Sympatico.ca, Bell Canada's consumer portal, has introduced an "iPad-ready" Web site with video delivered using the HTML5 standard and powered by Brightcove's video-publishing system.
According to the telco, Sympatico.ca's news and entertainment video portal can now be viewed on any HTML 5-compatible device, including the Apple iPad, iPhone and iPod touch.
HTML5, a standard maintained by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), includes support for video playback within a browser. Previously, browsers have needed to use a plug-in, such as Adobe Systems' Flash, to handle video. Brightcove's HTML5 video solution is currently used by media organizations like The New York Times and Financial Times.
Brightcove's HTML5 features also provides Sympatico.ca with support for intelligent device detection, playlist rendering, and playback of H.264 encoded video content on HTML5-compatible mobile devices which allows the site to deliver H.264 video simultaneously to Adobe Flash and HTML5 clients.
"Sympatico.ca is one of Canada's leading destinations for online video content, and we're committed to providing the same high-quality experience to consumers on any device," Sympatico.ca product manager for video Gavin Lucas said in a statement. "The Brightcove platform helps our organization stay on the leading edge of technology trends and accelerate time to market for our video initiatives, which must now include both the PC Web and new mobile devices like the iPad."
Sympatico.ca, launched in 1995, provides local, national and worldwide online content through a network of sites including Fashionism.ca, CelebEdge.ca, InMusic.ca, InMovies.ca and Push.ca.
Other Canadian media sites that use Brightcove's video-publishing platform include Rogers' Citytv and Quebecor's Canoe.ca video portal and its Sun Media newspaper and local Web site network.
Investors in privately held Brightcove, founded in 2004, include Accel, AllianceBernstein, Allen & Co., AOL, Brookside Capital, General Catalyst Partners, Hearst, IAC/InterActiveCorp, Maverick, Transcosmos and The New York Times.
