Microsoft and Akamai join forces for streaming HD

Microsoft and Akamai are forging a new partnership aimed to increase HD streaming video performance. The two tech heavyweights, which have been collaborating ever since Microsoft gave Akamai $15 million in 1999, will share products to improve streaming performance by using adaptive technology that targets jerky video caused by buffering issues.

Akamai reportedly will launch a beta test of AdaptiveEdge Streaming for Microsoft Silverlight next year. Microsoft will contribute its Internet Information Services 7.0 Smooth Streaming (IIS7.0) product, which matches a video player's streaming speed and resolution to changes in a user's connectivity to decrease annoying video stoppages for buffering time.

Akamai will market the service as part of its extensive global CDN offerings. Content providers certainly will be intrigued if this technological partnership yields smoother video delivery to their customers. This is another significant online video delivery play for Microsoft, as it gave Move Networks, an HD online video provider, an undisclosed amount of funding in August.

Both companies also announced other news last week, as Microsoft unveiled plans for Silverlight 2 and Akamai announced the acquisition of targeted advertising firm acerno. 

For more:
- see the CNet.com blog post here 

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