Skype -- Its Major Service Outages Are Inevitable Time & Time Again -- Here's Why

I use Skype. You likely do too. It's a great voice and video chat service.

But, can you depend on it as a business user? I mean, really depend on it? No, you must have back up plans always ... always.

Last week, as many of you know, Skype suffered a massive service interruption -- for 24 hours beginning on December 22. Essentially, the entire service was down. In a bold move that I fully applaud for its complete transparency and accountability, Skype's CIO, Lars Rabbe, wrote a lengthy blog discussing why and how this happened -- here is the link. (As an aside, this is precisely how companies should treat their customers during major periods of service disruption -- i.e., full transparency and accountability. Major brownie points for Skype on this one.)

Obviously, Skype restored its service, but 24 hours is a long long time if Skype is your primary mode of communication. And, is this an isolated event? Can Skype now institute fail-safes to prevent a massive outage yet again? Is that even possible?

From what I understand from one of the foremost experts on these matters -- former SightSpeed CTO (and now Logitech executive) Aron Rosenberg -- the answer is absolutely not. The problem is Skype's particular flavor or P2P upon which its entire systems sits -- i.e., its supernode architecture. By its inherent nature, Skype's form of P2P apparently is always vulnerable to cascading system failure -- and that exposes all of us users to service interruption. This same risk is not inherent in all P2P systems -- again, it is inherent in Skype's particular implementation of P2P. I urge you to read this former guest post by Aron Rosenberg on this subject -- explaining with great precision why this is the case.

This means that all Skype users -- including me -- should have back up plans when this happens again. Unless Aron is wrong -- which I highly doubt -- this eventuality is an inevitability time and time and time again ...

Again, I like Skype and I greatly respect the company. I'm just pointing out something that all Skype users should know ... and something that is not well understood.

It's That Time of Year Again -- No, Not the Holidays -- CES!

Hard to believe that 2010 is nearly a distant memory. And, that can mean only one thing -- the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is nearly here. Ahh, yes, nothing like starting the New Year with your favorite hundreds of thousands friends as you stroll along the Las Vegas Strip for miles ... and miles ... and miles ("is that hotel getting any closer?").

We at Sorenson Media will be at the show in full force -- taking meetings and soaking it all in. There was a time not long ago when CES was not high on our priority list. But, things have changed a lot -- my meeting schedule for three full days is already nearly full. And, among other things, we have very significant consumer-focused stories that we are in a unique position to tell -- i.e., and among others: (1) enabling consumer-focused services (a la Netflix and others) to deliver the highest quality video to consumers on demand or for streaming; and (2) enabling consumer electronics and mobile eco-system companies to offer their customers a seamless video storage and sharing solution (read more about what I have in mind here by clicking this link to my earlier post on the subject).

In any event, meet me in Las Vegas and let's soak up the local culture together. Please send your meeting requests to my attention at bizdev@sorensonmedia.com

And, don't forget to take your flu shot before you go!

Sorenson Media 2010 -- Our Year in Review (Top 10+ List)

It's that time of year -- end of year lists. And, here's mine for my company, Sorenson Media -- our Top Ten list for 2010 (actually, I am throwing in an extra one for no extra charge):

(1) 35 Percent-plus Revenue Growth. Perhaps most importantly, we experienced significant revenue growth across each product line, highlighted by consecutive quarters of more than 35 percent overall revenue growth;

(2) 30 Percent-plus Staff Expansion. I am proud to say that we expanded our team by more than 30 percent during the past year, including expansion across every department, and particularly in enterprise sales to meet the needs of new clients as the demand for our enterprise-level video encoding solutions accelerates (more on that below);

(3) Major New Enterprise Customers. We had several significant new customer “wins” for our portfolio of best-in-class video solutions, including Shutterfly, Go Daddy and Compuware Gomez; expect many more significant announcements in early 2011;

(4) Major New Sorenson Spark Licensees. we also experienced major expansion of our Sorenson Spark codec licensing program, which now includes some of the most recognized and innovative consumer electronics and mobile brands (including LG, Samsung and others);

(5) Released Sorenson Squeeze Server. In November 2010, we launched the first enterprise-grade, cloud-based transcoding service, Sorenson Squeeze Server. This new first-of-its kind enterprise solution offers what we believe to be the highest quality, most scalable, flexible way to encode video quickly and efficiently and with all the inherent benefits of the Cloud (our early customers seem to agree);

(6) Partnered to Create Squeeze Solution Pack. In a continuing relentless effort to out-innovate, we also partnered with recognized cloud leaders RightScale and Aspera to create the first cloud-based software stack for high-volume, scalable video encoding queue management and fast file transfer;

