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Akamai and IBM Unveil Edge Computing Solution
A growing number of enterprises want to extend business applications to the Web to increase the efficiency with which they sell products and services, manage inventories and supply chains, and serve customers. These Web-enabled business processes require the highest levels of availability, reliability and performance due to their dynamic, mission-critical nature. By deploying the distributed application environment provided by IBM's WebSphere in combination with Akamai EdgeSuite for Java running in a globally distributed network, enterprises can benefit by further extending their Java-based applications and Web services closer to customers, partners and suppliers.
As a charter participant in the early adopter program, Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications will use EdgeSuite for Java based on IBM WebSphere to enable its sales-enhancing dealer locator application to scale on demand to reach users worldwide. "It's of critical importance to Sony Ericsson to leverage the Internet's reach and economies of scale to enhance existing business processes and uncover new opportunities," said Mats Frisk, core application architect, Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications. "EdgeSuite for Java based on IBM WebSphere will allow us to deploy applications that meet our requirements for 24/7, global business operations. For example, we'll be able to show potential customers, accessing our site from anywhere in the world, where to find the closest Sony Ericsson dealer."
"Our work with IBM will provide enterprises with the efficiencies of edge computing by delivering a cost-effective solution that extends the power of traditional computing models to achieve greater reach and reliability in a distributed environment," said Chris Schoettle, executive vice president, Technology and Network Infrastructure, Akamai. "With EdgeSuite for Java based on IBM WebSphere, Akamai and IBM are helping customers extend application execution to the Internet's edge, thus simplifying the extension of core business processes like supply chain management, customer service, and sales lead generation to the Internet."
"IBM is delighted to collaborate with Akamai to help customers enjoy fast, scalable and fault-tolerant applications that maximize business efficiency," said John Swainson, general manager, IBM Application and Integration Middleware. "As more and more enterprises realize the advantages of Web-enabling key business processes for cost savings and revenue-generating opportunities, they require a combination like EdgeSuite for Java and the industry-leading WebSphere software platform."
Akamai and IBM announced an agreement in October 2001 to explore the technical feasibility of processing distributed applications from the Akamai network using WebSphere software. Today, the companies announced that they are working with early adopter customers to refine requirements for the service, EdgeSuite for Java based on IBM WebSphere, which will enable enterprises and developers to extend more business functions to the Web. For example, by using EdgeSuite for Java based on IBM WebSphere:
EdgeSuite for Java based on IBM WebSphere will deploy application logic onto the Akamai Platform, enabling powerful Web applications and Web services to run close to requesting users with high performance and on-demand scalability worldwide.
About IBM WebSphere
WebSphere is the market-leading Internet infrastructure software, or middleware, for creating, running and integrating e-business applications across a variety of computing platforms. Built on open standards such as J2EE, XML and the new Web services standards, and endowed with IBM's core strengths of reliability, scalability and security, WebSphere server software and development tools are used by tens of thousands of customers and have shown 11 consecutive quarters of double-digit sales growth. For more information: http://www.ibm.com/websphere.
About Akamai
Akamai is a leading provider of secure, outsourced e-business infrastructure services and software. These services and software enable companies to reduce the complexity and cost of deploying and operating a uniform Web infrastructure while ensuring unmatched performance, reliability, scalability and manageability. Akamai's services give businesses a distinct competitive advantage and provide an unparalleled Internet experience for their customers. Akamai's intelligent edge platform for content, streaming media, and application delivery comprises more than 12,600 servers within over 1,000 networks in 66 countries. With headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Akamai provides services and industry-renowned customer care to hundreds of enterprises worldwide, including dozens of Fortune 500 businesses. For information on Delivering a Better InternetSM, visit www.akamai.com.
Akamai Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
The release contains information about future expectations, plans and prospects of Akamai's management that constitute forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors including, but not limited to, the dependence on Akamai's Internet content delivery service and technology products, lack of market acceptance of new services, including EdgeSuite, any incompatibility between the EdgeSuite service and IBM's WebSphere software, a failure of Akamai's network infrastructure, intentional disruptions of our services and network and other factors that are discussed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and other documents periodically filed with the SEC.
| Contacts: |
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| Felicia Spagnoli Akamai Technologies, Inc. (617) 444 - 2525 spagnoli@akamai.com |
--or-- | Laurie Friedman IBM Corp. (914) 766 - 1299 laurie1@us.ibm.com |
Companies introduce early adopter program for EdgeSuiteSM for Java based on IBM WebSphere to deliver e-business applications on demand; Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications signs on as early adopter
Cambridge, MA and Somers, NY - May 8, 2002 - Akamai Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: AKAM) and IBM today unveiled EdgeSuiteSM for Java based on IBM WebSphere - an edge computing service currently in development to help enterprises maximize business efficiencies and scale by enabling Web applications to execute at the edge of the Internet via Akamai's global network. The companies have formed a program for early adopters of the new offering, including Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications. The service is slated for availability in the fourth quarter of 2002.A growing number of enterprises want to extend business applications to the Web to increase the efficiency with which they sell products and services, manage inventories and supply chains, and serve customers. These Web-enabled business processes require the highest levels of availability, reliability and performance due to their dynamic, mission-critical nature. By deploying the distributed application environment provided by IBM's WebSphere in combination with Akamai EdgeSuite for Java running in a globally distributed network, enterprises can benefit by further extending their Java-based applications and Web services closer to customers, partners and suppliers.
