MX Telecom Video Gateway Service

Overview

With the continually increasing number of 3G handsets in the marketplace, video services are becoming ever more popular, and the demand is set to rise much further with the launch of Video Short Codes across all the UK mobile networks. The MX Telecom Video Gateway Service allows service providers to deliver live or recorded video content straight to an end user's 3G handset.

Making a video call is very similar to making a voice call. Simply by dialling a 5-digit Video Short Code and pressing the video call button on a 3G handset instead of the normal green 'voice call' button, end users can view video content directly on their mobile handset within seconds.

Unlike the existing 2.5G (GPRS download) environment, there is no need for a video player or Java application to be downloaded to the handset first. By dialling a Video Short Code, the end user is connected straight to the video content, via the MX Telecom Video Gateway.

Interactive Demo

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Contents

• Interactive Demo
• Recorded Video content
• Recorded Video content with full IVR functionality
• Live streaming of Video Content
• Splitting the Audio and Video Channel
• Two-Way Video Channel
• Outbound Video Calls
• Benefits of Video Short Codes
• 3G Video Short Codes vs. 3G Video Streaming using the Data Channel
• Video Short Code Launch Dates
• Uploading and Live Streaming of Content into the MX Telecom Video Gateway
• 3G Video Picture Quality
• Video Gateway Plug-ins
• IVR Menu Builder Plugin
• Pricing
• Account Setup
• Technical Information

The MX Telecom Video Gateway offers the following functionality:

Recorded Video Content

Recorded video content can be uploaded to the MX Telecom Video Gateway. End users can then access this video content by calling a Video Short Code. This will connect them to the service and allow them to view the video content on their 3G handset.

MX Telecom offers a web-based interface allowing the video content that end users view to be changed at any time, simply by logging in and uploading new video files.

Recorded Video Content with full IVR functionality:

The MX Telecom Video Gateway supports full IVR functionality. This means that an end user will be able to select different options during the video call by pressing various keypad numbers on their 3G handset, just as they would on a normal existing audio IVR service.

For example, the option can be given for an end user to view different content during the video call by e.g. pressing '1' on their handset for one option, or '2' for a second option, etc. This could, for example, apply to a sports service where users choose which of several football goals or highlights of a particular game they wish to view.

Video files can be uploaded through a web-based interface by the service provider to update a service at any time. The web-based interface allows menus and sub-menus to be set up, with a different video clip for each menu option. Additional options such as pressing the '*' key may be configured to return to the main menu or, for example, pressing the '#' key to move back up to the previous menu.

Live streaming of Video Content:

The MX Telecom Video Gateway allows content providers to stream live video content directly to The MX Telecom Video Gateway, such that end users are able to dial a Video Short Code and be directly connected to a live video service.

An example of a possible service is a reality TV show such as Big Brother, where end users can press different buttons for different live feeds of rooms in the house. IVR functionality can also be combined with live streaming.

Splitting the Audio and Video Channel:

Audio and Video content can also be split, so that during the live streaming of video content, the user can select the option to be connected to a call centre (while the video continues playing) by pressing the relevant keypad buttons on their handset. After talking to the call centre, the end user can be automatically switched back to hear the audio on the video clip that is playing.

Possible services could include live television feeds such as sports programs. An example where the video and audio content could be split is for a live feed covering horse racing, where the service could give the end user the option during the video call to be connected to an existing bookmaker's call centre in order to place a bet just before the start of a race. This could be done, for example, by pressing '1' on the handset if they wish to be connected to the call centre.

Any existing audio IVR service can be video-enabled by playing out a video file in connection to the service in the background.

For example, for an existing horoscope service, the end user could dial a Video Short Code and, whilst listening to the existing IVR service, could press the relevant keypad button for a particular star-sign, resulting in the audio content for that particular star sign being played, whilst a generic video clip is playing in the background. In this case there would be no need to change the existing IVR service; it is simply a case of uploading video content to complement the IVR service, and routing the audio part of the video call on to an existing IVR platform.

Two-Way Video Channel:

During a video call, the camera in a 3G phone always passes back a live picture to the MX Telecom Video Gateway, which can be stored and passed back to the service provider. This could be used for services such as a TV 'phone-in', dating services and video conferencing.