(7) Released Sorenson Squeeze 6.5. In September 2010, we launched Squeeze 6.5, the newest version of our award-winning desktop encoding application and total workflow solution for video professionals and businesses (which featured AVCHD decoding, improved filtering capabilities and the enabling of users to directly publish to Amazon Web Services);

(8) Launched Major Update to Sorenson 360 OVP. As part of our continuing effort to offer the most differentiated and highest quality video encoding solutions, we also launched a new version of our complementary Sorenson 360 online video platform in May 2010 (which featured an enterprise-level content management system that enabled users to directly publish to a host of locations using a dynamic feature set, such as playlist functionality and fully customizable video players);

(9) Announced Video Optimization and Support for Apple’s iPad. We were among the first to optimize for the Apple iPad and other Apple devices on THE day those Apple products were available;

(10) Released New VP8 WebM Support. In May 2010, and at Google’s invitation, we were the first to introduce immediate support for the new VP8/WebM ecosystem, enabling users to encode directly to the WebM format using the VP8 codec; and

(11) Named Winner of Streaming Media European Readers’ Choice Award. In October 2010, after winning the award three years straight in the United States, Sorenson Squeeze was recognized as the top transcoding solution in Europe (a further indication of the power of our brand worldwide).

I am pleased with what we accomplished in 2010 -- but, as cliche as it sounds, we are just getting started. We see 2011 as being an even-more-compelling breakout year, particularly for our Cloud-based transcoding solutions.

Merry Xmas Sonic! Your $720 Million Gift (Thanks to Rovi)

Wow, I didn't see this coming! Rovi (formerly Macromedia) is buying Sonic Solutions for $720 million. This follows Sonic's buy of DivX earlier this year. It truly is the season of giving!

Congratulations to Chairman Bob Doris, Mark Ely and others at Sonic (for whom I previously consulted back in the day); and congratulations (again!) to my good friend Kevin Hell (former CEO of DivX).

Sony Unwraps New Online Music Service (Again)!

Sony has launched its new online music streaming service, which comes bundled on many of its new TVs and other devices. It is available now in the U.K. and Ireland. The company previously tried to "connect" with music lovers with its, uh, "Connect" service. That didn't work. So, will the second time be the charm?

I previously wrote about my predictions in this regard -- click here to read.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Not to Be a Scrooge, BUT ...

... does ANYONE read those generalized Happy Holiday email cards from business contacts? Or do you instinctually delete them like I do (and I am a sentimental guy!)? I mean -- what's the point?

Anyhow, HAPPY HOLIDAYS! (am I guilty too by posting this warm wish in my blog?)

Mobile Live Video -- Early Doubters Are Doubters No More

Several years ago, when I was CEO of consumer video chat leader SightSpeed (acquired by Logitech in 2008), I predicted that mobile live video (both two-way video chat and one-way "see what I'm seeing") would be massive. That consumers and business users alike would eat it up. Here is one of my post about the subject a few years back (click here) -- in it, I described some of the primary use cases that I foreshadowed.

At the time, there were numerous doubters -- in fact, I think it is fair to say that doubters significantly out-numbered believers like me. Well, guess what, they are doubters no more.

Mobile live video is everywhere this holiday season -- in fact, it is used by some of the biggest names in consumer electronics and technology as THE headline and differentiating feature of their products. Consider this -- Apple and its iPhone 4 (Face-Time); Google, its CE partners and Droid phones; Samsung and its Galaxy tablet; and Sony and its new Google TV TVs. And, this is still just the beginning for mobile live video (and overall mobile video for that matter).

Hey doubters -- what do you think now?

As I wrote over four years ago (in another post on the subject), "If you build it, they will come ...."

Top 5 Predictions for Online Video in 2011

Over the weekend, Jeremy Allaire -- a respected colleague in the online video space -- wrote his Top 5 Predictions for Online Video in 2011.

Here is the link -- it is worthy of a read (click here).

Of particular note to me are the following nuggets (on which I give my own added and expanded thoughts below):

(1) "Web video is just getting started" -- I agree 100%, as I have written several times that I believe that online and mobile video are only in the 2nd inning of a 9 inning game; as pervasive as Web video appears to be, it is early, early, early and we ain't seen nothin' yet;

(2) Connected TV platform wars -- once again, I am in violent agreement -- screens two and three (i.e., the living room and the mobile phone) are directly in the lines of sight for many of the largest companies in the world, with billions of dollars at stake; again, it is early, early, early and we are now in a phase of massive experimentation. Here's a critical thing that few talk about -- it is not all about premium TV and motion picture content. The companion to that is private personal video -- i.e., your videos of your families and friends that you don't wish to share publicly on YouTube, etc. A massive opportunity is to store and share your personal videos with the highest quality on any platform (including the living room);

