Stickam Debuts New API For Live Streaming

Live streaming social networking service Stickam gave away the keys to the castle this past Monday by releasing a Live API that allows users to integrate all of Stickam's live streaming services into their blogs, websites or applications. For now beta testers can take advantage of this free service for a limited time and without worrying about bandwidth costs, server and network infrastructure and Flash development since that's all covered by Stickam. The free service will eventually move to a "pay-as-you-go pricing model” which Stickam says could be less than $100/month.

Here's how the StickamAPI can benefit your site:

• Allow members of your social network to interact face to face
• Add community chat rooms to your blog or forum
• Add live video to your OpenSocial or Facebook applications
• Add live interactive interviews to your job site
• Add a live classroom to your e-learning site

You'll need to be a Stickam member to apply for an API key. See the video below for more information.

Chris Albrecht of NewTeevee points out that, "Stickam’s live-streaming APIs are already being used by MTV, Logo and VH-1 for the I’m on MTV and MTV’s Soundtrack." He also added that, "despite the economic downturn, the company is in a good position and hasn’t laid anyone off (it’s actually hiring). It claims to have 3 million registered users, 3 million streams served per day, with the average session time for people watching video clocking in at 70 minutes. Because the site is monitored 24 hours a day, Stickam says it’s created a more advertising-friendly environment, allowing shows to get more sponsorships."- from Stickam Looks to Cash in on Its APIs « NewTeeVee

Since this is the first streaming service to release an API this should help Stickam differeniate itself from the competition and prompt others to follow suit.

Here's the full press release from the Stickam blog:

Stickam.com Introduces First Live Streaming API
Allows Anyone to Add Real-Time Video Technology to a Web Site Without Expensive Development and Infrastructure Costs

LOS ANGELES, CA–(Marketwire - December 15, 2008) - Stickam.com, the first and largest Web site dedicated to live interactive video streaming, today made an application programming interface (API) available to the general public, bringing the power of live video to anyone that wants to incorporate it into their Web site or Web application.

By using the StickamAPI, Web site developers can quickly and easily integrate live video streaming capabilities, including TV-style broadcasts as well as group and one-on-one chat rooms, onto their online destinations. Through its use, Web sites can take advantage of the benefits of live video streaming, such as longer visits, enhanced user interaction and, in turn, increased revenues. The StickamAPI alleviates time and money constraints associated with the requirements of live streaming, such as bandwidth, server infrastructure and Flash development, which currently serve as significant roadblocks for companies that do not have the available resources or knowledge to incorporate live streaming onto their site.

Stickam envisions Web site developers primarily adding live streaming to their sites for marketing purposes, online schooling / e-learning, social network enhancement and customer support purposes. Celebrities and entertainment sites can also use the StickamAPI to better interact and connect with their fan base.

“The value that live video adds to a Web site is immeasurable, and as the first company to bring this technology to the masses through Stickam.com, we wanted to further its use and adoption,” said Steven Fruchter, CEO of Stickam.com. “We’re pleased to offer an API for anyone to use and take advantage of, and know many organizations will benefit greatly from the use of live video on their sites.”

The StickamAPI is available immediately as a public beta to the first 100 registered developers at no cost. After the beta period, the StickamAPI will be available through a pay-as-you-go pricing model. To learn more, please visit http://developer.stickam.com.

Related:

• Stickam Api Site
• Twitter / stickam
• Stickam API Lets You Build Your Own Live Video Site
• Limited Offer: Free Live Streaming Video API For Your Web Site
• HOW TO: Add Live Video to Your Applications (Stickam’s API)

The Debut of Ustream Mobile? Ustream Mobile vs Qik on 3G (Video)

This news comes by way Greg Kumparak of MobileCrunch and features a demo of Ustream.tv beta mobile client competing with Qik in a side by side comparison of the two separate live streams from two Nokia N95s. The video was produced by wingerbb29 who gives thsi desctiption, "I test Ustream Mobile (beta) and Qik on 3G. Results = Ustream Mobile is live while Qik is extremely delayed."

Greg Kumparak says, "While details are still somewhat sparse, we’re hearing that Ustream.tv’s got at least one trick up their sleeve to make their offering stand out: drastically shorter delays in getting your live content onto viewer’s screen."

You can see for yourself in the video below.



