AKamai Unveils Streaming Media Strategy; New Akamai Offering to Support More Streaming Formats Than Other Service Providers - Company Business and Marketing

Edge: Work-Group Computing Report, Oct 11, 1999

Akamai Technologies, which operates a global Internet content delivery service that speeds up Web performance, Wednesday announced the company's strategy for delivering streaming media over the Internet. With the introduction of FreeFlow Streaming, Akamai will be extending its first service offering, FreeFlowSM, to deliver live and on-demand streaming audio and video. Akamai will make its streaming offering available to customers in popular formats including Apple QuickTime, Microsoft Windows Media, RealNetworks RealSystem G2, and IceCast (for streaming MP3 music). Akamai's launch of FreeFlow Streaming will represent the broadest format support of any Internet content delivery service.

FreeFlow Streaming uses Akamai's proprietary technology to offer high-quality performance, reliability and scalability for delivering Internet content from the optimal server to each user based on real-time Internet conditions. This proven technology is central to the company's FreeFlow service for non-streaming content, and has been used to deliver 40 billion Web site hits this year, for a total of over 200 terabytes of content.

Akamai has already used its streaming technology for the delivery of streaming audio and video content. In its first month of use, Akamai delivered over 650,000 streams for customers. FreeFlow Streaming will deliver content for all types of streaming applications including live events, continuous broadcasts and archived content for audio, video, and other multimedia content. Remaining format independent, Akamai is providing its customers with support for what the market demands.

"Akamai customers are requesting our same level of reliability and performance for streaming media as they experience with our FreeFlow service," said George Conrades, chairman and CEO of Akamai. "In cooperation with our development partners - Apple, Microsoft and RealNetworks - we are excited to make high-quality streaming media a realization for Web site owners and Internet users worldwide."

FreeFlow Streaming is built upon Akamai's proprietary technology for the reliable delivery of Internet content. Akamai's service will enable Internet users to experience less packet loss and lower latency for higher quality and reliable delivery of Webcast content. Even when Internet congestion occurs, FreeFlow Streaming will redirect interrupted streaming sessions wherever a break happens - without the user noticing. For end users, the benefits include the reduction of jerky broadcasts, richer video encoding, higher fidelity audio and the creation of a larger picture than the current postage stamp standard.

FreeFlow Streaming will be delivered over Akamai's global network of 1,200 servers deployed in 24 countries across 40 carrier networks, ensuring that content remains close to end users while providing the capacity to accommodate large audiences. Akamai will make FreeFlow Streaming commercially available in Q4 of 1999. About Akamai

Akamai Technologies is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Akamai provides a global Internet content delivery service that improves Web site speed and reliability and enables richer, more engaging Web site content. Currently, Akamai has 1,200 servers deployed in 24 countries across 40 telecommunications networks. Akamai (pronounced AH kuh my) is Hawaiian for intelligent, clever and cool.