Set up in April 2000 by five researchers of the INRIA at Sophia specialized in new technologies and diffusion methods of content on Internet, the start-up introduces three revolutionnary products.
Sophia Antipolis is thoroughly focusing on content delivery on Internet. In this way, as Castify Networks, launched by specialized « doctors » in networks who had studied at Eurécom Institute, ActiVia Networks S.A., a product of the INRIA (National Institute in computer and STD research) launches its range of solutions. Activia, a new provider of Solutions CDN Open & Peering (open and inter-operable networks of delivery and exchange of content), has just announced the launching of three suites of revolutionnary products for the first term 2001 : Content Routing Suite ; Broadcast Suite; and Constellation, The Global Delivery Suite (see The three new ActiVia products).
New generation of content delivery networks
The core principle of a CDN (Content Delivery Network) is to spread a whole combination of « relay » servers at the immediate disposal of the final user to add to the actual Internet output a decentralized installation offering a better quality of service. This CDN market seems to be very promising nowadays. ActiVia has entered this market with three suites of high technology products, designed to improve the delivery of all sorts of content through Internet.
« Internet operators (FAI, providers, backbone operators) now have to create more and more advanced CDN in the aim of coming up to the needs of the market of content providers »says Frank Lyonnet, ActiVia Networks’ CEO and co-founder. “Constellation, The Global Delivery Suite of ActiVia Networks is specially designed for this market. This product offers several unique innovations as regards content delivery allowing the optimal diffusion of audiovisual streams on-line and on request on Internet, the dynamic e-business as well as Content Peering (the exchange of content between networks).
ActiVia, which has joined the initiative « Content Alliance » of Cisco and Network Appliance in September 2000 also offers a complete range of services allowing its customers to subcontract the managment of their CDN. These services include consultancy, the spreading with selected partners, training, maintenance, and the distant managment of the CDN from the operation Centre of ActiVia in Sophia Antipolis.
An initiative and products that have been approved by a specialist : Jean François Abramatic, R&D Senior Vice-President at Ilog and ActiVia Networks’ co-founder. « I have assisted to the preliminary research conducted at the INRIA, research that is at the origin of the establishment of the company and I think that ActiVia is going to open the way of the new CDN generation with its range of innovative products… »said the one who was also former president of W3C (World Wide Web Consortium)...