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IBM ( IBM ) pushed further into online and cloud-based video services, unveiling streaming products at the National Association of Broadcasters show in Las Vegas on Monday. IBM downplayed possible competition with Akamai Technologies ( AKAM ), the leader in content delivery network services. IBM, though, seems to be moving onto Akamai’s turf, says Oppenheimer analyst Tim Horan. At the NAB show, IBM took the wraps off Aspera FASPStream , software that IBM says streams live broadcast video over “commodity Internet networks.” IBM also unveiled an enterprise CDN product that lets companies broadcast live streaming video within their corporate firewalls. IBM’s initial clients for the video streaming products include AOL, part of Verizon Communications ( VZ ); the Canadian Broadcasting Co., Comic-Con and Mazda. “We’re not in the CDN business like Akamai,” Braxton Jarratt, who leads IBM’s cloud video unit, told TechCrunch . He added, though, that IBM has substantial cloud and software resources. IBM has made a few video streaming-related acquisitions. At NAB, Akamai announced the opening of a broadcast operations control center to support customers’ over-the-top (OTT) video streaming. Cable TV firm Comcast ( CMCSA ) also looms as a new rival of Cambridge, Mass.-based Akamai. Comcast launched a commercial CDN offering in May, 2015. Akamai’s global CDN speeds up video streaming, e-commerce transactions and business software downloads over the Internet. Akamai competes with Level 3 Communications ( LVLT ) and Limelight Networks ( LLNW ) as well as startups Fastly and CloudFlare. Scalper1 News
Scalper1 News