Adobe reaches out to mobile with Flash Media Server 4.5, Access 3.0
As mobile app development is switching gears more and more towards HTML5, Flash is still an option -- even for iOS.
Adobe is rolling out some major upgrades to its Flash Media Server 4.5 and Flash Access 3.0 platforms. The focus here is on mobile devices and enabling media publishers to be able to produce content for Flash-enabled devices.
Even more so, the upgrades to Flash Media Server offer the new opportunity to deliver video to the iPad and iPhone with full adaptive, bit-rate experiences.
Improvements to Flash Access 3.0 include support for Android tablets and smartphones, among other devices, that helps content providers deliver and monetize content to mobile devices securely. Beyond that is Adobe Pass, which is a back-end setup that should be so seamless that mobile users don't even know it exists -- except for the fact that it is intended to make things much easier.
Basically, Adobe Pass reduces the amount of times that the viewer has to enter login information for paid television credentials. For example, if a user is on CNN.com and wants to watch the live stream, that user is asked to register and enter their paid TV provider credentials (i.e. Comcast, Time Warner, Dish, etc.). From there, say this person wants to access paid-only content on HBO Go. In theory, that user wouldn't have to enter their ID information again on the same browsing session.
Of course, along with all of these Flash upgrades, Adobe obviously recognizes the strong interest in HTML5 with its Adobe Edge design tools.
Both Flash Media Server 4.5 and Flash Access 3.0 are available immediately. The latter item is being offered at per unit CPM pricing. The Flash Media Streaming Server 4.5 starts at $995, and the next level up is the Interactive Server edition at $4,500. An enterprise-grade option is also available for $45,000.
If you're looking for a freebie, a public beta version of the next edition of Adobe Flash Player is also ready to go.
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