Akamai and Loudcloud Expand Technology Integration Through Opsware Automation.

Business/Technology Editors

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. & SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 22, 2001

Companies automate Akamaizer(SM) software functionality

in Loudcloud's Opsware(TM) Version 2 technology

Akamai Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: AKAM), the leading Content Delivery Service Provider (CDSP), and Loudcloud, the leading software infrastructure services provider, today announced technology enhancements that improve speed and reliability for joint Loudcloud and Akamai customers' Internet operations. Loudcloud's new Opsware(TM) Version 2 integrates the Akamaizer(SM) software functionality, enabling Loudcloud customers to automatically redirect specified Web content across Akamai's globally distributed network.

Loudcloud's unique Opsware technology captures, manages and automates the thousands of pieces of information, decisions and processes required to deploy, manage and grow an Internet infrastructure successfully. Opsware performs tasks with a level of precision that is consistent over time, provides infrastructure that will dynamically scale to meet the changing demands of customers, and executes functions in a fraction of the time that is required manually, thus freeing scarce engineering resources to work on value-creating activities.

"Akamai and Loudcloud continue to look for ways that we can transform the way people access and receive information over the Internet," said Michael Smerklo, director of business development for Loudcloud. "By adding the ease and automation of the Akamaization process to Opsware, joint customers can now realize higher speeds and efficiencies in content delivery to the Akamai network, as well as a superior level of quality in their ongoing Internet operations."

How Opsware Version 2 Akamaizes Content

In order for content providers to use the Akamai FreeFlow(SM) content delivery service, they must first convert embedded Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) into Akamai Resource Locators (ARLs), a process called "Akamaization." This occurs every time there is new or updated content for the Web site. As new content is pushed to a customer's Web site, Loudcloud's Opsware Version 2 will dynamically intercept the content and automatically perform the Akamaization conversion. Since this is done in an automated fashion, customers no longer need to facilitate the URL to ARL translation as part of their development process, and can instantly leverage the high speed and reliability of the Akamai network. The "on-the-fly" translation makes it faster, easier and more cost-effective for businesses to meet end users' demands for mission-critical Web performance.

"In today's competitive marketplace, the advantages of high-performance, reliable and scalable content delivery help to increase customer satisfaction and retention," said Chris Turner, vice president, channel sales, Akamai. "Working with Loudcloud and Akamai, businesses will benefit from a best-of-breed solution that enhances Web performance through leading managed services."

Availability

All Loudcloud customers' Internet operations are managed by Opsware automation technology. Since Opsware is provided to Loudcloud customers as a service, Opsware Version Two is automatically available to all customers. The Akamaizer functionality is also now available to Loudcloud customers that subscribe to the Content Distribution Cloud, powered by Akamai.

About Akamai

Akamai is the leading Content Delivery Service Provider, serving more than 3,600 customers worldwide. Akamai has the broadest deployment of servers for content, streaming media, and applications delivery with more than 8,000 servers in 55 countries directly connected within 473 different telecommunications networks.

About Loudcloud

Loudcloud, Inc. was formed in September 1999 to build and run best-of-breed infrastructure services designed for Global 2000 companies, application service providers and high-growth Internet businesses. Founded by some of the Internet's most respected leaders, including Netscape co-founder Marc Andreessen and former Netscape/AOL executives Ben Horowitz, Tim Howes and In Sik Rhee, Loudcloud offers businesses the intelligent way to outsource their infrastructure services. The Loudcloud infrastructure network encompasses a complete suite of software, hardware, network and operations - including procuring, architecting and managing these core components - as a turn-key service. Loudcloud leverages its proprietary Opsware(TM) automation technology to give customers the seamless, premium-quality Internet experience upon which their reputation depends. For more information on Loudcloud, please visit www.loudcloud.com.

Loudcloud, Smart Cloud, Opsware and myLoudcloud are service marks and trademarks of Loudcloud, Inc. All other product names, service marks, and trademarks mentioned herein are trademarks of their respective owners.

Akamai Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act 

The release contains information about future expectations, plans and prospects of Akamai's management that constitute forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors including, but not limited to, the dependence on Akamai's Internet content delivery service, a failure of its network infrastructure, the complexity of its service and the networks on which the service is deployed, the failure to obtain access to transmission capacity and other factors that are discussed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and other documents periodically filed with the SEC.