(3) Over-the-Top Internet TV -- I agree with Jeremy, Google TV and other "Internet TV" initiatives will struggle to gain real significant acceptance until those services can significantly deepen their content offerings to include the freshest motion pictures and television programming; and, that won't be easy, since the studios will resist throughout 2011 until they get paid top dollar;

(4) Video Ubiquity -- Every Company is a Video Company -- again, I wholeheartedly agree. Remember, online video is much more engaging than text or still images; that means that businesses of all shapes and sizes will be able to harness the power and unique impact of video to market better, engage more with customers and prospective customers, and simply sell more -- in other words, drive more revenues and better build your businesses. More revenues equals more demand -- every business ultimately will "get" this in the same way they now understand that they all need a Web presence;

(5) Proliferation of Video Standards and Devices -- things will only get significantly more confusing for businesses and video content providers throughout 2011; they will increasingly turn to those companies that can solve those problems (so that they don't have to).

Bottom line -- online video battles will continue in the years ahead -- I like where we sit at Sorenson Media (i.e., right in the heart of it all).

Mobile 2010 -- The Video Year in Review

What happened in mobile and Internet video in 2010? What were the big stories? The trends?

Don't ask me -- watch this video instead (click on this link) -- trust me, it is compelling (and demonstrates the inherent power of video over text in conveying the message).

The Art of Partnering Successfully -- Here's How

I have been fortunate to have led several successful companies that have achieved great results both for investors and employees alike -- as well as its partners. All of my VC-backed companies (eNow/Relegence first, Musicmatch second, SightSpeed third, and now Sorenson Media) have been partner-driven -- and I have focused on building successful partnerships of all kind (distribution, marketing, joint ventures, licensing) throughout my ever-lengthening two decade plus career.

I frequently am asked the fundamental question -- how do companies partner effectively and why have your relatively small companies (i.e., the "Davids" in this discussion) proven to be a better fit than 800 pound "Goliaths" for global blue-chip partners like Logitech, Dell, Google, Shutterfly and numerous others?

Of course, there is no "one answer" to this question -- several factors come into play. But, consider these as being absolute prerequisites to partnership success (and -- to be clear -- success means first and foremost success for your partners):

(1) You must be best in class, period. At Sorenson Media (as well as my former companies) this IS our mantra. And, in the case of Sorenson Media, as online video has now become strategically critical to many (with emphasis on "many"), we are THE most established brand and company for encoding in this online video "space" period and, accordingly, we are a natural choice for partners; no other companies (big or small) can say that; to be clear, this is a badge of honor rather than boasting; we don't and cannot rest on our laurels -- we absolutely must out-innovate and delight our users and partners alike (after all, partners are also our customers); we must listen and learn from them -- that is the best way to improve; and, we must never take our users and partners for granted; we must continuously earn their trust; we can do this better than the "Goliaths" because each partner matters more to us (significantly more) than they would to larger companies driven by their own agendas; we are like Avis -- we simply try harder!;

(2) You must be flexible and open. Sorenson Media supports the widest array of formats both on the input and output side (we are known as being Swiss in this way, because we are neutral in this regard -- others in our "space" (both big and small) are not -- case in point, Apple's Final Cut (and its Compressor encoding engine) which does not support Flash; this is a critical differentiator for us compared to the competition;

(3) You must be built to partner, partnership "friendly" and partnership proven. Sorenson Media WAS built to partner, IS partner "friendly," IS partner proven, and IS a partner for the long haul -- and this ain't just talk:

First, our architecture, our back-end, our customer support, all of it -- was built with partnerships in mind; we are built to scale and have an established and proven Cloud-based global infrastructure; we also can be far more flexible than others (both big and small); we can implement quickly and efficiently, and we can deliver important back-end reporting and more; we also prioritize customer support and take it very serious, because all success flows from customer satisfaction and we know we need to continuously get better;

Second, our team -- both on the business and development side -- is partner "friendly"; we have extensive partnership experience and we pride ourselves in listening to our partners and meeting THEIR timetables and development roadmaps and THEIR needs (as just one example, we are happy to customize our partner solutions and white label them); others (big and small) simply are not and cannot be as flexibl, because they were not built with partnerships as a foundation -- in other words, it is not part of their DNA. Partnering effectively is a fundamental aspect of our growth strategy. So, get to know your partners at an individual level to understand their needs. If they are successful, you will be successful.

Third, we are partner proven both on the business side and development side -- we have a long history of working closely with partners; and, of course, we are an established brand with the best reviewed encoding solutions.

