Adero, a content distribution service provider, is speeding up its network with new software deployments.
But instead of simply buying new tools to improve performance on its network, Adero bought software companies StarBurst Software and Fast Engines.
Adero today announced that it's picking up StarBurst Software so it can deploy the company's Omnicast software throughout its international network. The software is designed to distribute time-sensitive content such as video or audio simultaneously to end users across the Internet. The software will sit on servers at the edge of Adero's network.
While Adero could have bought the Omnicast software from StarBurst, Adero's CEO Jonathan Crane, says "the idea of sharing this technology with the likes of Akamai and Digital Island was a daunting vision." So rather than worry that competitors would also deploy the technology, Adero bought StarBurst, but no longer intends to sell its products.
StarBurst has more than 100 customers, which include Ford, Wal-Mart, The Gap, Choice Hotels and Microsoft. Crane says that Adero will work with StarBurst's customers to be sure their needs are met, but it is not seeking out new customers.
The same is true with last week's acquisition of Fast Engines. Adero bought Fast Engines so it could deploy the company's Fast.Serv software throughout its network. Fast.Serv will allow Adero's Web servers to quickly generate custom content for end users on the fly.
Fast Engines also has some big-name customers such as The New York Times, Delta Air Lines and Lockheed Martin. And Adero says it will support the company's current customers, but will not sell the technology to any other companies.
Adero's Crane says that the Omnicast and Fast.Serv software products will interoperate and work in conjunction with the Inktomi Traffic Servers and Webspective software that is the crux of Adero's network.
Adero would not reveal the dollar value of the acquisitions.
Adero: www.adero.com.
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