Macromedia has announced the immediate availability of Macromedia Flash Media Server 2, server software that offers a unique combination of traditional streaming media capabilities and a flexible development environment for creating and delivering innovative, interactive media applications. Flash Media Server 2 complements Macromedia Flash Professional 8 and Macromedia Flash Player 8, making the Flash Platform the effective solution for creating and delivering interactive rich media applications across browsers and operating systems of all kinds. Pioneering media, entertainment, telecommunications, retail, and advertising companies are quickly adopting Flash video to deliver customized, seamless video experiences to millions of viewers worldwide.

By using Flash Media Server 2 and the Flash Platform, publishers can now integrate video into their websites and applications with complete control over playback, interactivity, and branding for a seamless experience. Flash Media Server 2 is the foundation for delivering both recorded and live Flash video in large-scale deployments such as video on demand, live web broadcasts, MP3 streaming, video blogging, and video/audio chat applications.

"With the Flash Platform, users can finally view high-quality, interactive video online as a truly seamless, instant-on web video experience," said Tom Hale, senior vice president and general manager, Macromedia. "The new version of Flash Media Server 2 will now provide organizations with the most powerful way to deliver web video and rich media applications to the widest possible audience on the Internet."

Flash Media Server 2 introduces new scalable Edge-Origin servers, an optional enterprise-ready architecture that simplifies load balancing, failover, and clustering to ensure greater reliability and scalability of streaming rich interactive experiences even during peak traffic times. Flash Media Server 2 has a unique, programmable streaming environment that includes a robust API for precise code control over media streams, assets, and features -- like custom interactivity, user authentication, and bandwidth detection -- to deliver truly distinct user experiences.

"A pioneer in the new media arena, Showtime Networks is committed to providing innovative ways to deliver web video experiences that complement our network programming," said Robert Hayes, senior vice president of new media, Showtime Networks, Inc. "Macromedia Flash Media Server 2 based on the Akamai network gives us the most flexible streaming options and greatest reach. Since implementing Flash video on the Showtime website, our traffic has drastically increased and video-clip viewership jumped 150 percent."

Flash Media Server 2 video experiences take advantage of the new high-quality video codec in Flash Player 8, complete with automatic detection of the client's bandwidth connection and capability to adjust the stream accordingly. Flash Player is currently installed on over 600 million desktops and mobile devices globally.

Flash Media Server operates across standard Windows or Linux servers and integrates with existing databases, as well as web and data services. Expanded extensibility functionality enables customers to manage XML-based media meta-data, access local system resources, and control logging and reporting for tighter integration with existing media ingest and management systems.