Fourth, we are here as a partner for the long haul -- and we have a much different story here than virtually everyone else in the space. We uniquely have been doing this for 15 years and have been long-term profitable. While virtually all other companies are in a constant need to replenish their coffers through more and more VC funding -- and are, therefore, vulnerable -- we have an extremely healthy balance sheet and are in no need for new funding. That means we can focus our time on our partners, rather than on fund-raising efforts. Think of us as being the Allstate of encoding -- "You are in Good Hands."

Other factors come into play, of course, but these are just some of the considerations for companies looking for encoding solutions (which is every company that wants to get its videos online).

One final note -- the fact that our company is best positioned to meet the needs of partners should be of no surprise, because we have seen this time and time before when smaller "nimbler", more focused and more responsive companies succeed over much larger "rivals" who have their own agendas. When I previously served as CEO of SightSpeed and President & COO of Musicmatch, for example, we also succeeded in meeting the needs of multiple partners across multiple channels, even though we too were up against others much bigger than us. The same general concepts and conclusions above applied during those days as well. The point is this -- these same concepts/lessons apply in any industry. They are a roadmap to significantly improve the chances of success.

So, at the end of the day, how do we succeed in partnering? It really is very simple -- we put each individual partner's needs first. While that may sound a bit cliche, you may be surprised how difficult it really is to build a successful business with that kind of overall philosophy and business model. But, we are doing just that. It takes many things to make that happen -- unique talent, unique expertise, unique experience, unique contacts. And, you need all of those things to succeed. That is a tall order.

(4) Oh yes, you must have the right team and passion. It takes one more critical factor -- THE single most critical factor from which all the rest of it flows -- you must have the right team and passion. The passion to innovate. The passion to "win." And, the passion to change the world. I can tell you this -- our team has it in spades. Not only is our team talented and focused -- we "stick to our knitting" and singularly focus on providing the highest quality differentiated video encoding solutions. This is not just a job -- we really want to offer the best solutions for our customers so that they can harness the unique power of offering the highest quality video online.

(NOTE -- this post is a revised version of an earlier post written a couple years back when I was CEO of SightSpeed -- I have updated that post because the same lessons apply -- in other words, these "truths" are universal.)

The Detroit Vikings? Sad, But True

CAUTION -- THIS POST HAS NOTHING -- ABSOLUTELY NOTHING -- TO DO WITH DIGITAL MEDIA (unless I really stretch it and use a DirecTV-To-Go connection ... )

Ahh yes -- my home state -- lovely Minnesota. Home of the wintery-est of winters -- and the frozen-est of the tundras. And, home of my beloved Detroit Vikings ...

... huh, what?

That's right -- Detroit Vikings. Tonight, as you sports fans know, my Vikes play a critical home game against the Giants IN DETROIT! Why? Because our white elephant of a stadium -- the Metrodome -- was trampled on (and deflated ... literally) by a white elephant -- two feet of snow!

I asked my family who still live in Minneapolis (I escaped long ago) why our city couldn't handle 2 feet of snow. In a Monty Python-is way, two feet of snow to me (and other Minnesotans) is a mere flesh wound. Bud Grant, Fran Tarkenton, Alan Page and Jim Marshall would mock that kind of snow -- they would welcome it and welcome the abuse it would heap on opposing teams who came to their old stadium, the "Met" (no relation to the indoor collapsed marshmallow known as the Metrodome). But, of course, the hallowed ground of the old met has been the home of the Mall of America now for nearly 20 years (the only thing retained is a left field seat inside the Mall that shows where home plate was in relation to it -- I think Banana Republic now sits where Harmon Killebrew previously stood tall!).

For the past 30 years, the reality has been that the Vikes -- who play in the land of the rugged -- have shirked that home field advantage to play within an esoteric non-descript indoor environment. If it were the other way -- and we had embraced our snowy roots years ago -- then we would have played outdoors yesterday. And, even if the Vikes would have lost by themselves, I have little doubt that the snow would replace Brett Favre and make the win.

But, alas, that was not meant to be. Instead they play tonight in the Lions' den. Well, at least it is on DirecTV (and I am pleased that I have my DirecTV ... even as I long for the snowy outdoor days of yore ...).

Video Professionals -- Come Together and Market YOURself at "The Exchange"!

Video professionals -- want some completely new, completely innovative, and very very cool? (Well, who doesn't, right?)

Check out "The Exchange" -- the first bona fide marketplace and one-stop-shop for everything you need for your entire workflow (that's right, from video production all the way through video distribution and syndication).

Here, and only here, you can come together, get what you want, share your expertise, learn from other video professionals, pick up innovative new video encoding presets (recipes) developed by some of the most renown video professionals (like Robert Reinhardt), and ADVERTISE AND MARKET YOURSELF AND YOUR SERVICES to other video professionals (and others who are in need of the services and expertise of video professionals).