For example, an end user could make a video call where they can record a profile of themselves for a dating service. The service could prompt the user to press '1' on the keypad to begin recording their profile and then '2' to stop. They could then, for example, press '3' to confirm they are happy with the profile. Such a service could allow end users to view other user's recorded profiles, and record video mails for each other, should their dating criteria match.

Outbound Video Calls:

Rather than end users having to initiate a video call themselves by dialling a Video Short Code, the MX Telecom Video Gateway can also make outbound video calls, whereby an end user receives a video call to their 3G handset from a content provider. In this scenario there is a cost to the content provider for making the outbound video call.

Continuing the dating service example above, a live call can be made via the Video Gateway to an end user's 3G handset, allowing two end users whose profiles match (and whose consent has been given) to make a video call via the Video Gateway to each other, whilst allowing them to maintain their anonymity.

Another example is a sports alert service. An end user could subscribe to receive a video call of football highlights or goals. As soon as a goal is scored, the end user receives an incoming video call and can watch the highlights on their 3G handset.

Benefits of Video Short Codes

• Simplicity

  Users can access content by simply dialling a 5-digit short code and pressing the Video Call button on their phone. There is no need for a user to send in a request for content via SMS, or for a video player or Java application to be downloaded to the handset before the end user can view the video content. As long as the handset supports video calls, the MX Telecom Video Gateway Service will work.

• Several billing options are available

  Video Services can be set up with a variety of billing options, including:

  • A drop charge, made at the start of the call, of up to GBP 5.00
  • A per minute tariff rate, applicable for the duration of the call, at tariffs up to GBP 5.00 per minute
  • Any combination of a drop charge and a per minute tariff rate can apply
  • Per minute and drop charge tariff rates that are available can be found in the outpayment tables here.
  • Free-phone calls are available
  • Standard rate calls are available

• 5-digit memorable numbers

As with SMS and Voice Short Codes, there are obvious advantages to Video Short Codes. End users only have to call a 5-digit number, which is much more memorable than a standard 11-digit phone number. Users are more likely to remember the short code and therefore re-use the service.

The same existing 5-digit cross-network short code numbers can be used for SMS, MMS and voice services, as well as video services.

"3G Video Short Codes" vs. "3G Video Streaming using the Data Channel"

In the 3G environment, it is possible to view Video Content using two alternative channels:

1. Using the data channel - "3G Video Streaming"

   This is in effect offering a WAP-like portal (e.g. the 3UK portal, Vodafone Live!, Orange Kiosk etc., or a Java application that acts as a portal), through which an end user can navigate in order to eventually find the content they are looking for. Network operator portals use the data channel.

2. Using the circuit switched video call channel - "3G Video Short Codes"

   This is the MX Telecom Video Gateway offering as described above, which uses the circuit switched video call channel and allows the end user to view video content simply by dialling a number and pressing the video call button on their handset.

   The benefits of the video call channel over using the data channel are clear:

   • Simplicity - Dialling a short code and pressing one button is much simpler than having to type in or go to a URL and navigate through a portal, to eventually find the relevant content, and then download it on to the phone.
   • Per Minute Billing - This is not available when using the data channel (which is based purely around "per event billing"), but obviously is available for Video Short Codes, which offer both per minute billing and drop charges, as well as free-phone and standard rate tariffs.
   • Return Video Path - The camera in the end user's phone is always passing a live camera feed back, which can be used for many applications - for example, dating services and video conferencing.
   • Quality of Service - Guaranteed bandwidth is available for a video call, unlike video streaming, ensuring quality of service. This means that, as opposed to video streaming, the video call picture quality will not degrade when a cell gets busy.
   • Digital Rights Management - There are no DRM issues associated with video content accessible through the MX Telecom Video Gateway as content cannot be saved or recorded on to the 3G handset. If content providers wish to allow users to access content after viewing it on their handset, they can send the end user a URL (via an SMS or WAP Push message) through which to access the content.
   • No need to download a viewer - Some companies have written Java Applications to stream content to an end user's 3G phone. The main problem with this lies with the fact that the end user needs to order the Java application (usually via SMS), download it onto the phone, save it, install it and finally load it. This cumbersome procedure is not user friendly and can be very confusing to the average consumer - most of whom fail to successfully install and use such Java applications.

