Intel aims to speed up web content

Intel's online services unit plans to begin selling content delivery services from Akamai Technologies to its web hosting customers.

The unit, which was set-up a year ago, will provide Akamai's services through its seven data centres located in areas including London, California, Tokyo and India.

Intel manage hardware and software services for its customers in addition to hosting the location. Customers include sports website, Quokka Sports.

Akamai also runs its global network on Intel servers located across 335 different networks and dispersed around 54 countries. Among its services include FreeFlow Internet traffic management, which allows content providers to design sites with rich content. It aims to speed up downloads and prevent server crashes, and allows companies to distribute content to local customers from geographically dispersed servers instead of drawing content from a single central server.

Another service is FirstPoint, a load balancing system based on geographically distributed web servers. FirstPoint provides real-time tracking of internet conditions to ensure that website visits reach the optimal server location, despite internet congestion, server failures or other roadblocks.

Akamai also has similar agreements other hosting firms including PSINet, IBM, LoudCloud, GlobalCenter, Telefonica and KPNQwest.