As a charter participant in the early adopter program, Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications will use EdgeSuite for Java based on IBM WebSphere to enable its sales-enhancing dealer locator application to scale on demand to reach users worldwide. "It's of critical importance to Sony Ericsson to leverage the Internet's reach and economies of scale to enhance existing business processes and uncover new opportunities," said Mats Frisk, core application architect, Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications. "EdgeSuite for Java based on IBM WebSphere will allow us to deploy applications that meet our requirements for 24/7, global business operations. For example, we'll be able to show potential customers, accessing our site from anywhere in the world, where to find the closest Sony Ericsson dealer."
"Our work with IBM will provide enterprises with the efficiencies of edge computing by delivering a cost-effective solution that extends the power of traditional computing models to achieve greater reach and reliability in a distributed environment," said Chris Schoettle, executive vice president, Technology and Network Infrastructure, Akamai. "With EdgeSuite for Java based on IBM WebSphere, Akamai and IBM are helping customers extend application execution to the Internet's edge, thus simplifying the extension of core business processes like supply chain management, customer service, and sales lead generation to the Internet."
"IBM is delighted to collaborate with Akamai to help customers enjoy fast, scalable and fault-tolerant applications that maximize business efficiency," said John Swainson, general manager, IBM Application and Integration Middleware. "As more and more enterprises realize the advantages of Web-enabling key business processes for cost savings and revenue-generating opportunities, they require a combination like EdgeSuite for Java and the industry-leading WebSphere software platform."
Akamai and IBM announced an agreement in October 2001 to explore the technical feasibility of processing distributed applications from the Akamai network using WebSphere software. Today, the companies announced that they are working with early adopter customers to refine requirements for the service, EdgeSuite for Java based on IBM WebSphere, which will enable enterprises and developers to extend more business functions to the Web. For example, by using EdgeSuite for Java based on IBM WebSphere:
- A retail site could send credit card transactions directly to the payment center, bypassing the origin server to improve performance and availability in the event of an origin failure.
- A manufacturer could compare offerings from various suppliers before placing an order by integrating its inventory management system with customers' supply chain systems.
- A telecommunications provider could offer an interactive, searchable knowledge base for trouble-shooting, shifting the workload to the edge of the network and closer to the user seeking help.
- A global automotive site could provide a car configurator that allows a customer to choose features for their optimal car based on options available in different countries.
EdgeSuite for Java based on IBM WebSphere will deploy application logic onto the Akamai Platform, enabling powerful Web applications and Web services to run close to requesting users with high performance and on-demand scalability worldwide.
About IBM WebSphere
WebSphere is the market-leading Internet infrastructure software, or middleware, for creating, running and integrating e-business applications across a variety of computing platforms. Built on open standards such as J2EE, XML and the new Web services standards, and endowed with IBM's core strengths of reliability, scalability and security, WebSphere server software and development tools are used by tens of thousands of customers and have shown 11 consecutive quarters of double-digit sales growth. For more information: http://www.ibm.com/websphere.
About Akamai
Akamai is a leading provider of secure, outsourced e-business infrastructure services and software. These services and software enable companies to reduce the complexity and cost of deploying and operating a uniform Web infrastructure while ensuring unmatched performance, reliability, scalability and manageability. Akamai's services give businesses a distinct competitive advantage and provide an unparalleled Internet experience for their customers. Akamai's intelligent edge platform for content, streaming media, and application delivery comprises more than 12,600 servers within over 1,000 networks in 66 countries. With headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Akamai provides services and industry-renowned customer care to hundreds of enterprises worldwide, including dozens of Fortune 500 businesses. For information on Delivering a Better InternetSM, visit www.akamai.com.
Akamai Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
The release contains information about future expectations, plans and prospects of Akamai's management that constitute forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors including, but not limited to, the dependence on Akamai's Internet content delivery service and technology products, lack of market acceptance of new services, including EdgeSuite, any incompatibility between the EdgeSuite service and IBM's WebSphere software, a failure of Akamai's network infrastructure, intentional disruptions of our services and network and other factors that are discussed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and other documents periodically filed with the SEC.
