Akamai Unveils Sola Media Solutions

Akamai Technologies, Inc., the cloud platform for delivering secure, high-performing user experiences to any device, anywhere, has introduced the new Sola Media Solutions portfolio. A comprehensive set of cloud based, integrated services, Sola Media is designed to offer customers a powerful, yet easy-to-use way to address the challenges of online media workflow, storage and delivery.

According to a recent report, industry analyst firm Gartner, Inc. forecasts, “more than 1 billion connected devices — including smartphones, media tablets and ultrathin notebooks — capable of consuming all forms of media will be in the hands of consumers by 2015.” The report further states that, “On the operational side of things, moving aspects of the content creation, distribution and licensing processes into the cloud holds the promise of not just lowering costs, but also removing friction — in the form of fairly manual processes in today’s systems — from many of these processes.”

Meeting the increasing demand for content that is available when and where viewers want it, on a wide variety of devices, and with the highest quality possible can present challenges. Content providers want the cost advantages of efficiency, agility, and flexibility that cloud based solutions offer, while ensuring that the platform they choose has the flexibility to incorporate technologies that address their varying content and audience requirements.

“Success in providing a truly engaging online audience experience is incumbent on several factors coming together seamlessly,” said Mike McGuire, Research Vice President, Gartner, Inc. “Content providers of all types want to simplify the process, speed time to market and prepare for future advances – all without sacrificing the quality which is crucial for keeping viewers satisfied.”

Built on the Akamai Intelligent Platform, Akamai’s Sola Media is designed to provide unmatched scale and reliability to support customers’ objectives for their online video initiatives and meet a range of requirements across the entire content lifecycle.

Architected for openness and flexibility, Sola Media capabilities may also be accessed through open APIs to allow customers to integrate Sola Media functionality into their existing content workflows. In addition, Sola Media’s open platform approach is designed to support the integration of a variety of third-party security/DRM and advertising /monetisation technologies and platforms, in order to maximise choice.

Akamai is working with partners within the online video ecosystem to provide the broadest array of choices available to meet customer needs.

“With Sola Media Solutions, including the cloud-based transcoding and stream packaging capabilities introduced in Sola Vision, we’re offering content providers an effective way to address the increasing audience demand for high-quality online video,” said Bill Wheaton, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Media Division at Akamai. “Through our industry-leading technologies, and by working closely with our partners in the ecosystem, Akamai is dedicated to providing our customers with solutions to help them succeed in the rapidly evolving world of online video.”