Greetings,
The following press release moved over PR Newswire this morning, August 18,=
1999 at 5:30 a.m. PDT, US1.
Thank you,
Apple Public Relations
+-----------+
For Immediate Release
Apple and Akamai Reveal Apple Investment to Cement=20
Strategic Agreement
CUPERTINO, California and CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts=8BAugust 18, 1999=8BAppl=
e=AE and Akamai Technologies today announced further details of their strat=
egic 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 agr=
eement centers on the integration of Apple's QuickTime=AE player and stream=
ing server technology with Akamai's global Internet content delivery servic=
e to provide Macintosh=AE and Windows users worldwide with one-click access=
to high-quality streaming video content. In addition to Akamai's integrati=
on 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 net=
work because they have the best, most scalable architecture and proven reli=
ability," said Steve Jobs, Apple's interim CEO. "Together, Apple and Akamai=
will deliver the highest quality and easiest to use Internet streaming vid=
eo content available."
"Our relationship with Apple is a major step in delivering high-quality str=
eaming," said George Conrades, Akamai chairman and CEO. "QuickTime TV offer=
s Internet users a whole new viewing experience and empowers web sites to c=
reate more engaging content."
Apple has used Akamai's global network to deliver copies of QuickTime and M=
ac=AE OS 8.6 software upgrades as well as the Star Wars: Episode I The Phan=
tom Menace movie trailer to Apple customers around the world. Apple and Aka=
mai have also broadcast two live events: Steve Jobs' recent Macworld Expo k=
eynote and an Apple-sponsored Eurythmics concert.
In an unrelated press release today, Akamai also announced that Cisco Syste=
ms has made an investment in the company.
About QuickTime
QuickTime 4 has been downloaded by over 10 million users since it was intro=
duced on April 19, and is the first Internet streaming solution to use non-=
proprietary industry-standard protocols Real Time Protocol (RTP) and Real T=
ime 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 t=
he Macintosh. Apple is now recommitted to its original mission=8Bto bring t=
he best personal computing products and support to students, educators, des=
igners, scientists, engineers, businesspersons and consumers in over 140 co=
untries around the world.
About Akamai
Akamai Technologies is transforming the way content is delivered over the I=
nternet. With an unprecedented guarantee for improving the speed and reliab=
ility 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 ov=
er 30 leading businesses ranging from new media companies to eCommerce firm=
s and financial Web sites. Headquartered in Cambridge, MA, Akamai Technolog=
ies=8Bwww.akamai.com=8Bhas 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
NOTE TO EDITORS: For additional information visit Apple's PR web site (www.=
apple.com/pr/) or call Apple's Media Helpline at (408) 974-2042.=20
=A9 1999 Apple Computer, Inc. All rights reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, M=
ac OS, Macintosh and QuickTime are registered trademarks of Apple Computer,=
Inc. Additional company and product names may be trademarks or registered =
trademarks of the individual companies.
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