Akamai to help Road Runner speed up in hot market
The content delivery technology company says it has teamed with the cable online service provider to improve service to Road Runner broadband subscribers, as the high-speed Net market heats up.
Under the deal, Cambridge, Mass.-based Akamai, which provides services to speed the transmission of Web applications and content, will work with Road Runner to improve the delivery of Internet content and application services to Road Runner's subscribers, the companies said in a statement.
As the demand for high-speed Net connections continues to escalate, Herndon, Va.-based Road Runner, which competes in the cable broadband market, faces stiff competition from local phone companies and their high-speed digital subscriber line (DSL) technology.
More than 27.3 million users worldwide are expected to use DSL by 2003, up from 70,000 last year, according to a recent report released by market research firm International Data Corp.
Just last week, Akamai announced a similar alliance with Internet venture fund CMGI to jointly develop and sell applications to speed Internet content delivery services.
Under the deal, CMGI said several of its companies are working with Akamai to develop applications that will provide online decision-making services to businesses, such as targeted advertising, application delivery or usage, research and marketing analysis services.