目前全球主要的串流媒體(streaming media)軟體平台有Microsoft免費提供的Windows Media、RealNetworks的RealMedia和Apple的QuickTime，因各家廠商的產品對於各種影音檔案的支援程度不一，而且都有其獨家支援的檔案格式，所以對於消費者而言，可以提供的選擇性是多元化的。究竟有哪些因素會對使用者選購串流媒體軟體產品的策略有影響？本文將以客觀的態度，有系統地對目標進行研究與分析，並以實作探討，尋找使用者選購串流軟體的決策因素，由解析各因素之間的差異，試圖訂出一公式輔助初次進入串流媒體軟體領域的使用者做出選購策略的參考。
Currently, there are several major streaming media software available globally such as Windows Media provided freely by Microsoft, RealMedia by RealNetworks and QuickTime by Apple. Due to the differentiations on supporting to all various kinds of A/V files and with their own proprietary formats of those platforms, the choices for the consumers to purchase a streaming media product are diversified. Which factors will be influenced the strategy for consumers selecting suitable streaming media product? This study analyze those targets systematically with an objective attitude in searching factors of decision-making to purchase a streaming media software by the practical investigations. By analyzing the differentiations among factors, a standard rule to help those new entries for making their own strategy when they are purchasing a streaming media software was set up.
