Akamai (NASDAQ:AKAM) has integrated its content delivery network (CDN) capabilities with Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) Azure Media Services and Blob Storage. The collaboration is intended to make it easier and more cost effective for media organizations to combine cloud-based video processing with edge delivery, from content preparation to playback.
Going forward, Akamai will directly connect its edge network to Azure using a high-speed Azure ExpressRoute connection. The connection is intended to create efficiencies when storing and delivering content and provide mutual customers with lower, more predictable cost structures between Azure and Akamai's CDN.
Akamai plans to upgrade the delivery of live and on-demand streaming workflows through Azure Media Services, Microsoft's cloud video workflow platform for encoding, packaging, DRM and Video AI video metadata indexing. Together, Akamai and Microsoft will work to offer customers higher quality streaming delivery, lower latencies and more choices for their integrated media workflows through mutual partners such as Harmonic and Telestream.
"Our customers are expanding their libraries and delivering more content to larger audiences at higher levels of quality than ever before. Many of them are asking for help to simplify how they manage and deliver video, scale their services and move their workflow functions to the cloud," said Akamai CEO Dr. Tom Leighton. "By combining the power of Microsoft Azure, Azure Media Services and Azure Storage with the vast reach of Akamai's Edge, we will create an environment that mitigates cost while maximizing performance and scale for content providers. We're very pleased to expand Akamai's strong relationship with Azure, and we look forward to helping customers realize the benefits of the cloud for delivering the best possible online entertainment experiences."
As part of the agreement, Akamai will enable select strategic customer solutions to run on Azure and enter into a co-sell relationship with Microsoft, wherein its products will be available in the Azure Marketplace.
"Cloud, edge and AI open a wealth of exciting possibilities for media companies," said Scott Guthrie, executive vice president, Cloud + AI Group, Microsoft. "Working together, Azure and Akamai will provide our mutual customers with a platform that will help them increase their reach and better meet their customers' demands."
Akamai and Microsoft will be exhibiting at the 2019 NAB Show in Las Vegas.
