A recent survey by Reed Exhibition Companies Ltd into Streaming media has revealed that a staggering 31% of companies are not familiar with the term Streaming media, although 92% of companies expect to be using streaming media in the next two years. All of the 1,259 companies that responded were involved in either broadcasting or e-commerce; therefore it is certain that the ignorance of the general business community will be much higher.
The survey also found that the applications that companies were planning to implement include: -
45% plan to implement web conferencing
41% plan to implement e-learning
62% plan to implement Corporate Communications
63% plan to implement e-commerce
45% plan to implement webcasting
The survey seems to show that not only is there a lack of knowledge about the business benefits of streaming media technology, there is also a great thirst for information and a desire to exploit the technology.
Kevin Quinn CEO of Servecast.com, a provider of streaming media delivery and hosting services, agreed that companies involved in e-commerce are correct to seek more information about streaming media, as it has huge potential to enhance their communications activities. Quinn cited the example of Vacuum Cleaners Direct, one of the UKs largest e-tailing websites, which has seen a fourfold increase in the number of purchases made by consumers since the introduction of online product demonstrations using Servecast.com's video and audio streaming facilities.
www.mediacast.co.uk
Huh! streaming media? - 02/2001
e-CAST survey shows that 31% of businesses do not know what streaming media is!