Zach Epstein of Boy Genius Report says,"Under the presumption that the video above didn’t use any 3G/WiFi vs EDGE trickery, Ustream.tv is apparently working on a mobile streaming application with some pretty phenomenal efficiency. No, the world probably doesn’t need another mobile streaming app / service combo - the big three, Qik, Kyte, and FlixWagon , do a pretty good job of filling the need. Ustream.tv must have missed that memo however, because it is supposedly in the process of pushing its own solution out to market and from the looks of the demo video above, it might make a bit of a splash." - from Ustream.tv working on a Qik killer, maybe : Boy Genius Report

Greg Kumparak added that,"While no one’s really looking to share the secrets of their methods, we’re being told that Ustream.tv has shifted a good amount of the video transcoding process to the hardware, presumably for maximizing bandwidth and better utilizing free processor time on the handset." He also pointed out that Ustream mobile does not have chat support like Qik.

Robert Scoble who says he was Qik's first user is moving away from Qik and leaning more to Kyte for mobile broadcasting for several reasons which he stated in his comments on this related MobileCrunch post, Interview with Qik Co-Founder Bhaskar Roy: Competition, iPhone, and Android. He intimated that the chat room support in Qik is very poor compared to Ustream, Stickam, or Kyte.tv.

2008 has been a big year for live mobile broadcasting and the innovation and widespread use should continue into 2009. I've tried all the major live mobile broadcasting platforms and Qik is my personal favorite. Although with Ustream.tv's popularity its mobile client will be highly anticipated. More details should be coming soon.

You can also check out these other live mobile streaming applications from Stickam Mobile, Bambuser and MBIT.TV.

Stickam Joins the Fun, Introduces Mobile Application

Last week Stickam joined the ranks of the live mobile streaming services like Qik, Flixwagon and Next2Friends with it's release of Stickam mobile. I had the opportunity to test it out on a Nokia N95 that is on loan to me from Nokia/WOM World. While I couldn't get a connection through my 3G carrier ATT Media Net I was able to connect at home through my Wi-fi and it worked flawlessly. It turned out to be one of those, "Oh, I'm broadcasting?" moments because I didn't know what to expect and it worked right away and really exceeded my expectations.

I included the archived video of the live stream that was recorded and available just minutes after I stopped streaming. While it's not that exciting of a video it does give you an idea of how easy it is to use and the quality. Stickam Mobile seems to be a very stable platform and I plan to use it more. If you have a Stickam account you might want to try it to.





Here's the announcement from the Stickam Blog:

Stickam Blog » Stickam Goes Mobile!
We’ve finally release the beta version of Stickam Mobile, which will be available for all Nokia Series 60 3rd Edition platform phones. Stickam Mobile has been tested on the Nokia N95 and Nokia N80 phones but it should work on any Nokia S60 phone.

Free yourself from the wired and often clunky bondage of computers and Go Live on Stickam from your own mobile phone anywhere!

We’ve finally release the beta version of Stickam Mobile, which will be available for all Nokia Series 60 3rd Edition platform phones. Stickam Mobile has been tested on the Nokia N95 and Nokia N80 phones but it should work on any Nokia S60 phone.

Installing the Stickam Mobile application to your Nokia phone is easy and only takes a few minutes. Just follow this link to get started: http://www.stickam.com/member/mobile/signup.do

About Stickam:
"Launched in February of 2006, Stickam.com emerged as the first social networking website that focuses on live video streaming, reaching over a million streams viewed each day. It features embedding and social profile features for your web pages, online auctions, company web sites and blogs. The Stickam’s multimedia player can be embedded onto any website and allows members to personalize their web pages with live stream, video, music, pictures and chat. Stickam site is a destination for exiting live streams and interaction with other members. Thousands of categorized live streams can be found on Stickam 24/7." - from Crunchbase

Related:

• Stickam Adds Mobile Video Streaming to Compete With Qik, Flixwagon - Mashable
• Stickam Takes the Show on the Road - AppScout
• Stickam - How to - Stickam Mobile
• Stickam Goes Mobile to Compete with Qik | Epicenter from Wired.com
• Stickam Mobile Enables Live Video Streaming On-the-Go!

Update: Added background information on Stickam.

YouTube to Stream Live Video in 2008? Co-founder Steve Chen Says Yes!

