For Immediate Release
Apple and Akamai Reveal Apple Investment to Cement Strategic Agreement
CUPERTINO, California and CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts-August 18, 1999-Apple
and Akamai Technologies today announced further details of their strategic
agreement regarding streaming media, as well as revealed an investment by
Apple in Akamai.
Announced in late July at Macworld Expo in New York City, the strategic
agreement centers on the integration of Apple’s QuickTime player and
streaming server technology with Akamai’s global Internet content delivery
service to provide Macintosh and Windows users worldwide with one-click
access to high-quality streaming video content. In addition to Akamai’s
integration of QuickTime servers into its network, Apple has selected
Akamai as its exclusive network provider for QuickTime TV (QTV).
To cement the partnership, Apple invested $12.5 million in June in Akamai,
for approximately five percent of the shares of the company at the time the
investment was made.
“We chose Akamai as the exclusive delivery service for our QuickTime TV
network because they have the best, most scalable architecture and proven
reliability,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s interim CEO. “Together, Apple and
Akamai will deliver the highest quality and easiest to use Internet
streaming video content available.”
“Our relationship with Apple is a major step in delivering high-quality
streaming,” said George Conrades, Akamai chairman and CEO. “QuickTime TV
offers Internet users a whole new viewing experience and empowers web sites
to create more engaging content.”
Apple has used Akamai’s global network to deliver copies of QuickTime and
Mac OS 8.6 software upgrades as well as the Star Wars: Episode I The
Phantom Menace movie trailer to Apple customers around the world. Apple and
Akamai have also broadcast two live events: Steve Jobs’ recent Macworld
Expo keynote and an Apple-sponsored Eurythmics concert.
In an unrelated press release today, Akamai also announced that Cisco
Systems has made an investment in the company.
About QuickTime
QuickTime 4 has been downloaded by over 10 million users since it was
introduced on April 19, and is the first Internet streaming solution to use
non-proprietary industry-standard protocols Real Time Protocol (RTP) and
Real Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP). Additionally, as part of Apple’s
Darwin Open Source initiative, the QuickTime streaming server source code
is available to developers at www.apple.com/developer.
About Apple
Apple Computer, Inc. ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s
with the Apple II, and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with
the Macintosh. Apple is now recommitted to its original mission-to bring
the best personal computing products and support to students, educators,
designers, scientists, engineers, businesspersons and consumers in over 140
countries around the world.
About Akamai
Akamai Technologies is transforming the way content is delivered over the
Internet. With an unprecedented guarantee for improving the speed and
reliability of Web sites, Akamai’s Internet content delivery network has
grown to over 900 servers in 15 countries, and serves over one-quarter
billion hits per day. Akamai’s customers include Apple, CNN, GO Network,
Yahoo!, and over 30 leading businesses ranging from new media companies to
eCommerce firms and financial Web sites. Headquartered in Cambridge, MA,
Akamai Technologies-www.akamai.com-has 150 employees. Akamai (pronounced AH
kuh my) is Hawaiian for intelligent, clever and cool.
Apple Press Contact:
Rhona Hamilton
Apple Computer, Inc.
(408) 974-6439
hamilton@apple.com
Akamai Press Contact:
Jeff Young
Akamai Technologies, Inc.
(617) 250-3913
jyoung@akamai.com