CertifiedVideo Frequently Asked Questions

This faq is divided into different sections by topic:

• CertifiedVideo, in general
• Content
  • General
  • Advertisements
• Player capabilities
  • Configuration
  • Current video controls
  • Playlist Control

CertifiedVideo Messages (in general)

• What ISPs/webmail providers support CertifiedVideo messages?
  CertifiedVideo is currently supported at AOL in their webmail service (http://mail.aol.com). CertifiedVideo is currently not supported in the AOL client software (9.x or 10.x desktop). We're working with our other partners to deploy the necessary systems and will have further support soon!
• What is a CertifiedVideo message?
  A CertifiedVideo message is a regular HTML message, just like the ones your company currently sends, except we have a special Flash® object to play the streamed content.
• What happens to CertifiedVideo messages if they are sent to non-supported providers?
  If a CertifiedVideo message is sent to a non-supported provider, the message will look the same except for the video player. If the player is not able to be shown (because non-supported providers block the Flash object) the player is automatically replaced by a static image that the sender provides. This is usually a snapshot of the content.
• How are CertifiedVideo messages able to be played? My ISP/webmail provider doesn't allow Flash in email.
  CertifiedVideo messages are also CertifiedEmail messages. With our strategic agreements with our partner ISPs and webmail providers, we get special privileges. The special privilege that CertifiedVideo leverages is the ability to play Flash and use JavaScript®.
• What systems and browsers do the CertifiedVideo player support?
  The CertifiedVideo player should work on any system that supports the Adobe Flash player. The CertifiedVideo player is not compatible with mobile clients using Adobe Flash Lite as it does not have the necessary functionality to play content designed for the Adobe Flash desktop player. Goodmail tests our default player for compatibility with: Firefox 2 and 3; Google Chrome 1; Internet Explorer 6, 7 and 8; Netscape Navigator 9; Opera 9 and Safari 3. Each webmail provider may have their own list of supported browsers other than what Goodmail tests for their customers.
• What does a CertifiedVideo message look like?
  CertifiedVideo messages look like any other HTML message, except that: a) the images are visible by default and links clickable (benefit of CertifiedEmail), b) they have the Adobe Flash player unblocked, c) they allow the necessary Javascript code used to run the player and d) they contain streaming content that isn't blocked by our partner ISPs and webmail providers. See our demo message.
• How do I make CertifiedVideo messages?
  Because CertifiedVideo messages are really regular HTML messages, you can use your current development tools and systems. The CertifiedVideo player is a simple Flash object that is easy to embed into your message.
• Do I have to also pay for CertifiedEmail to use Certified Video?
  The cost of sending CertifiedVideo messages includes the CertifiedEmail features. No additional costs are necessary if you use a supported Email Service Provider or MTA.
• Are there time restrictions on how much video I can push through the email?
  There are currently no time restrictions on the content for CertifiedVideo other than the content must be muted by default if the player is configured to auto-play.
• What does the CertifiedVideo message look like if I use POP3/IMAP to download my email?
  If you use a desktop client to download your messages from a supported provider, your messages are no longer CertifiedEmail. CertifiedEmail currently only works with webmail clients. When CertifiedVideo (or CertifiedEmail) messages are downloaded, the user's mail client treats them as regular HTML email.
  
• If a CertifiedVideo message is auto-playing on open, does it automatically loop and replay in the webmail client?
  At this time, individual playlist items are not loopable. The entire playlist can be configured to auto-loop (i.e. video 1, then video 2, then video 3, then back to video 1.)
• For viral messages (forward to a friend), are there any changes in the viewer experience of CertifiedVideo messages?
  Forward-to-a-friend messages can not be CertifiedEmail per our Acceptable Use Policy (because we can not verify the sender and the message was not opt-in requested). If a CertifiedVideo message is forwarded to someone other than the intended recipient, the message becomes un-certified (i.e. a regular email message). The video player will be replaced with the static alternate image by the webmail provider and images and links will no longer be clickable by default.
• Who hosts the video in CertifiedVideo messages?
  The sender is responsible for hosting the video contents of their CertifiedVideo messages. This can be done with a content delivery network (CDN) or on their web servers. Goodmail does not host videos for customers.
• What will CertifiedVideo messages look like on PDAs and mobile clients?
  If the viewer tries to view a CertifiedVideo message on a mobile client, the message will be viewable, but the player will be replaced by a static alternate image. This is due to the technical limitations of Flash Lite, found on most mobile devices. The ability to view CertifiedVideo message content requires the desktop version of Adobe Flash Player.
• How will the CertifiedVideo player and video content change the size of my email message?
  It won't. The CertifiedVideo player and content are not attached within the message itself. The player and video content are streamed in real-time.

Content

General

• What content can the CertifiedVideo player show?
  The CertifiedVideo player supports streaming and progressive download of .FLV files, playable in Adobe® Flash® Player as well as MPEG-4 video (see below). Additionally, overlay (logo) images and player buttons can be .GIF, .JPG, and .PNG. Transparency is supported in .GIF and .PNG (as these formats have native transparency support). Customers can submit .SWF files as well as their own custom players for approval (additional fees apply).
  