As part of the third episode of her new show Pop17, video blogger and producer Sarah Meyers scooped the YouTube live video streaming story when she caught up with co-founder Steve Chen at a recent YouTube party in NYC. In describing the episode, Lifecasting and Lifecasters, Meyers writes that, "A variety of live streaming platforms with social networks are propping up a new kind of online voice." Lifecasting pioneer Justin Kan along with iJustine, Chris Pirillo and Sarah Meyers herself represent a few of the many online voices. She lists "several common live streaming platforms: Mogulus, Justin.TV, Ustream, Blog.tv, Stickam, Yahoo Live, Qik." According to Chen, YouTube has been wanting to do live video and may enter that arena sometime later this year.



Related (courtesy of TechTicker.net):

• “YouTube Launching Live Video This Year, Chen Confirms“, ReadWriteWeb, 28 February 2008
• “Yahoo! Live and Ustream.TV", Tech Ticker, 29 February 2008
• “Confirmed: Live Video On YouTube This Year", TechCrunch, 29 February 2008

• “The Daily Poll: Live Video – Who Will Win?", Mashable, 29 February 2008
• “YouTube Will Win Live Video?", Mashable, 29 February 2008

Update: (Two more live streaming platforms worth checking out)

• Livevideo.com - The World is Watching
  
• Netineo - The Live Network
  

Yahoo Launches Live! A New Live Streaming Service... Well, Sort of

In the midst of an impending takeover by Microsoft, Yahoo launched a new "experimental" live streaming service, called Yahoo! Live, which has already seems to have reached capacity on its first outing.

Both ReadWriteweb and TechCrunch reviewed the new site describing its functionality and Michael Kirkpatrick of ReadWriteweb, who tried to cover the launch live wrote, "It looks pretty good though early tests are experiencing scaling issues already. Apparently, the company that gets more web traffic than anyone on earth is incapable so far of handling 400 people watching 30 live video streams. Actually, a flood of early adopters just came in via Twitter and the thing promptly broke - completely as far as I can tell. The service combines many of the best practices developed by early explorers of the medium, tiny startups that must be very worried tonight. Part BlogTV, part Mogulus and just plain better than UStream"



















On the Yahoo! Live blog, Michael Quoc, Director of Advanced Products, describes the service as, "a new experiment in live video from the Advanced Products team at Yahoo!. Y! Live was dreamed up as a way to make it possible for anyone to create their own live video experience. Broadcast the concert you’re at. Webcast your own live DJ set. Lifecast. Build your own live video speed dating application. We’ve created a website and an API that lets you do all these things and many more."

Quoc continued that, "Keep in mind that Y! Live is an experimental release.... Y! Live is a limited capacity release, so bear with us as and we may reach our limits in periods of high traffic. Our top priority now is to hear your feedback – send your comments to ylive@yahoogroups.com, and follow our twitter feed to hear about headline broadcasts and notable things happening live."

Regarding it's experimental state, Chad Dickerson, Sr. Director of Yahoo's Advanced Product Team, commented on TechCrunch that, "Needless to say, we’re aware of and not surprised by the stability issues (ironically, someone sent me a message via Twitter about the servers getting pounded and Twitter timed out just before it delivered the message! C’est la vie.) This is an experiment (see our post on Yahoo! Next for more about the product and API — http://next.yahoo.net/archives.....s-watching ).

As it joins the ranks of it's live streaming competitors (Stickam, Justin.tv, Ustream, Mogulus and Blogtv) it will be interesting to see how Y! Live evolves and becomes more stable over time. Given that you gotta wonder what Google may have up it's sleeve.

UPDATE:
Sorry Y! Live but here's another TechCrunch review on the the launch, Yahoo Live Fails to Scale

VentureBeat - 14 Ways to Broadcast Yourself… Live

This recent article on VentureBeat is a great round up of current live video streaming and lifecasting services by David Adewumi on:

14 ways to broadcast yourself…live

In this excerpt, he writes, "Live TV is just starting to take off, and below I present a select list of competitors, and why I love ‘em, hate ‘em and sometimes both. I prefer Kyte and Mogulus for being able to create and broadcast an innovative show, while UStream.TV has aligned with big-name personalities like The Plain White T’s that are fun to take a look at. In the Mobile sphere, Qik seems to be the dominant force, allowing users to stream mobile to internet with only a 5-second delay, but FlixWagon will be hot on its tails when it releases a public alpha in January."

Others on the list include AT&T, blog.tv, Comvu, flixwagon, loobs, Justin.tv, operator11, seesmic and Stickam.

Dan Taylor posted a similar round up on his Fabric of Folly blog in August 2007 with many of the same companies at:

Round-up of DIY live video streaming services

Dan's list also included Veodia, YouCams, and MyStreams.tv.