Flumotion provides first WebM live stream, 48 hours after Google’s release

Flumotion proves its commitment to video innovation and fast development by integrating the new WebM format and VP8 codec into its end-to-end streaming technology

Flumotion, a leading company in multi-format streaming technology, is the first worldwide to offer live HTTP streaming in the WebM media file format based on the VP8 video codec released by Google on Wednesday 19^th of May. The multiple-award winning streaming technology of Flumotion is developed in-house, which enables the company to quickly react to market developments and offer streaming technology that is compatible with open, royalty-free formats such as the new WebM, while also supporting proprietary formats such as Flash and Silverlight.

“We are certain to have been the first to offer live http streaming in WebM only 48 hours after the announcement”, explains Thomas Vander Stichele, CTO of Flumotion. “Google has also recognised the speed of Flumotion’s development on the official WebM website”, Vander Stichele adds.

Google’s WebM project is dedicated to developing a high-quality, open video format for the web that is freely available to everyone. The technology is based on the VP8 video codec from On2 Technologies that Google acquired last February, the launch is supported by Mozilla, Opera, Adobe and more than forty other publishers, software and hardware vendors. All HD videos on YouTube will be encoded in WebM by the end of the month.

End-to-end solutions for any format or device

Flumotion covers the entire streaming value chain from content acquisition to delivery, which enables the company to provide market unique solutions and  always be among the first to offer innovative services. Another example is the recently launched Adaptive Bitrate live streaming service for iPhone and iPad - the only end-to-end solution on the market without third party providers.

“The fast integration of WebM proves once again the flexibility of our technology and the expertise of our development team”, comments Jean Noel Saunier, CEO and Co-founder of Flumotion. “Speed, innovation and end-to-end services are the important factors for our clients, who need to stay on top of new formats and devices to ensure that their content reaches the maximum audience possible. We are already prepared to advise our clients on how to include WebM in their online video strategy”, he adds. Telcos such as Telefónica and NTT Europe, who deploy Flumotion’s multi-format technology in their networks, will also be able to provide the new WebM format to their clients.

A WebM/VP8 live stream is now available via the Flumotion Demo Site. You need to install a browser that already supports the WebM format, such as a Nightly Build of Mozilla to view the WebM stream in the Demo Site.