According to estimates video accounts for more than half of bandwidth usage globally and H.264 is the format (codec) that represents more than 80 percent of all online video files. Members of the International Telecommunication Union have recently agreed on a new video format which is based on H.264.

This new format, H.265 — formerly know as High Efficiency Video Coding’ (HEVC) – ”will considerably ease the burden on global networks”. It will require half the bit rate of its predecessor to deliver the same video quality once implemented to future proof online video distribution. While currently only in first-stage approval (consent), once fully agreed upon, it can dramatically decrease data consumption as manufacturers and content-providers will start switching to the new format.

H.264 is currently being utilized by companies like Apple, Intel, Microsoft, Motorola, Nokia, Samsung, Sony, Toshiba, to name a few.

Source: ITU

Via: iClarified