Covering breaking news stories is now a snap more than ever for journalists. The Associated Press news service has teamed with Sprint to help reporters file broadcast-quality breaking news video over the nationwide Sprint Power Vision (EV-DO) Network using SNAPfeed, a store and forward video application developed by the AP.
Journalists equipped with SNAPfeed, a laptop, compatible camera and a Sprint Mobile Broadband Connection Card can send 60 seconds of breaking news quality video back to their broadcast newsroom in less than ten minutes on the Sprint Power Vision Network. Photographs and audio clips can be transferred even faster. The solution is a cost-effective alternative or adjunct to other transport options like satellite phones or trucks, allowing journalists to cover breaking news in environments where a truck is not practical or available. By greatly reducing the potential costs involved in transferring video remotely/wirelessly and freeing up the journalist to focus on editorial responsibilities, broadcasters become more competitive.
"With AP's SNAPfeed software, video at a breaking news site is only four clicks away from transmission," says Mike Palmer, Director of Broadcast Digital Distribution Systems and Strategy for AP. "Sprint's PCS Connection Card and Mobile Broadband service provide a transparent and automatic connection over which SNAPfeed transmits the video. Journalists don't have to worry about a separate login to the Sprint network—it's simply there and ready to use. Because Sprint has a robust EV-DO network in many markets and continues to grow, the Sprint Power Vision network complements this application,” Palmer says.
Sprint Mobile Broadband service is available nationwide in over 215 major metropolitan markets (populations over 100k) and in over 466 airports. AP tested the Sprint service in a number of markets and found that Sprint Mobile Broadband works well with SNAPfeed, transmitting video from both stationary locations and moving vehicles. Error correcting and recovery mechanisms in both SNAPfeed and the Sprint service complement each other, ensuring video and other media make it back to the newsroom even if the signal is lost by a moving vehicle traveling through a tunnel or a non-service area.
“SNAPfeed is a perfect example of how customers can use Sprint Mobile Broadband to gain competitive advantages for their business,” said Barry Tishgart, Director of Marketing at Sprint. “With Sprint’s extensive Mobile Broadband coverage and AP Broadcast’s expertise in developing solutions, journalists can be productive anywhere they chose to work.”
SNAPfeed can be used and licensed to government agencies and emergency services as well as broadcasters for mobile video transfer to a central location. SNAPfeed allows journalists to transmit video files over multiple transmission mechanisms like broadband, wireless or satellite phone. A limited number of SNAPfeed licenses are available free of charge to existing AP ENPS customers.
The Sprint Power Vision Network is based on state-of-the-art EV-DO CDMA technology. Users with EV-DO capable devices will be able to access wireless data at average download speeds of 400-700 kbps and a peak rate of up to 2 Mbps. Sprint Mobile Broadband download speeds are roughly equivalent to DSL. Sprint Mobile Broadband and connection card information can be found at 1-866-782-6789 or http://www.pcsorders.com/associatedpress/ and http://www.sprint.com/wirelesshighspeeddata
Information about the SNAPfeed product is available at www.enps.com/features/snapfeed.aspx.
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