Adobe Systems has confirmed that it will dramatically cut the price of its server software for streaming video over the Web.
Flash Media Server 3, which is set for release in January in Australia, will now come in two versions. Flash Media Streaming Server is estimated to cost AU$1,399, and Flash Media Interactive Server will cost AU$5,700.
With the current version, Adobe sells its Media Server for between US$4,500 and US$45,000.
The company is lowering prices in response to customer requests, said Kevin Towes, product manager for Adobe Media Server. "What we've been hearing is that the cost of streaming video over progressive download is the barrier," he said.
The new server is also designed to cut the cost of deploying streaming video with the ability to better utilise a server's network card, he said. A typical media server with a 1 GB network card could serve about 2,000 people.
Adobe has also released a version of its Flash Player yesterday that supports the high definition video standard H.264.
Although Flash is widely used on the Internet for streaming video, it is facing growing competition from Microsoft and its Silverlight plug-in, which is going after the same digital media market.
Suzanne Tindal from ZDNet Australia contributed to this article
"Although Flash is widely used on the Internet for streaming video, it is facing growing competition from Microsoft and its Silverlight plug-in, which is going after the same digital media market."
I fail to see the competition!
Microsofts total lack of web developer support (with IE6 and IE7) continues to leave a sour taste in the mouths of web developers.
The only houses I know utilising Silverlight are merely offering the solution to .NET companies who aren't open to using other technologies or require a higher level of integration.
Other than that, it's just another buzz word in the wind.
The FMS price drop is a much welcomed change. I know i'll be in line to get one today :D