This all comes from the great minds, passion and creativity of my team at Sorenson Media (this ain't boasting, because I am talking about the team). And, this all comes absolutely free, free, free.

We literally just announced it now -- so, be one of the first to check it out (click here to enter The Exchange), share your thoughts, and let the world know what you do. Here is the official press release.

Skype Moving Calls to the Web -- It's About Time

To date, all Skype calls have required Skype's client application -- i.e., a download and installation of its software. While this software-related requirement hasn't exactly slowed the company down, it certainly wasn't optimal for many.

Well, this is finally changing, as the company apparently plans to release web-based calling (i.e., no download needed) in the next few months. Imagine the possibilities -- simple one-click calling to someone else's LinkedIn profile as an example (in fact, LinkedIn is rumored to be one of Skype's first partners in this regard).

Compelling, eh? Absolutely! Novel and innovative? Nyet.

Interestingly, my former little company SightSpeed (acquired by Logitech in late 2008) featured web-based video calling for years -- here is a link touting this ease-of-use from back in the day.

So, just like Skype's late entry into the realm of multi-party video chat, its new move is a bit late in coming. Has that really hurt the company? Well, not so much.

E.T. -- The Real Thing? NASA to Announce "Astrobiology Discovery" Tomorrow

From the "kind of out of left field" desk -- and not precisely digital media (although the blogosphere most certainly will be abuzz) -- NASA has issued a press release announcing a news conference tomorrow, Thursday, to discuss an "astrobiological finding that will impact the search for evidence of extraterrestrial life." Here is NASA's official press release -- click on this link. And, NASA has chosen to make its announcement at 2 pm Eastern Time (ET) tomorrow? ET? Coincidence? I think not!

Talk about intriguing!

The announcement certainly was intriguing to the Sorenson Media team -- where several anticipate that NASA's announcement will be focused on Neptune's moon Triton. Not necessarily E.T., but perhaps the first concrete findings confirming the possibility of E.T.?

I'll certainly stay tuned.

Patent Trolls Beware! U.S. Supreme Court May Make It Harder for You to Win

Everyone in the tech industry is acutely aware of the massive amount of claims of patent infringement. It frequently seems that virtually no company is immune from such claims, given the relative ease of patent issuance and the breadth of coverage of many of those patents. As a result, patents are frequently used as business weapons. And, several companies exist that do virtually nothing other than collect pools of broadly granted patents and then send demand letters claiming infringement. Some refer to these kinds of companies as "patent trolls" -- and many believe that those companies do nothing more than "shake down" others with demands for substantial amounts of money.

Well, patent trolls beware -- the U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear Microsoft's appeal of a $290 million patent infringement verdict against it. Microsoft argues that the patent it purportedly infringed is invalid and, therefore, cannot be enforced. The price issue on which the U.S. Supreme Court will rule is whether Microsoft would need to demonstrate invalidity by "a preponderance of evidence" (i.e., essentially more than 50%) or, instead, by "clear and convincing evidence" (which is a much higher bar that must be crossed). Right now, the relevant standard is the higher "clear and convincing" standard.

Microsoft has interesting allies in this fight -- including arch-nemeses Apple and Google.

And, many in the tech industry will be on Microsoft's side on this one.

Minneapolis -- Vacation Capital of the U.S., Here I Come!

Readers, I will not be posting for a while and until after the Thanksgiving holiday -- heading over the river and through the woods back to the lovely frozen tundra from whence I came -- Minneapolis. Our annual family tradition -- my daughter's birthday (on Thanksgiving this year!), Mall of America (more fun than you think), "A Christmas Carol" (at the renown Guthrie Theatre), visiting the annual Christmas Village downtown at Macy's, Boggle tournaments (we are all very competitive), Apples to Apples (another great family game), and the depression that flows from watching my Minnesota Vikings inevitably fall apart on their own turf. And, all of this with temperatures hovering in the 10-20 Fahrenheit range -- how festive!

Until then -- Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

Amazon, the Movie -- Online Giant Becomes Movie Producer

Very interesting indeed ... and very "left field." Online retail giant Amazon has moved into the heart of Hollywood by opening up an online movie production company -- complete with a "first look" deal with traditional movie giant Warner Bros. (FYI -- "first look" means that Amazon must first give Warner Bros. the opportunity to buy a script before shopping it to other studios.)

