Gearing up for the mobile video explosion

Multiple reports recently have highlighted the excitement and opportunity developing around mobile video, and major online video players have made strategic decisions in order to support the coming flood of mobile video traffic.

First and foremost, this past week saw Apple and AT&T's very successful launch of the iPhone 3G S, which can stream HTTP video as well as shoot and edit video. With more than 1 million of the devices sold in less than a week, Apple has created more than 1 million additional end viewing points for mobile video, as well as more than 1 million additional mobile video capture points.

Qik announced this week that it will support mobile video uploads into Brightcove players, enabling Brightcove customers to upload mobile video from 130 different handsets.

CDN Limelight Networks also made several moves that reinforce its serious intent to be the mobile content delivery network of choice. It bought mobile ad delivery tech provider Kiptronic last month to improve its monetization efforts around mobile video, it announced IPv6 support to assure it supports future mobile devices with IPv6 addresses, and it showed off its support for thousands of mobile devices at NAB in April.

And finally, in a press conference today, Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes and Comcast CEO Brian Roberts alluded that the "TV Everywhere" initiative the companies are partnering on would seek to deliver video on-demand content to what ever broadband-connected device the customer wants. The ability to access cable network content on mobile devices would greatly increase the total amount of mobile video traffic. The success of the NCAA and CBS's March Madness mobile video coverage and MLB's recent announcement of support for mobile video shows how attractive these offerings are becoming as more and more consumers have a phone that can stream video.

While signs on the horizon point to this market becoming very robust, the viewing metrics have yet to demonstrate robust revenue opportunities. But as more people pick up the iPhone 3G S and its ilk, you can expect mobile video to start a rapid ascent in popularity. 

- Pete
@fierceonlinevid