CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- Akamai® Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: AKAM), a leading cloud platform for delivering secure, high-performing user experiences to any device, anywhere, today 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. Sola Media, including newly available transcoding and stream packaging capabilities, will be introduced and demonstrated to attendees at the upcoming IBC 2012 (Stand 7.K36), taking place September 7-11, 2012 in Amsterdam.

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.”[1] 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.”[2]

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,” explained 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.”

Akamai Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq: AKAM)