Zixi LLC Announces Zixi Ramp at IBC 2013
Cloud-based video delivery system uses Internet to revolutionize video distribution
Amsterdam—IBC 2013(13 Sep 2013)
Zixi LLC (www.zixi.com) today announced Zixi™ Ramp, a new cloud-based video delivery system for professional content providers, videographers, sports, live website events, news gathering and remote events. Zixi Ramp provides advanced media services and overcomes the challenges of transporting studio-quality video content over the public Internet.
Zixi Ramp extends planet-wide the ability to contribute video to a variety destinations in popular video formats and protocols. For example, current contribution applications are dependent on the availability of “nearby” CDN ingest points. With Zixi Ramp, distance to the nearest ingest point or CDN is no longer a consideration. Zixi Ramp also removes the need for specialized first-mile connectivity, such as fiber or satellite connections. Now, content creators can simply show up at a venue offering Internet access, connect to Zixi Ramp and instantly deliver video to their websites or devices in pristine quality. Zixi Ramp offers ground-breaking ease of use which significantly reduces the technical complexity of originating and delivering high-quality live video.
“Content-delivery networks have solved the problem of distribution of live video but not the challenge of getting studio-quality video into their networks,” said Dennis Albano, CEO, Zixi LLC. “Zixi Ramp solves this problem with an innovative technology that is as easy to use and acquire as it is reliable and scalable.”
Zixi Ramp is implemented by a downloadable Zixi Ramp client that accepts video directly from cameras and/or hardware or software encoders, prepares it for transmission via the Internet or private IP networks and flawlessly transmits it to the Zixi Ramp server. The Zixi Ramp server running in Amazon Web Services’™ (AWS) global cloud accepts incoming video and hands it off to the user’s selected destinations and formats.
Breakthrough ease of use; 100% cloud-based
Particular attention has been paid to ease of use in buying and using Zixi Ramp. Zixi Ramp instances are purchased as needed from AWS Marketplace. AWS data centers are available around the world, making it possible to run Zixi Ramp just a few Internet hops from any ingest destination.
Using Zixi Ramp is an incredibly simple process: log in to Zixi Ramp’s web application in the cloud, download a small (less than 3MB) Zixi Ramp client and start using the service. When using an encoder or a camera with Zixi installed simply enter the IP address of the Zixi Ramp server into that device.
Connections between Zixi Ramp clients and the user’s cloud-based Zixi Ramp server are automatically configured. On receipt at the Zixi Ramp server, the video is converted to popular video formats for streaming to websites and mobile devices or video can be delivered to CDN destinations using Zixi Ramp’s graphical administration application. With its automatic setup technology, Zixi Ramp has reduced the complexity and technical skills required to originate and deliver live video over the public Internet.
Broad device and standards support
Zixi Ramp supports any device and software that is capable of producing either MPEG-TS or RTMP output. Transporting these video protocols over the Internet is not reliable and Zixi Ramp solves this problem by safely transporting video in pristine quality to its destination. Zixi Ramp supports the following devices:
- Output from Zixi Feeder
- Zixi-enabled encoders, including Ateme® Kyrion®; Thomson Video Networks ViBE CP6000 Contribution Platform; Teradek™ Cube™; Haivision™ Makito™
- Any encoder that produces standard MPEG-TS
- JVC’s® GY-HM650U professional video camera No external encoder is required
- Telestream’s® Wirecast® live streaming production software
- Livestream Studio™ Live Production Switcher
- RTMP encoders, such as Adobe’s® Flash Media Live Encoder (FMLE)
Live demonstrations of Zixi Ramp services are being conducted in Zixi’s exhibit in IBC’s Connected World exhibit (booth 14.342) at IBC 2013 in Amsterdam, NL from September 13 through September 17, 2013. Zixi Ramp will be available in the Amazon Web Services Marketplace in early October, 2013.
About Zixi
Zixi (www.zixi.com) is revolutionizing the ingest, transport and delivery of studio-quality video on the Internet. By enabling broadcast news, live sports, service providers, enterprises and video equipment manufacturers to use unmanaged IP networks like the Internet for their content, Zixi redefines the cost of acquiring and distributing video. Zixi enables new business models and promotes the creation of new services while delivering extraordinary quality and flexibility. Zixi’s unique three-point architecture eliminates the problems in transporting video that are inherent in IP networks and delivers video of unprecedented quality with no stutter, packet loss or frame-freeze regardless of network conditions. Customers using Zixi to enhance their users’ experiences include NASDAQ OMX, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), Stryker and News Corp. Zixi is privately held and based in Waltham, MA.