   With video calls, there is no such problem - again, the user simply dials a number on their 3G phone and all the functionality that a Java player would offer is available through the menu of options (IVR) available during a video call.

Video Short Code Launch Dates

The UK mobile networks are now beginning to launch a wholesale offering for Video Short Codes. These are due to be live on the UK networks at the following times:

The MX Telecom Video Gateway complements existing SMS, MMS and Voice Gateways, in that the same short code numbers are used for all of these types of messaging. Due to technical constraints, the following UK mobile networks are unable to set up cross-network short codes listed in the table below:

Video Short Codes can be set up with a different tariff rate to the same SMS or MMS short code numbers. I.e. if an existing SMS short code is set at GBP 1.50, the same Video Short Code does not have to be set at a tariff of GBP 1.50 per minute.

Video Short Codes tariffs can be free, standard rate or at any per minute tariff up to GBP 5.00. A drop charge of up to GBP 5.00 can also apply, and Video Short Code services can be set up with any combination of a drop charge and per minute billing tariff.

However, due to technical constraints on some networks, the voice short code will need to be set to the same tariff rate as the Video Short Code.

Uploading and Live Streaming of Content into the MX Telecom Video Gateway

Video content can be uploaded to the MX Telecom Video Gateway via the Internet using a fully web-based interface. This can also be used to regularly update the content for a particular service.

The following diagram shows the technical set up involved in using the MX Telecom Video Gateway:

The MX Telecom Video Gateway can accept virtually all video file formats (AVI file using MPEG compression is recommended), which can be uploaded using the web-based interface as described above. MX Telecom recommends that high quality originals are uploaded into the Video Gateway (i.e. content that has not been resized etc). The MX Telecom Video Gateway resizes and reformats (transcodes) the video ensuring the best picture quality possible on each handset type.

For live content, the MX Telecom Video Gateway supports the H.323 protocol (as used by Microsoft NetMeeting) for content providers to stream live content via the Internet into the MX Telecom Video Gateway. For further details, please see the Technical Information section of the web site here.

3G Video Picture Quality

The MX Telecom Video Gateway Service works by sending compressed video to the end user's mobile phone across a fixed bandwidth video call channel. Before uploading files to the Video Gateway, service providers should consider several points in order to provide the best quality optimised video content possible when viewed on a 3G handset. (This is irrespective of the video call channel or the data channel - it applies to all 3G video content):

• When sending compressed video, it is changes in the video frames (rather than each individual in its entirety) that get sent to the phone. Therefore a large number of changes in the video content itself use up a greater amount of bandwidth. High bandwidth content will result in lower picture quality and lower frame rate (i.e. if content has frequently changing camera shots, lots of movement and panning camera views). A better quality picture and frame rate will result from video content that has a fewer number of frequent changes.
• The more detail in the video, the lower the quality of the final compressed video content. Details such as the number of objects in the picture should therefore be kept to a minimum if possible.
• Similarly, if the main focus of the picture is an object or objects in the foreground, then it is recommended that the background of the picture is kept as plain as possible, without any objects, as this would lead to a poorer overall picture quality.
• Motion of objects should ideally also be kept to a minimum, as lots of moving objects will also affect the final picture quality. The camera should remain static if possible, but if it does move to follow an object - for example, during a clip of a football goal, then the camera direction should move in sympathy with the object motion.
• Moving images can be shown in slow motion, where this is appropriate for the content - again, for example, for a video clip of a football goal. Slowing down the motion will ensure a lower bandwidth is used, giving a better quality of picture than if it was played at normal speed. Commentary over the top of the video content should of course still be in real-time.
• The number of sharp scene changes should be kept to a minimum or avoided if possible. This is because much more information, and therefore more bandwidth, is required to construct a completely new frame in comparison to constructing a frame that is very similar to the one preceding it.

