macromedia flash flashcom: Hello,

I want to know if a flash based video chat solution needs mandatory the Flash
Communication Server product.
Are there alternative solutions for the development of a flash based video
chat module without the need of the Flash Communication Server.

Thank you,

Mihai PALADE

Hi mpalade,

If you have time and programing skills, you can always develope a chat server
yourself at the back-end with Flash at the front-end. Chat in text is very
easy but in audio/video is not easy!

Jeffrey

Hi,

What do you mean!?
1. Having Flash on client and Java application as server, or
2. moving totally on a Java solution, client and server

Thanks,

Adica vroiam sa zic client flash, aplicatie server java =)
Translated: I ment flash client, java app as server

Chat in Flash is easy... just http://www.oregano-server.org/

However, getting video into flash is not easy. I know of people who have
managed it by converting live feeds into images, then refreshing the image
continuously in the client flash application, which in effect mimicks live
video transfer, but that is a totally inefficient way to do things.

Flash uses a video codec called H.263 (I believe anyway) which can also be
streamed through a Java server application using the JMF extensions which Sun
provide for free. This can be a little buggy, but if done right, it's
definitely a feesable option. The only difficulty would be in getting flash to
commit to a constant two way connection with your server and sending your video
feed to it. If you can manage that, then maybe you have a viable alternative
to Flash Communication Server :)

P.S. If you do, please email me ;)