Not surprisingly, this is not your father's movie producer, however. "Amazon Studios" gives budding screenwriters -- this could be you! -- the opportunity to submit their scripts online for consideration. Scripts will be available for comment/rating by the general community who visit the site. And, then, those that are rated the highest will be reviewed by a panel of experts (which apparently includes execs from the retail giant). So, no need to maneuver past the casting couch to get your scripts noticed. Trust me -- your script will be read (at least by the community). These folks are rabid (understandably) for a break -- and this is democratization of the Hollywood process big time.

But, will any Amazonian screenwriters hit the big time? Chances are long. But, at least they have one more avenue to try (as well as the support -- or not -- of other writers making their path through the Amazon).

Let It Be! The Beatles Finally Go Online via iTunes

Steve Jobs' seemingly never-ending "Long and Winding Road" to get The Beatles catalog of music online has finally reached a successful end. Starting today, The Beatles songs will be available -- exclusively -- via iTunes (so reports the Wall Street Journal).

Quite the odyssey for Apple v. Apple Records -- in fact, the two companies originally battled each other via the courts over Jobs' right to use the "Apple" name for his company. The Beatles won that battle via a settlement.

Fast forward years and years and years -- and, now, the two Apple's have reached an esprit de Core. And, it is the power of music that finally brought them together, as The Beatles have been the most prominent hold-out for making their songs available online. It is also the power of commerce, of course, as it just happens to be the Christmas Season.

So, let it snow, let it snow, let it snow. And, LET IT BE! (it finally is!)

Hulu Time Machine -- Today & Yesterday (When First Announced in March 2007)

Online video leader Hulu -- which features primarily premium TV programming -- just announced important metrics for the first time, including: (1) 2010 revenues will reach $240 million (more than double its $108 million take in 2009); (2) 41% of every $1 generated by video content is ad-driven, whereas 30% is subscription-based; and (3) the service now streams 260 million non-advertising videos from 235 content partners.

Sounds pretty good but, of course: (1) $240 million revenues is only a drop-in-the-bucket for the major media companies (i.e., certainly not setting the world on fire); and (2) the service continues to suffer from schizophrenia caused by being owned in significant part by cable operator Comcast (read more here), which has no desire to see Internet TV (i.e., over-the-top distribution) win the day -- for this reason, Hulu's content offerings still are very limited in the scheme of things.

That is the current "State of the Union" for Hulu.

What was "then"?

I looked back at my initial blog post about the then un-named Hulu back in March 2007 when the overall concept and project was first announced. Click this link to read my first impressions. Among my thoughts at the time, I continue to believe in the power of "personal video" -- especially now with the explosion caused by "anytime, anywhere" mobile HD video capture. I just blogged about this yesterday.

Encoding.com Licenses Sorenson Technology - Coopetition at Its Finest

I am pleased to report that Encoding.com -- a Cloud-based provider of encoding services -- has just become the latest licensee of Sorenson Media's ubiquitous Sorenson Spark codec (both on the encoding and decoding side). (Here is the official story as reported on CNBC's site.)

"What? Isn't Encoding.com a competitor in Sorenson Media's encoding market?", you may be asking?

To a certain extent, the answer is "yes." There is some overlap between that service and our own recently launched Squeeze Server managed Cloud-based encoding service. But, we at Sorenson Media believe our target markets are very different indeed -- we squarely target the enterprise with our differentiated solution, whereas Encoding.com's service is geared more to the individual or SMB (small-to-medium business) user in our view. Here is my earlier post about how we believe our Squeeze Server service stands apart from all other Cloud-based encoding services.

And, regardless of the differences, both companies believe that there is plenty of business for all of us. We also believe that a bit of healthy "coopetition" doesn't hurt anyone. It also doesn't hurt that Encoding.com's President Jeff Malkin is a good guy, good partner, and smart business leader who understands the unique power of Sorenson Media's technology -- and how Sorenson Spark plays a critical and necessary role in the online video and encoding eco-system. Sorenson Spark is simply the most pervasive video codec in the world -- our technology was the first to enable video playback within Flash years ago, and our technology was the first used by YouTube to encode videos. (Oh yes, our video codec technology also was the first used by Apple to enable video playback within QuickTime.) That means that over 1 billion online video files -- which continues to grow each day -- need to be "Sparked" for playback.

That is why our list of Spark and codec licensing partners -- which includes some of the biggest names in the technology world such as Qualcomm, Verizon, LG, Samsung, Lenovo, Sony, YouTube, Adobe and Apple -- continues to grow and grow. Our video technology and expertise -- honed over the course of 15 years -- is second to none.

NEW "Squeeze Solution Pack" -- Via New Partnership with Aspera & RightScale

Yesterday, we announced new Squeeze Server in conjunction with the annual Streaming Media West event (here is Streaming Media's "take" on our launch). On the heels of that announcement, today we unveil new "Squeeze Solution Pack" which takes Squeeze Server one important step forward, especially for post-production houses and media companies (here is the announcement via Forbes).

