The media server market is gaining significant momentum as large end-user platform vendors release new products across the different product categories for digital distribution and content-shifting, both in the home and over the Internet. ABI Research believes that a media server strategy is fast becoming a requirement for platform providers both for retail and service provider technology.

“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 research director Michael Wolf. “We expect that platform providers will continue their push to integrate capabilities for secure distribution of content over home networks and onto the Internet.”

Some key vendor-related developments regarding enabling the media server market:

Apple’s announcement of its iTV media adapter has pushed Apple into the media networking and media server market.
Sony’s recent announcement that its Playstation 3 will be able to placeshift content locally and over the Internet to the Playstation Portable
Motorola’s Home Media DRV platform and Cisco’s media networking initiative are pushing their STB and consumer media platforms further towards whole-home media servers
Intel’s Viiv program and AMD Live have brought a significant number of new media networked devices to market to enable local and Internet distribution from media server PCs

Some of the key end-use applications for these media server devices include multi-room PVR and placeshifting of content. Companies like Orb and Sling Media, which enable the evolution of PC and set-top box platforms into media servers through aftermarket products, are seeing increased end-user traction as well.

“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,” said Wolf. “Once media servers provide new ways to consume content in new ways, these technologies will see mainstream adoption.”