Streaming FAQs

Q1. What is BT Conferencing Streaming?

From a viewers' perspective it's a URL link through to a webpage that typically has audio, video and slides all delivered through an online connection. This can be viewed either:

• Live "as it happens" - where participants watch your event live via a web page
• On-demand recorded - where participants watch your event, via a web page after your event has happened.

Back to the top

Q2. What streaming services does BT Conferencing provide?

BT Conferencing offers a host of audio and video streaming services:

• Video streaming
  

  BT Conferencing's video streaming service can be captured via either:

  • Video conferencing equipment - the most popular way to capture a streamed video event
  • Satellite
  • Fibre
  • Onsite encoding

  Please speak with your BT Account Manager to discuss the most appropriate solution for you.

• Audio Streaming

  BT Conferencing's audio streaming service is captured using standard telephone conferencing equipment.
  What's included?
  All standard packages include the following:

  • Event duration: 2 hours average, can be extended - streaming begins 15 minutes prior to scheduled start time
  • Stream archiving for 90 days: with a defined number of times the stream can be viewed. (this can be varied with different package options)
  • Encoding
  • A registration page for people to register to view the stream. This can be customised and also password protected
  • User reporting: contains the results of the registration page entries, list of viewers and how long they viewed the event.
• Presentation package

  BT Conferencing's presentation package is a chargeable option that will enhance your audio or video streaming event.

  What's included?
  The following is included in this package:

  • PowerPoint slides: slides can be imported as PPT and are presented to viewers as static images. Animation is not currently supported. Multiple PowerPoint slides can be uploaded and selected when required.
  • Live, interactive Q&A: : typically a participant types in a question and the presenter can verbally provide the answer during the Q&A session. Alternatively, the answer can be emailed back to the participant. If the event is configured such that the participant can see the answered questions, then the presenter can respond directly to the participant and every participant viewing the stream will be able to see both the question asked and the answer.
  • Polling: this allows the presenter to push a poll to the participants. A popup window is displayed to all participants while the presenter has the poll open. The popup window is closed once the participant votes, or when the presenter closes the poll. The presenter can optionally choose to publish the results of the poll.
  • Corrective Polling: this option allows the presenter to pose a question together with some potential answers during the live and on-demand event. When shown in the on-demand event there is an option to pause the event playback until all questions in corrective polling group have been correctly answered.
  • URL broadcast: the presenter can choose to push a URL broadcast so that all participants get to see a nominated URL in a new internet explorer window. The URL can manually be entered or be selected from a predefined URL list. Closing the URL broadcast will close all participant viewer windows.
  • Flash broadcast: the presenter has the option of uploading and broadcasting a Flash file to all participants. The Flash file will be played over the slide window to all participants currently connected to the streaming event.
  • Content Indexing: on-demand indexing can by provided by presentation title slides or client-defined index and timings. Indexing is not supported by Firefox browsers.
  • Speaker Photos: : speaker photos can be displayed in the video window for audio streaming calls. Multiple speaker photos can be uploaded and selected when required.
• Additional services

  Including the following (additional charges apply for these services):

  • Stream consultation
  • Event management: custom productions
  • Custom HTML work: changes can be made to registration, launch, and viewer pages
  • Additional video encoding speeds
  • CD archiving of streamed events

Back to the top

Q3. What are the differences/similarities between Live Meeting, WebEx and Streaming?

Back to the top

Q4. How do I book a BT Conferencing streaming event?

You can book a streaming event by contacting either your BT Account Manager or our Customer reservations team on UK Freefone 0800 77 88 77 select option 3. International 44 (0)20 7298 4055

Q5. What do I need to view a streamed event?

To view a streamed event you will need:

• A Personal computer Either Microsoft Windows 2000/XP/Vista (or) Apple Mac OS X 10.3 With an operating system of:
  • 256 MHz or faster
  • 64 MB RAM minimum/128 MB recommended
  • 16 bit sound card
  • 65,000 (16 bit) colour video display card
  • Speakers

  If you are running one of the following operating systems: Windows 95, Unix or a Mac, you may experience issues viewing and/or listening to a streamed event.