This new even-more-targeted Cloud offering gives two additional critical benefits for post-production houses, media companies, and other customers with very large files and volumes:

(1) accelerated file upload to the Cloud (which is essential for high volume large media files); and

(2) automated Cloud server management (which is essential for optimization of server utilization and, therefore, cost efficacy).

Squeeze Solution Pack -- another innovative industry first offering -- is brought to you as result of Sorenson partnering with the best and brightest companies in their respective spaces: Aspera (accelerated file uploads) and RightScale (automated Cloud management) -- both of whom (like us) also are partnered already with Amazon Web Services (AWS). Both partners moved mountains with us to realize this innovative vision in record time with their ingenuity and dedication.

We are thrilled to be partnered with them.

WATCH Squeeze Server Demo Here First

If a picture speaks 1,000 words -- imagine what a video can do.

Watch this video demo of new Squeeze Server in action -- by VP Product Development David Dudas -- click this link.

NEW Sorenson Server-Side Transcoding -- A Squeeze of a Different Color

You asked for it. You got it. At long last -- Squeeze Server. All the great quality that you have come to expect from Squeeze -- but now for the job volumes and workflows we, quite frankly, previously couldn't handle.

This is a big deal for us (and we hope, for you, the enterprise); Squeeze Server represents a significant expansion of our "encoding first" mantra here at Sorenson Media. We now believe we have an encoding solution for just about every workflow -- with Squeeze Server serving as a complement to Squeeze 6.5 (our award-winning desktop application).

We believe that Squeeze Server is the first true enterprise-grade managed Cloud-based encoding/transcoding solution (other services focus on the individual encoder -- not on the enterprise's unique needs). And, we give you a chance to easily and instantly try it all for free -- check it out here by clicking this link -- and, check out VP of Product Development David Dudas' screencast demo-ing how it all works by clicking on this link.

Click on this link for the full press release -- including the main features and benefits that flow from Squeeze Server:

(i) high volume encoding;

(ii) highest quality results (achieved via our home-grown advanced pre-processing filters, industry-leading codecs, among other things);

(iii) massive potential cost savings as compared to DIY self-hosted transcoding solutions that utilize FFmpeg or some kind of purchased encoding software that sits atop your own servers (by our calculations, you can expect to pay over $200,000 just to set up your own basic encoding "farm" -- compare that to our $499/month per dedicated instance via new Squeeze Server ($6,000/year));

(iv) massive potential opportunity cost savings by utilizing your video bays actual high margin revenue-generating production activities (rather than for low margin non-core high volume/heavy file encoding jobs);

(v) widest array of encoding "recipes" -- presets -- via our innovative Preset Exchange (check it out -- we think it's pretty cool);

(vi) innovative industry-first video-focused URL/workflow shortener, Vid.vu; and

(vii) full integration into our Sorenson 360 publishing platform (so that your full end-to-end workflow is covered).

And, from Sorenson ... our brand that we believe (and hope) you uniquely trust because we have been doing this for 15 years (and many of you already use our products -- something that means an awful lot to all of us over here). We want you to entrust all your encoding/transcoding needs to us -- so that you can focus on your own business.

So, given all of that, why struggle with doing it yourself? Encoding is complex, time-consuming, and frequently frustrating stuff that is not for the faint of heart.

So, how is Squeeze Server different from other managed Cloud-based encoding services in the marketplace? Ahh, let me count the ways:

(1) We put our Sorenson Media name on it -- that means Sorenson award-winning and differentiated quality . We we believe (and hope) Sorenson Media is a name you trust. We aren't new to the complex game of encoding like all other managed service solutions -- we are a real company that has been here for 15 years ... and will be here for you; one important tangible benefit of this is that you have direct access to our trained Support professionals -- and, believe me, these are real professionals (not simply some call center);

(2) We uniquely do not use open source FFmpeg -- we developed our own differentiated award-winning Squeeze encoding engine over the span of years and years; this is hugely important not only to ensure the highest quality treatment of your videos, but also to ensure that you have everything you need on the business front (that is, officially licensed and sanctioned industry-leading codec implementations). You may not know this -- but you should! -- that virtually every other managed encoding solution uses FFmpeg and has not obtained all appropriate business licenses (which could mean real risk to you); click here to my read my earlier blog post on this important subject;

(3) We uniquely give you, the enterprise, dedicated server instances so that all of your encoding jobs are prioritized at all times! -- unlike other managed services, your files don't take a number and stand behind others;