  MPEG-4 video must comply with Adobe's supported file formats and encoding methods for Flash. Here is a summary of what is in CertifiedVideo:
  
  

  File extension / File type	Name & Comments
  FLV and F4V	Video for Adobe Flash Player (see info on Adobe's site).
  Formats derived from MPEG-4 container	Requires H.264 video (MPEG-4 part 10) and/or HEACC v2 encoded audio.
  MP4, M4V, M4A	ISO/IEC 14496-14:2003 (aka MPEG-4 Part 14), files containing audio and video are MP4, video only are M4V, audio only is M4A
  MOV	Apple Quicktime (upon which MPEG-4 was based)
  MP4V	Normally raw mpeg-4 video streams, not inside MP4
  3GP and 3G2	Used for mobile phones, can also include content not defined for .MP4

• How many players can I put into a CertifiedVideo message?
  There is currently no limit to the number of players you can embed in your email message, however senders must take into consideration the bandwidth requirements each additional player adds to the viewer's experience.
• How large can the video in a CertifiedVideo message be?
  The CertifiedVideo player can play content of any size, however, senders need to keep in mind the bandwidth requirements to play the content. For example, the video shown in our demo message was encoded at 400Kbps. This means that a viewer on less than a 400Kbps Internet connection (like a slower DSL or dial-up) will have to buffer the content before it plays (this is done automatically).
• Are there content restrictions?
  The only restrictions Goodmail has on content are in our Acceptable Use Policy, section 2: Content.
• Can I show a non-ad welcome screen (splash scren) before the content?
  Yes. This is done via a configuration option. The default player supports static image files for the splash screen image (.GIF, .JPG and .PNG. If the viewer clicks the splash image, the player starts to play the content.
• Can I use the CertifiedVideo player to show Flash?
  Technically, yes, but you would need to submit a custom player and your flash .SWF for approval (additional fees apply). The default player rejects .SWF content (by design).
• Can I embed my own custom Javascript in my CertifiedVideo messages?
  No. Other than for use by our player, all other Javascript will be blocked and/or stripped from the message by the webmail providers for security.
• Can someone modify the Goodmail default player to add their own Javascript code?
  No. The Goodmail default player is hosted by Goodmail, not by customers. Any attempt by someone to modify the calling functions within their email results in the message being caught by the checkers at our partner ISPs and webmail providers. This will result in the message not being delivered as a CertifiedEmail message or worse, the message being rejected all together because it didn't pass our validation.

Advertisements

• Can I have advertisements in my CertifiedVideo message, and if so, what kind?
  Yes. Using the IAB video ad formats standards as a baseline, the following list shows what is acceptable for Goodmail's default CertifiedVideo video player. If your company is interested in using a customized player, please speak to a Goodmail representative for requirements and costs. Please refer to the IAB video ad formats standards document for definitions of the different ad types below.
  • Companion Ads. Companion ads are shown adjacent to or anywhere else within the message. These are generally .GIF, .JPG and .PNG files, but you could technically have a secondary CertifiedVideo player and run a second video within the message. To use a .SWF file, you would need to submit your .SWF and a custom player for approval (additional fees apply).
  • Linear video ads. Linear video ads are ads that are shown before (pre-roll), mid-stream or after the main content. These are supported by the default player by using multiple playlist items. Each ad is a unique .FLV file. For example, you could do the following: (pre-roll add) ad1.flv, (part 1 of 2 main content) main-content-part1.flv, (mid-stream ad) ad2.flv, (part 2 of 2 main content) main-content-part2.flv.
  • Linear video interactive ads. Interactive ads are not supported by the default player because they are generally custom .SWF files. To use an .SWF file as your content, your would need to submit this ad for approval as well as a custom player (additional fees apply)
  • Non-linear, non-overlay invitation ads. These are small ads that appear outside the player (generally above). These are considered part of the message content as they are not played within our player. As such, you would only be able to use content that the browser can display without the assistance of plugins or external players - .GIF, .JPG and .PNG files. Flash (.swf) files are not acceptable as they require the Flash player to be viewed. To use a .SWF file, you would need to submit your .SWF and a custom player for approval (additional fees apply).
  • Non-linear video ads.
    • Overlays are not supported by the default player. To achieve the functional equivalent of an non-linear video overlay, you would need to build this into the video or use provide a custom player for approval (additional fees apply)
    • Product placements within the content are permitted.
• Can each video/ad have a different destination URL if the viewer clicks the video (different destination for each ad shown)?
  Yes. This is done via the playlist configuration options. You can also configure visibility/functionality of the player buttons.
• What size ads can I have in my content?
  Goodmail does not have policies regarding our customer's content other than it must comply with our Acceptable Use Policy, section 2: Content.

Player Capabilities

Configuration Options Auto-play (play on page-load) Content buffering Logos / overlay of images Modify colors of the player inclouding control bar, background, border, etc. Modify width and height of player and content Modify behaviour of the toolbar (shown all the time, disappear after a few seconds, etc.) Mute (note: CertifiedVideo messages are required to be muted by default) Playlists / multiple content View in full screen mode Volume slider

Current Video controls Fast-forward and Rewind within current segment Next and Previous playlist item (also rewind-to-beginning of current item) Play/pause Stop playing Playlist control Show/hide playlist controls (in general) Show/hide specific buttons Prevent/allow rewind, fast-forward, skipping during any particular playlist item (useful to prevent skipping of an ad)

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