Leadership communications specialist CloudQast has announced that it’s able to produce interactive video on the iPhone following the release of iOS10 this September.

CloudQast director, Damian Gaskin, explained, “Interactive video on the iPhone hasn’t been possible until iOS10 without expensive bespoke applications. The release of iOS10 changes that and our platform is ready to take full advantage.

“Figures suggest that, by December 2016, some 75 per cent of all ‘i-Device’ users will be using iOS10, so that’s 100 million users now able to see interactive video.

“Until now, they could watch interactive video on Android devices – but not on iPhones.”

According to James Lindberg, of the Boston MA-based interactive video specialists, HapYak, interactive video is engaging, memorable and produces results, in terms of user learning but – so far – the USA’s 100m mobile web users, along with others around the world, who’re on iOS can’t use it.

Speaking during a recent HapYak webinar, James Lindberg said, “Video is the most engaging way to get your message across and out into digital media. Interactivity is what everyone on the web expects. Interactive video brings this together.

“iPhone is the fastest growing way by which video is consumed. Up to now, there’s been no standards-based solution that makes mobile video work on the mobile web with interactive elements. That’s different with iOS10.

“With iOS10 comes Safari10 – which is the delivery platform for mobile web content,” James added. “Safari10 enables in-line video.”

CloudQast’s Damian explained, “In iOS9 and before, you play video in QuickTime, not in Safari. In iOS10, video will play in its original box (in-line), not full screen – unless, of course, you want it to play in full screen – and it’ll do it via Safari.

“The video plays in the mobile device’s web browser – just like it would on the desktop. So you can continue to use HTML to affect that video experience.

“This makes interactive video possible and – as we know – interactive video engages users,” Damian continued. “Moreover, iOS10 allows video producers and, for example, learning administrators to track usage of the video materials and upload this data to a learning management system (LMS).

“At CloudQast, we see this is as a major step in the evolution of technology-delivered leadership communications, along with similarly delivered learning and development (L&D) materials,” he added. “We’re delighted that CloudQast is in the vanguard of interactive video technology, helping its customers to improve the reach, engagement and effectiveness of their L&D materials around the world.”

Established in 2010, CloudQast addresses organisations’ needs for fast, authentic, precise and inspiring communication – especially in the fields of leadership as well as compliance, along with learning and development. Working with companies around the world, primarily – but not exclusively – via Cloud-based, interactive video, CloudQast provides creative, intelligent and flexible solutions for leaders to share their ‘voice, mind and vision’ and, so, engage and inspire their people.