A friend recently consulted me about streaming media and video-on-demand solutions available to satisfy the requirements of a distant learning initiative to be implemented by one of his customers. While explaining to him the many options available I realized that not many people are aware of how much the streaming media ecosystem has changed in the last few years and that there are several open source platforms and solutions available for streaming audio and video over the Internet, lowering the cost of such endeavors and making the implementation of pilot and fully functional initiatives much more affordable and accessible to all kind of organizations.

Commercial Solutions
 

• Accordent Solutions
  http://www.accordent.com
   
• Adobe (Macromedia) Flash Video Server
  http://www.adobe.com/products/flashmediaserver
   
• Apple Quicktime Streaming Server.
  http://www.apple.com/quicktime/streamingserver
   
• Destiny Media Technologies Clipstream
  http://www.clipstream.com
   
• Forbidden Technologies FORScene
  http://www.forbidden.co.uk/products/scene
   
• Intel IP Services.
  P Multimedia Subsystem, IPTV, Mobile TV
  http://www.intel.com/netcomms/solutions/ims
   
• Microsoft Windows Media Server.
  http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/forpros/server/server.aspx
   
• RealNetworks Helix Server.
  http://www.realnetworks.com/products/media_delivery.html
   
• TurnStyle Andromeda (mp3 streaming)
  http://www.turnstyle.com/andromeda
   
• VideoVista
  http://www.vista.it
   
• VX30 Streaming Video Solutions
  http://www.vx30.com
   

Free and Open Source Streaming Video Solutions

• AMpache - Web-based audio file manager
  http://www.ampache.org
   
• Darwin Streaming Media Server
  Open Source version of Apple´s Quicktime Streaming Server
  http://developer.apple.com/opensource/server/streaming
   
• ePresence
  http://www.epresence.tv
   
• FFServer (parte de FFMPEG)
  http://ffmpeg.mplayerhq.hu
   
• FreeCast (peer to peer streaming)
  http://www.freecast.org/
   
• GNUMP3d Streaming MP3 / Media Server
  http://www.gnu.org/software/gnump3d
   
• IceCast
  http://www.icecast.org
   
• Logitech SlimDevices SlimServer
  http://www.slimdevices.com/pi_features.html
   
• MPEG4IP
  http://mpeg4ip.sourceforge.net
   
• SHOUTcast
  http://www.shoutcast.com
   
• UnReal Server
  http://www.umediaserver.net
   
• VideoLAN Server (VLC).
  http://www.videolan.org/vlc/streaming.html
   
• Zina (mp3 streamer, open source equivalent to Andromeda)
  http://www.pancake.org/zina
   

Other Applications

Special mention should be made of Dyne:bolic, a fully functional Linux distribution loaded with multimedia production (audio, video editing, ect.) software all ready to run from a single CD, without requiring any installation and able to run on computers with limited memory and processing power.

• Dyne:bolic
  http://www.dynebolic.org
   

Orb allows users to stream their own content over the web through their own devices to other devices they own. This allows for example to watch a dvd from your DVD player in your mobile phone away from home.

• Orb
  http://www.orb.com