14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft is gearing up to make available the iteration of its Internet Information Services (IIS) integrated media platform. The promise from the Redmond-based company is that customers will be able to download version 3.0 of Internet Information Services (IIS) Media Services within the next month. The move is an integral part of the software giant’s overall strategy to boost the quality of Silverlight-based rich user experiences for content served via the Internet. In this regard, Internet Information Services (IIS) Media Services 3.0 is a key component of the infrastructure needed to offer consumers not only highly interactive materials but also high-definition-quality Live Smooth Streaming content.
The successor of IIS Media Services 2.0, which brought to the table enhancements including Smooth Streaming, Bit Rate Throttling, and Web Playlists, is designed to enhance Silverlight online experiences via Live Smooth Streaming. Available as a new feature of IIS Media Services 3.0, Live Smooth Streaming has already been at the backbone of numerous online experiences in beta stage.
The software giant noted that a variety of events were broadcasted with the help of Live Smooth Streaming, events such as the Tour de France and the Roland Garros 2009 International French Open Tennis Tournament on France Televisions; the IAAF Athletics World Championships, FINA Swimming World Championships (France Televisions and RAI); the FIFA Confederations Cup South Africa 2009 on RAI; Champions League Soccer on BSkyB; and Michael Jackson Memorial on Sympatico/MSN inMusic and SKY News.
“With technologies such as Live Smooth Streaming, we are furthering our commitment to provide cost-effective, scalable solutions to deliver the latest in high-quality, true HD and enhance the way audiences experience online video via Silverlight-based media players,” noted Scott Guthrie, corporate vice president of the .NET Developer Platform at Microsoft.
Smooth Streaming is essentially an IIS Media Services extension, which companies serving content online can leverage in order to offer users true HD media (720p+ and up to 1080p). The beauty of Smooth Streaming is that the technology is designed to adapt to network connectivity conditions while streaming content to Silverlight clients over HTTP. IIS Media Services 3.0, of course, relies on Silverlight 3 clients, and with all pieces in place, HD content can be offered via H.264 and Advanced Audio Coding formats.
Microsoft noted that customers should be expecting IIS Media Services 3.0 with Live Smooth Streaming to be made available no later than the next 30 days. A specific date wasn’t provided, but with the deadline so close, it doesn’t really matter.