Akamai Technologies and IBM have unveiled an edge computing service
designed to boost the scalability and availability of Web-based
enterprise applications.
EdgeSuite for Java, based on IBM WebSphere, will deploy application
logic on to Akamai's global network, allowing Web applications and
Web services to execute close to requesting users, according to
officials at Akamai.
Running critical Java-based applications at the edge of the
Internet can increase application performance and enable on-demand
scalability - two steps towards lowering costs and reducing
datacentre complexity, Thorsten Ganz, director of product marketing
at Akamai, said.
"A lot of customers have over-provisioned sites for unforeseen
spikes, but in many cases that infrastructure just sits there and
goes unused," he said. "With EdgeSuite for Java based on IBM
WebSphere, you can scale applications on demand, when the demand
occurs. You don't have to worry about deploying more servers and
software and having people manage that."
Because Akamai's platform supports Web services protocols including
Soap (Simple Object Access Protocol) and UDDI (Universal
Description, Discovery, and Integration), enterprises can tap the
service to combat latency and scalability issues with Web service
deployment, Ganz said.
In addition, the companies have formed a program for early adopters
of the new offering. Akamai and IBM plan to incorporate early
customer feedback into the continuing development of the service,
which is slated for availability in the fourth quarter.
As a charter participant in the early adopter program, Sony
Ericsson Mobile Communications will use EdgeSuite for Java based on
IBM WebSphere to enable its dealer locator application to scale on
demand to reach users worldwide, according to Akamai
officials.
"Providing application processing and allowing customers to run
applications on the edge is the logical next step," he said. "We
view the Akamai network as a giant distributed computer."