 | September 15, 2000 |
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Helping content flow unfettered
According to Cahners In-Stat, the wireless data market alone will grow from about 170 million subscribers worldwide in 2000 to greater than 1.3 billion in 2004. However, carriers, ISPs, and the content providers they partner with are finding that, in order to manage the delivery of new content, they must deploy a new infrastructure and methods of passing data to each other and to their customers. The need for more structured, global billing systems are also in increasing demand (see our recent feature, "Divvying up").
In response to this growing need for efficiency, players are coming to the table with new methods of streamlining content delivery and services. Cisco Systems recently announced a content alliance with firms including Digital Island, Genuity, GlobalCenter, NaviSite, PSINet, and Network Appliance to expedite content delivery.
The alliance aims to create a system that will link all the parties who are handling Internet content. Among the members' goals, speeding the adoption of Content Delivery Networks (CDN) technology and creating open standards and protocols that will advance content networking. CDN technology incorporates elements such as content distribution and management, routing, switching, edge delivery, and intelligent network services, in order to allow organizations to quickly and consistently delivery rich media to customers. Content peering, a technology that enables delivery networks of different service providers to work together, is also being implemented, as are other peering needs, such as authorizing the use of content between networks, and sharing logging or billing information to settle charges.
Similarly, America Online has signed a content and technology distribution agreement, dubbed Content Bridge, with Inktomi and Adero. The partnership hopes to foster a platform for cross-network content distribution for all participating players, while allowing each to maintain control over their individual sites. Under the agreement, Inktomi will deliver core network infrastructure technology, and Adero will ensure the timeliness of content across all member networks, as well as provide centralized billing and settlement services for cross-network transactions. America Online will deploy Content Bridge technology in its network before year's end.
—Leah Jiorle
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