The consumption of rich media over the Internet has exhibited a wild growth rate since 2005. Many applications, especially Web 2.0 based, such as video portals, Internet TV, and user-generated content drive the need for enhanced media streaming platform solutions. Further, an exponential increase in rich media applications for communications, marketing, and advertising by the enterprise market segments continues to milk the benefits of streaming media platforms.

"The phenomenal increase in rich media over the web and the demand to deploy video in real time spurs the need for streaming platforms," says Frost & Sullivan Senior Analyst Vidya S. Nath. "Web 2.0 media applications, video portals, and increasing deployment of content by traditional media companies crowd the Internet in an attempt to capitalize the growing web audiences."

Content providers have begun to understand the Internet audience dynamics and evolve with various content business models for online rich media delivery. Media delivery over the web, whether for enterprise or consumer applications, is increasingly customized according to the types of audiences.

"However, the growing demand and supply of media places several challenges on the vendors," says Nath. "Streaming platform solutions will increase requirements that enable smooth media deployment by balancing scalability as well as rising quality of content, which includes video in DVD or even, high-definition resolution."

Trends indicate that vendors with streaming server-client solutions expect to provide a leaner platform with features that can enable interactivity within the browser along with content security solutions. As different content models evolve over the Internet, differentiators such as a browser plug-in client, add-on digital rights management solution, ability to play multi-formats and content in high resolution will enhance the availability of choices for a customer.