• Internet connection
  

  For Windows operating systems, you must have either Microsoft Internet Explorer 6+ or Firefox 1.5+. For the Mac operating systems, you must have Mozilla Firefox 1.0.4. You can download a version of each browser by clicking on the links below.

  http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/search.aspx?displaylang=en http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/

  Browser security settings must have ActiveX and Plug-ins enabled. Please follow the steps below:

  • In your internet browser window: Click Tools >> Internet Options
  • Click the Security Tab >> Click the Custom Level button
  • Scroll down to Run ActiveX controls and plug-ins >> Select enable
  • Click OK
• You must have a streaming media player installed on your computer:

  We recommend that you use Microsoft Windows Media Player 6.4 or later* to receive streaming media. Should you experience issues with your current version when viewing a stream please upgrade to the latest version. You can download the latest version of Windows Media Player by clicking on the link below:
  http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/download/default.asp

  *Please note. Users of Mac OS X operating systems should use Real Player 8 or later to view streaming media, as the current version of the codecs used to convert streaming to the Windows Media Player is not supported on the Mac OS X operating system. You can download a version of Real Player by clicking on the link below:
  http://www.realplayer.com/

Miscellaneous
Using/viewing advanced features of a streamed conference

• You need to have JavaScript enabled to use the advanced features of a streaming webpage, which will depend on the overall streaming package you chose. Please consult your browser documentation on how to enable JavaScript or consult your network administrator.
• You need to have cookies enabled. Please consult your browser documentation on how to enable cookies or consult your network administrator.
• Your streaming webpage makes use of popup windows for advanced features such as URL pushes and exit surveys. Please set your popup blocking software to accept popup windows from your webpage.
• You need to have ports 554 and 1755 open. If your media player is configured for port 80 you still may receive streaming media. If you are unable to receive streaming media please contact your network administrator.

Q6. How do I know if I can receive streaming media?

Click here to test your system to determine if you can receive streaming media.

Q7. How much bandwidth is consumed whilst viewing a streamed event?

Consumed bandwidth depends upon the bit rate speed for the streamed event. Typically this is 22 kilo bits per second for an audio only stream and 300 kilo bits per second for a video stream. For viewers connected directly to the Internet this should present no problems, as each participant will have their own dedicated bandwidth. For viewers connected via a company Intranet, you will need to consult with your IT department to ensure that your network has sufficient Internet / Intranet bandwidth or support for streaming. For example, 1000 participants viewing a 300 kilo bit per second video stream from a company Intranet will consume 300 Mega bits per second unless the network has support for streaming.

Q8. Does streaming work through firewalls?

Yes, provided your firewall is configured correctly to allow streaming. Please contact your IT Department about possible firewall, proxy server, or other security systems in place that may block audio/video streaming media.

Q9. How secure is access to the stream?

Video and audio streams have to be played by standard PC / MAC players and for this reason can not be encrypted. However, there are several levels of event access restriction that can be applied to make your event more secure:

The simplest and lowest level of security is to apply a common password protection to your event. This is done via the VisualWebcaster platform, and can be applied and removed by either BT Conferencing or you as the customer.

One level higher is our Unique Username/Password security. Each participant is issued a unique username and password which is a one-time use access code. It will authenticate the PC it is first used on for that event, and will not work again on any other machine. Usernames and passwords can be provided by BT Conferencing or you as the customer.

A very popular technique for access restriction is to validate the participant's IP address against a list of pre-authorised addresses. We can also offer URL referral authentication, whereby you as the customer places a hyperlink to your event on an internal, access restricted page (on an intranet or similar access). Only participants clicking on the hyperlink on that page are permitted access to your event.

Finally, many corporate customers utilise internal Multicasting or Unicasting behind the firewall. This ensures that only users within that network can access the streams.

Q10. How are BT Conferencing Streaming services priced?

Please contact your BT Account Manager who will be able to advise you on pricing for our streaming services.

Q11. How do I invite participants to my live streamed conference?

BT Conferencing will supply you with your conference URL via a streaming invite confirmation email as part of the booking confirmation process. This should be emailed to your participants wishing to watch the live stream. The URL will become live 15 minutes before the scheduled start time of your conference.

Q12. How do participants view my recorded streamed conference?

After your conference has finished you can email your conference URL to participants wanting to watch your recorded stream. They simply click on the URL to watch your conference. Archived content will be available approximately 1.5 hours after the actual event duration. For example, if you have a two hour live event your recorded stream will be available approximately 3.5 hours after your event finishes.

Q13. When can I start preparing/uploading the slides, polling questions, URL's etc ready for the event?

If you have purchased the Presentation Package option then you can begin preparing for your event as soon as you receive your URL's. The URL's will provide you access to the web based Visual Presenter interface so that you can start to load the content for your event. Alternatively you can arrange for BT to run your event for you.