ABI: Media servers rising

Media server technology will play a growing role as digital content and distribution is increasingly a multi-platform affair, reports ABI Research. As a result, a media server strategy is increasingly a required part of major platforms for both the retail and service provider markets, according to ABI’s report, “Home Media Servers and Entertainment Hubs.”

Major platform providers such as Apple, Sony, Motorola, Cisco Systems and Intel are all moving into the networked media device space, as PCs, digital television, online and in-home gaming, digital music and other content is being delivered over in-home networks, ABI said.

“The market for networked media devices is seeing significant traction in the second half of 2006, and media servers are key component for the major vendors of platforms for consumer content,” said ABI Research Director Michael Wolf, in a prepared statement. “We expect that platform providers will continue their push to integrate capabilities for secure distribution of content over home networks and onto the Internet.”
Apple’s iTV media adapter, Intel’s Viiv program, Motorola’s Home Media DRV, Cisco’s media networking initiative and Sony’s ability to placeshift content via its Playstation 3 are all examples of vendor developments in the media server technology arena, Wolf said. Multi-room personal video recorder services that enable time-shifting of content, and devices such as Sling Media that enable device-shifting of content, also factor into this trend, he said.

“While consumers are hesitant to take on additional technology that complicates their lives, new and enticing use-case scenarios are steadily increasing adoption of different technologies,” Wolf said. “Once media servers provide new ways to consume content in new ways, these technologies will see mainstream adoption.”