowza uses four streaming protocols (HTTP, RTMP, RTSP, RTP) while YouTube uses only HTTP protocol. This makes Wowza a much more flexible and stable solution that can be customized for specific purposes.
Besides a wide technical arsenal, Wowza just offers wider opportunities, like video chatting for users during the streaming session, time-shifted playback, pay-per-view metrics or models and smart targeted advertising insertion.
Privacy
Another thing is privacy. When you are oriented on giving special content to a special audience, you just can’t use traditional video hosting functional. Let’s take a look at the webinar industry. The webinar should be broadcasted only to your customers, without the ability to be caught by any unpaid spectators. Using Wowza or Flussonic video streaming services, you can protect your broadcasting using HLS encryption and advanced stream security settings.
The Specifics of Content
Each hosting provider has its own rules and limitations. Depending on the specifics of your content, you may just not pass the guidelines because of some corporate rules of the hosting. Using a customizable video streaming server you are not limited by any restrictions, unless it is of illegal content.
Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, and 360 Broadcasting
New tech era is coming! Oculus Rift release took place a week ago and struck the video market. Belarusian MSQRD App owners made a loud deal and sold the company to the Facebook. Well, it seems that our video experience will literally surround us! Wowza Technology allows you to stream 360 video and virtual reality content offering incredible video experience in 4K resolution. Say it out loud to yourself – real time 360 video streaming. Incredible!
Launching a video streaming startup? Contact us to get expert advice.
Сomplete Mobile Streaming Experience
Wowza Streaming Engine is fully mobile compatible. There is a standard Wowza GoCoder mobile app that encodes and broadcasts live events in ultimate high definition quality (up to 4K) in real time. Need your own branded video broadcasting mobile app? Wowza is an open source customizable solution, so you can hire video streaming development team and create your own mobile streaming app connected to Wowza Streaming Engine or Wowza Streaming Cloud. YouTube? Maybe one day, but not today.
So what do we have?
Frankly, it is not correсt even to compare these categories as they’re very different, but it is necessary to show in which cases YouTube, Vimeo, and Dailymotion cannot serve your business. And to recap all the benefits of custom video streaming solutions, take a look at the infographic below.
Want to discover more videostreaming opportunities for your business? Contact us!
