Using our service is very easy: once you open an account, you simply send us your videos, either by uploading already encoded media files via FTP or by sending us the videos themselves for us to encode. If you upload your own files, simply send us an email when that process is completed. We will then respond with the links to embed within your web site (normally our turnaround time is very fast). When a visitor to your site activates a link to one of your videos on our servers, the video will automatically open up and start streaming through a player already installed on your visitor's computer. Normally, your visitor won't have any idea that your video is streaming from servers other than the one hosting your web site. Unlike many other services, we don't force your visitor to go to a "VideoHost.com" web page in order to view your media files, nor do we include the “VideoHost.com” name within the URL.

We are located in San Diego, Calif., and have been continuously operating since September of 2000.

Unlike many, if not most, providers of this type of service, we fully administer our own in-house fiber optic based server network. This means greater reliability and faster response times for our clients.

We use primarily Dell™ servers and both Windows™ and Linux operating systems running on Pentium class CPU's. Specialized streaming servers reside within these operating systems. We have fully integrated fiber optic connections to our ISP, which means that from backbone to server room, we are fully fiber optic.

Unlike nearly all video sharing outfits, VideoHost.com is a service professional that allows your visitors to access your media directly from your own web site using the media player of your choice. Importantly, video sharing sites will generally restrict format type, limit video length and size, and offer reduced quality in order to save their resources.

We offer audio hosting for the Mp3, Windows Media, and Real Networks formats. Podcasting services are offered as well in both the Mp3 audio and the Mp4 video formats.

We do not. Our exclusive business is streaming multimedia files through our clients' web sites. You are free to use your own preferred web hosting company when utilizing our service.

We do under some circumstances. Our clients realize that media files are much different than regular "web files". Media files are MUCH larger and are more stringent in their naming and technical requirements. Also, legal requirements dictate that we must be vigilant when it comes to objectionable and copyright protected content. The bottom line: restricting access is for everybody's protection...ours AND yours.

For most clients, using an FTP program is the easiest way. Once you open an account, we will provide you with the necessary information in order to transfer your files. We recommend using the "Cute FTP" program, which may be downloaded from www.globalscape.com.

Encoding and compression is a process through which your video is made "Internet friendly". Encoding turns your video into digital computer code; Compression "shrinks" that code into a relatively small file size that is appropriate for Internet streaming. The most popular streaming formats are Windows Media, Flash, QuickTime, and Real Media. VideoHost.com can encode and compress your video from many sources, including both tape and DVD. Discounted rates are available depending on the source format and desired streaming formats. We’re also happy to give advice on limiting file size while maintaining quality. Please contact us for further detailed information about encoding video for the Internet.

Streaming video arrives to the viewer in "real time", without the viewer having to wait for it to download somewhere on their computer before being able to view it. A viewer can jump to different areas within the video at anytime. Also, streaming video dynamically adjusts to Internet conditions along the journey from server to viewer.

Progressive downloads are video files that must be downloaded somewhere on the viewer's computer in order to play. For high-speed Internet users (cable modem or DSL), the video will usually start playing as it's downloading, thereby emulating streaming video.

The vast majority of viewers will not be able to download and save streaming media. A streaming video, unlike a progressive download, is not designed be saved on the viewer's computer, however it may “cache” in a media player but is generally not accessible. A viewer can save a link to the video, however embedding the player and masking the links helps prevent that from occurring. That said, there is very little on the Internet that is 100% safe from being copied by a determined hacker, other than financial transactions utilizing sophisticated encryption technology.

Yes. Streaming video requires special server software that allows for communication between the server and the media player. A progressive download video file can be served from a standard web server, however a large amount of bandwidth must be available in order for the file to be quickly and efficiently delivered to the viewer.

Yes, but the viewing experience is, by necessity, very poor. A streaming video optimized for 56k viewers should have a small viewing area (160x120 pixels), and a reduced bit-rate of 39 kbps or less. A progressive download video for 56k users can be of higher quality, but requires a larger file that may require a long time to download.

Generally speaking, a maximum bit-rate of 400 kbps (video and audio combined) offers the highest probability of reaching a typical broadband viewer. Even though media files leave the VideoHost.com facility at a very high rate of speed, a viewer with a slow Internet connection may have trouble watching streaming video.

The HTTP streaming protocol has the best chance of getting through firewalls. Special streaming protocols, such as MMS for Windows Media and RTMP for Flash, have a much higher likelihood of being blocked. For that reason we recommend streaming using HTTP whenever possible (both Flash and Windows Media may be streamed using HTTP).