Streaming Media West 2003 Wrap-Up
Glowpoint, Inc. provider of managed IP videoconferencing services introduced its newest addition to the service portfolio:
Glowpoint Webcasting. "We are helping our clients get the most out of their existing communications resources," explains Dan McCrary, Senior Director
of Marketing and Business Development for Glowpoint Web Services. "With this service, any standards-compliant videoconferencing system is an instant webcast content capture system." In addition to lowering the total cost of content creation by reducing the need for dedicated video recording facilities, Glowpoint Webcasting can also alleviate some of the pressure on streaming professionals by offering a completely outsourced solution that subject matter experts can use in a "self service" paradigm to capture their own content.
In its booth, On24, an industry-leading streaming media service provider, was showing how its global network reach, automated publishing systems and turnkey service offerings have saved millions of dollars for its customers. Scott Diehl, Sr. VP of Sales and Business Development at ON24 shared the stage with Glowpoint’s McCrary during an interactive session focusing on Outsourcing Rich Media creation and distribution. "Our advice to customers who are evaluating streaming service providers is to look for a partner that has a broad range of experiences and partnerships in many different areas of expertise," says Diehl. When the panelists were under pressure to estimate the costs of various events and services, Diehl also offered a seasoned perspective. "Just because it’s not on the rate card doesn’t mean something isn’t offered or you can’t negotiate it. Service providers are much more interested in keeping their existing customers happy than spending the thousands necessary to recruit a new customer."
Sawyer Media Systems is an excellent example of a "concept to distribution" service provider that works with customers in a consultative 
capacity throughout a relationship to make sure that the tools in use match the objectives of the communications campaign. At Streaming Media West, the company announced the release of Enterprise Media Producer 2.0. "This release represents the most comprehensive suite of components offered by a single provider," said Peter Tierney, President and CEO of the company. Enterprise Media Producer 2.0 includes MediaPresenter, MediaAdministrator, MediaDistributor, MediaCaster, MediaReporter, MediaMailer and MediaBlueprints. The company also announced the establishment of a partnership with Silverpop for the hosted MediaMailer component of the Producer suite, a partnership with Jibe which will provide the backbone for MediaDistributor, and with ON24 for the ability to resell ON24’s Webcast Center webcasting services as Sawyer Media System’s MediaCaster.
Xtream Studio, a digital media service provider (DMSP) was on-site showcasing their high-end web design, Internet marketing and corporate communications services. Their clients are able to broadcast live on the Internet using their Live Webcast offerings which allows the broadcast of new products or service announcements, seminars, trade shows, religious sermons and radio or TV stations. The Xtream booth also was doing demos of their XtreamPlayer, an easy-to-use web application, which combines digital media with text, graphics, flash animation and HTML content. Highlighting its ease of use, the demo showed how by simply adding an easy-to-click hyperlink in a Web site's text or graphics, websites quickly jump to life with a visual power and audio experience.