Client: ActStream Technologies
Product: customer/partner portal
Technologies: Flash, HTML, ActionScript, SQL database, Flash Communication Server
Deployment Environment: web services, Linux Mail Server

http://www.actstream.com

ActStream's tools empower organizations and people to produce, capture, deploy, and track video-based media for a wide variety of business and personal communication purposes. Using a webcam, microphone, and desktop computer, users log into ActStream’s secure ASP application via the Internet. Here they use the software tools to create and deploy video-based media applications such as messages, applications, websites, newsletters, training and education formats, and presentations. A defining feature of ActStream's technology is its ease of use. Clients are able to create and deploy video-based media "on the fly," within minutes, and with little or no technical or design experience.

ActStream's products are sold as a managed service (ASP) in units of single or multiple user licenses. Managed service licenses are hosted at ActStream’s secure data center where clients share access to ActStream's streaming media, email, and database servers. Each user logs in through ActStream's website using a unique user ID and password.

As a relatively small start-up, ActStream was looking for a cost effective solution that maximized profits when deploying their software to medium and large organizations in the U.S. Further, they were looking for effective methods of managing, updating, and providing training and support. Providing a licensed, prepackaged, off the shelf offering was not an option due to the costs involved.

The solution was to develop software as a service model. The architecture was built on an ASP model delivered through a customer and partner web-based portal. ActStream customers could log on and use the software as needed. The portal includes all aspects of customer training, updates, and support.

APPLICATION DEPLOYMENT

The ActStream customer and partner portal is accessed via the web.

USER TRACKING AND MEASUREMENT

ActStream customers use secure user id and password login. All activity is tracked by participant and license number.

TrackStream was created to monitor and track user activity. TrackStream provides detailed information about access, activity, and response to rich media applications. Custom tracking of application activity is employed at a very detailed level, including buttons, responses, events, and duration.

TrackStream delivers unprecedented flexibility in the tracking of recipient activity. Perhaps just as important, however, it provides visibility to intended recipients who don't respond.