Developers distributing multimedia over the Internet usually limit file size, primarily because most users connect at relatively slow speeds. At 28,800 bps, it takes 30 seconds to 1 minute to download a 60KB file. Using streaming playback can help you avoid some of the delays caused by downloading large files.

Movies and streaming SWA sounds always compete for control of the network, which can cause a noticeable problem on slower connections.

The following chart shows theoretical throughput times for various types of network access technology. The rates calculated for this chart are based on the average throughput rate shown. Actual download times vary and are highly dependent on the network conditions that exist at the time of download.