A new viral video has been launched by Hatteras Networks, Mid-Band Ethernet Provider. Referring to video film content that gains popularity as it's shared on the Internet, through IM messages, e-mail, blogs and other media-sharing Web sites, Viral video is a term that was coined by a Harvard professor in 1996. As people see certain films they like or dislike, while the film is shared countless times over, they share their findings with others, who tell others and so on.

Amateur filmmakers taking advantage of inexpensive cameras and camera phones, and easy-to-use editing and publishing tools primarily produced Viral videos. And most early viral videos consisted of more personalized and humorous content that was shared with friends and family.

A number of companies stepped up to the plate and began using viral videos in their marketing strategies, with the proliferation of this new media. Among the first corporations to experiment with viral videos were for example Kodak, Trojan and Ford.

Cadbury's gorilla drummer video, last year, scored more than 5 million views on YouTube and was ranked the number one viral video ad in the world by the agency GoViral, based in London. With 3.4 million views, second-place honors went to the Smirnoff's Green Tea Partay film.

Viral videos offer a very cool possibility for companies looking for a new and exciting means of marketing themselves.

From commercial real estate, to enterprise software to Mid Band Ethernet access on the popular site successful companies are promoting everything, but household consumer brands like Cadbury, Smirnoff, Sony and Apple still have a strong YouTube presence.