(4) We uniquely give you a full SLA and guaranteed 99.9% uptime, in addition to real, trained, knowledgable and caring Support;

(5) Unique not-available-elsewhere innovation, including our Preset Exchange and Vid.vu URL/workflow shortening features mentioned above; (as an aside -- you MUST check out our completely overhauled new Preset Exchange -- I personally think it is very very cool);

(6) We are developer-focused and "friendly" -- we offer ample reference code and well documented, RESTful APIs on our newly and completely revamped Developers site -- click on this link to access our completely overhauled Developers site; (while on our site, check out our VP Product Development David Dudas's post to developers); (and, speaking of "friendly", check out the number of steps in our experience compared to the other guys);

(7) We are fully mobile -- supporting mobile upload and management (as well as relevant reference applications in our Developers site); and

(8) We offer significantly more value to the enterprise -- while others price at approximately $2.50/GB per NON-dedicated server, our $499/month per dedicated instance package equates to approximately $1/GB.

So much more to say, but now it is time for us to do. This is a new product launch for us -- and we want your candid feedback. Send it directly to my attention at bizdev@sorensonmedia.com (but, to be clear, we aren't exactly new to this -- we have been partnered with leading consumer site Shutterfly since July with a fully managed server-based encoding/hosting solution).

Until then, happy Squeezing!

Want a Sneak Peek? Check Out Our New Website

www.sorensonmedia.com

but, shhhhhhhh, don't tell anyone .... not official until early next week ....

Let's Meet at Streaming Media West Next Week

Streaming Media West takes place in LA next week. We, at Sorenson Media, kick off the event by co-hosting a major soiree on Monday evening with partners AWS, RightScale and Aspera. We then follow things up in rapid fire with two major announcements (stay tuned). We will have several of us manning our booth and wandering the halls (including our new enterprise sales team). And, we are a finalist for the coveted Streaming Media "Readers' Choice Award" (which will be announced Tuesday night).

Will we get the 4-peat for the U.S. "Readers' Choice Award" (after just winning the European version for "Best Transcoding Solution")? All eyes at our company will be watching very closely, as validation by customers is the single most important data point that we are on the right track.

Sneak Peek VIP Event -- Hosted by Sorenson, AWS, Aspera & RightScale

We just returned from Streaming Media Europe in London (where we picked up our European "Readers' Choice" award for Best Transcoding Solution), and next week we participate in Streaming Media West in LA (where we are a finalist in what would be our 4th straight US "Readers' Choice" award). This is one of the most important industry events -- and, we will have several major announcements at that time.

On Monday evening, November 1st -- the eve of the conference -- we also will be hosting a VIP cocktail reception with partners Amazon (AWS), Aspera, and RightScale. During that event, we will give a first-look sneak peek of the new "Squeeze Solution Pack" cloud-based video encoding solution -- a new first of its kind innovative and holistic solution to ingest video, transform it, manage the encoding process with the highest quality, and easily scale. This is a private invitation only event -- so, please reach out to me at bizdev@sorensonmedia.com if you would like to attend.

Here's Amazon's official announcement of the event -- http://aws.amazon.com/streaming-media-west/aspera/

Live from Paris -- NFL Sunday Ticket Package via DirecTV To-Go -- How Did It Score?

Euro-trip, Euro-travel experiences. And, a chance to check out certain digital media/technology services out in the real world.

So, as some of you know, the Minnesota Vikings are my team -- for better or for worse (this year it has been more of the latter than the former). This past weekend, my 1-3 Vikes had a critical game against the equally 1-3 Dallas Cowboys. Now, remember, at the start of the season, many had thought my Vikes and the Cowboys would be two of the top teams in the NFC. So, this game was critical, because the loser would be 1-4 (and, since 1992, only about 5% of teams starting at 1-4 have made it to the play-offs).

But, at game-time, I was in Paris. So, what's a Viking fan to do? "Aha!", I said to myself. I am a DirecTV subscriber at home -- that means NFL Sunday Ticket package -- and I had heard about being able to watch the NFL package on the road and on my laptop. It was 10 pm in Paris, but i decided to give it a whirl. I clicked on the "DirectTV To-Go" link and -- after a long while (the navigation is very NON-intuitive and confusing) -- I was able to find my game. And, watch the whole thing live from Paris.

Now, the bandwidth in my hotel wasn't great -- so, there continuous breaks and lengthy pauses in the stream. Nonetheless, it was quite the remarkable experience -- once again underscoring the power of anything, anytime, anywhere.

And, my beloved -- yet head-ache inducing -- Vikes beat back the Cowboys (with the aid of an admittedly questionable pass interference call near the end). All was good as I closed my laptop at 1 am and prepared for the next day's meetings.

Voila