Generally, all video content can be uploaded to the MX Telecom Video Gateway. However, where content is specifically filmed for 3G handsets it is advisable to follow the above guidelines.

Video Gateway Plug-ins

The Video Gateway Service includes a number of so called "plug-ins", providing various different functions for Video Gateway services. Standard plug-ins that are automatically included in the MX Telecom Video Gateway service at no additional cost are detailed below:

• Single File Playout Function

  The Video Gateway Service allows service providers to upload single pre-recorded video files through the web-based interface, to be automatically played out when a user makes a video call to a Video Short Code

• Single File Video Recording Function

  The Video Gateway service includes the ability for an end user to record a video clip during the video call that they make to a Video Short Code. This is done using the camera on their 3G handset, which is constantly passing back a live picture to the Video Gateway.

  Before the end user selects an option to record a video clip themselves, an introductory clip can be played out first. This could introduce the service and then prompt the user to, for example, press '1' on the handset keypad to start recording their video clip.

  The end user's video clip is received at MX Telecom's Video Gateway. The service provider can then access these recorded video clips through the Video Gateway Service web-based interface, from where they can all be downloaded.

• Live Video Streaming

  The Video Gateway also supports live video streaming, which allows end users making a video call to a Video Short Code to view a live stream directly on their 3G handset.

  To set up a live video streaming service, the service provider would need to set up a video web-cast. (The Video Gateway supports SIP and H.323).

  MX Telecom can offer two different options for connections to the service provider's web cast; one to many streams or many to many streams. The one to many streams ensures that MX Telecom maintains one single connection to the web cast, so each end user who makes a video call to the Video Gateway will view the same live video stream via this one connection. The many to many streams option allows each end user making a video call to the Video Gateway to be connected to a separate dedicated individual stream from the service provider's web cast.

  Service providers can set up menu options through the web-based interface allowing end users to select various menu options for both live and pre-recorded content during a video call.

• Interactive Video Response Menu Builder

  The web interface to MX Telecom's IVR platform includes a menu builder plugin, allowing voice and video services to be set up or edited online in real-time.

  Services that can be set up using the menu builder are typically tree-structured with a root menu with numeric button-press (DTMF) options for viewing a live stream, viewing pre-recorded content or recording a video or voice clip. The menu builder plugin allows tree-structured call flows to be built up, with support for the most common operations at each point in the flow.

  Menu Operations supported include:

  • Play a single item of media
  • Play a list of media items
  • Play a live stream (one-to-many live stream broadcasting)
  • Record a video clip (with confirmation prompts as required)
  • Select a menu option using DTMF
  • Conference the user to an endpoint (one-to-one bi-directional live streaming)
  • Interrupt current playback/conference to return to the root menu or previous menu

  Service menu trees can be built and edited very quickly and easily via a user-friendly web interface:

  

  The following menu provides an easy way to set up the operations to be carried out at each point in the call flow (such as 'Play a file' or 'Make a recording' etc). The numeric button-press (DTMF) option to trigger each operation can also be selected:

  

If the service provider requires specific features or functionality to be added to the Video Gateway service beyond those described above, MX Telecom will provide a quote for access to such features on a case by case basis. Depending on the complexity of providing the requested functionality, a set-up fee may apply.

Pricing

Full details on pricing for the Video Gateway Service and Outpayment Tables can be found here.

Account Setup

A Video Short Code service account can usually be setup within two weeks.

The service includes the use of a fully web-based interface to upload video content to the MX Telecom Video Gateway via the Internet.

MX Telecom can video-enable either new short codes or existing ones (even if they are existing SMS short codes currently hosted by another aggregator).

Sign Up

To Sign up to a Video Gateway Service, please contact sales@mxtelecom.com or call 0845 666 7778 (+44 845 666 7778).

About MX Telecom MX Telecom is a leader in wireless technology. MX Telecom offers an easily accessible gateway to data, voice and video messaging services including 2-way and premium SMS, multimedia messaging, interactive voice response, location-based services, video short codes, Internet and TV related solutions. For more information, MX Telecom can be reached on 0845 666 7778, or via email at sales@mxtelecom.com.