The Pragmatic Innovator

What’s the easiest way to publish rich media and video-based content to mobile devices? Introducing NetRover ePublisher!

It’s been a busy month over here at Opanga (as evidenced by the lack of blog posts!)  We’ve beenaccumulating record-breaking amounts of frequent flyer miles by trekking around the globe and meeting with savvy wireless operators who are searching for ways to alleviate the impact of mobile video on their networks, and on the homefront we’ve been busy growing our operations and working to protect our ever-expanding IP portfolio.  And last (but certainly not least!), we’ve been preparing for the launch of our new NetRover ePublisher platform!

We are very excited to have officially launched NetRover ePublisher, and with good reason – we strongly feel that this is the solution that operators have been searching for to help address the challenges surrounding the impact of mobile video on wireless networks.  You see, NetRover ePublisher is based on our patented NetRover technology, which transparently delivers large file video content using only surplus network capacity.  But in addition to being extremely network friendly, NetRover ePublisher also enables operators to provide consumers with the high quality mobile video they have been craving.

NetRover ePublisher accomplishes this by pre-positioning any form of rich media, e.g. video, text, images, audio, into the mobile device memory.  Pre-positioned content from subscription-based apps offers immediate and high-quality playback without freezing or buffering. Because the content is pre-positioned into device memory, the apps are always available, even when the device is offline.

We feel that NetRover ePublisher represents a tremendous advance in video delivery optimization technologies – by offering wireless operators and media companies a complete end-to-end media publishing platform that works outside data caps, we are providing them the tools that they need to thrive and succeed in today’s media-hungry world.

Instead of working against data caps, operators now have the tool they need to thrive within the cap.   As an example, wireless operators typically offer their consumers a monthly service plan that includes voice minutes, text and a data bucket (e.g. 500MB “cap” for $25). This data cap severely limits the amount of video that a consumer will view and consequently will reduce the value of video and associated advertising.

With NetRover ePublisher, this base plan can be augmented to add a number of NetRover-enabled “channels” that would not count towards the consumer’s monthly cap. This is only possible because of Opanga’s unique network friendly distribution technology, which also offers revenue growth that complements data caps or tariffs.

There’s been a lot of talk lately about data caps (see “Is AT&T’s new 150GB DSL data cap justified?” and the capacity crunch (see “Netflix Meets Its Kryptonite”), and we are so proud to be offering a platform that helps ease the burden of these challenges.

We’d love to hear your thoughts on our news!  Feel free to leave a comment or if you require an in-depth demo or briefing, shoot us an email at smarternetworks@opanga.com.

Part 3: The Content Pre-Positioning Opportunity

We’ve talked quite a bit about how streaming video places enormous strain on wireless networks, degrades network performance and creates a massive capital burden for operators.   This strain also affects the end-consumer as it results in a very poor and inconsistent playback experience.  Many operators are imposing data caps (check out this video from o2 talking about why they chose this route), but data caps alone will not ease the strain on networks.

The simple fact is that video is crippling our networks and the industry must explore new video distribution methodologies, as well as new consumer models that achieve superior service level characteristics.   We believe that new video distribution models must accomplish the following to be successful:

• Reduce operator CAPEX and OPEX. Operators have fronted the cost to build out the current network and the costs to maintain them.  Continuing to invest billions of dollars in network build out to facilitate other third party company revenue growth is simply not a long term viable business model   (see how much bandwidth Netflix is using without paying for the capacity)
• Creation of new revenue generating services. A more viable approach would be to create new services that generate revenue in a linear relationship with capacity consumption and provide wonderful video quality to consumers – something they will pay for.
• Improve quality of video for consumer. Operators must provide a substantially improved video playback experience.  The optimal playback experience should:
  • Never freeze and/or rebuffer;
  • Should leverage the high quality video components in today’s smartphone and tablet devices
  • Should utilize the ultra low cost of memory in wireless;
  • And allow consumers to enjoy their content without broadband connectivity.

It’s actually a rather basic proposition: operators simply need to provide a quality of experience that is worth paying for.  Innovative subscription-based applications allow consumers to subscribe to the content that they want, when they want it.  And that content is always available in flawless quality every single time. Everywhere. If operators can provide this type of high-quality service and experience, we think consumers would be willing to pay for it.  What do you think?

Part 2: Providing High-Quality Video Outside of the Mobile Data Caps

In my opinion, the end-user mobile video experience today leaves a lot to be desired. On any given day, I will visit an app for a leading cable news site on my iPhone.  Half of the time I wind up watching a video of decent quality, and half of the time, I get a video that freezes and buffers until I get frustrated and exit the app.  At best, the experience is mediocre.

Personally, I think this is unacceptable, and it looks like the majority of mobile video users today agree.  In fact, we expect that over time, consumers will migrate to those applications that provide better experience for their “video snacking” time and even premium video.

It is essential, therefore, for content owners to provide consumers with a better experience just to stay competitive.  One way to improve QoE and gain a strong competitive advantage is to enable apps with content pre-positioning technology.  Apps that utilize this exciting new technology eliminate consumer frustration by pre-positioning content into the end device memory using surplus capacity.  This allows content to be played back instantly, truly at any time (on an airplane, etc.) and with ultimate consistent quality.

We believe that pre-positioning technology, which is utilized by Opanga’s NetRover solution, can complement subscriber data usage limits and pricing plans that are becoming the norm today (see previous post).  For example, content pre-positioning can enable operators to offer new innovative revenue growth applications that are “outside of the cap,” and, when done properly, can maximize the efficiency of the operators’ networks by leveraging underutilized capacity.  This is in addition to providing consumers with a far superior playback experience on their device.  Consider, for example, the following possible use cases:

• Premium content distribution such as catch-up TV, Seasons Pass TV and “mobile DVR” functionality.
• New release VOD movie content delivered to smartphones that coincide with DVD and Blu-Ray release windows.
• Up-to-date news applications, where subscribers can open an app and watch all of the latest local or national news videos – without a broadband connection
• Personal file sharing, where subscribers can share sharing pictures and media with other devices or family members

What other use cases can you imagine with business use cases?  What is your favorite video-based app?

CTIA Enterprise & Applications: Observations from the Show Floor

By Dave Gibbons

We recently returned from CTIA Enterprise & Applications in San Francisco.  Based on the meetings and foot traffic, it is abundantly clear that there is a tremendous amount of interest in the concept of content pre-positioning.  Over the next two weeks, we will explore the opportunities presented by content pre-positioning; how it can be incorporated into a successful business model and why it has the potential to alter consumer behavior.

See our interview on bnetTV and what Light Reading has to say about the potential of content pre-positioning.

As always, we encourage you to weigh in with your thoughts and comments.  And if you have a question about content pre-positioning that remains unanswered at the end of the series, please feel free to drop us a line.  We’re very excited about this new concept and the possibilities it presents and we would welcome the opportunity to share our vision with you!

Vote for NetRover Mobile!

Posted by Dave Gibbons

We are very excited to announce that NetRover Mobile has been nominated for a Streaming Media Readers’ Choice Award!  Now it’s time for you, our readers, to cast your vote!  (Those of you in the US can consider it good practice for our upcoming Election Day!)

Please click here to complete a short registration form and vote.  Voting will remain open until October 1, and Streaming Media will announce the top three vote-getters in each category on October 18.  Winners will be announced at a gala reception at Streaming Media West in Los Angeles on November 2.

If you need more convincing that NetRover Mobile is the coolest video optimization solution on the list and a critical technology to augment traditional streaming solutions, check this out.

We appreciate your support!