Novell, Inc. and Akamai Technologies, Inc. Monday announced a deal to enhance the delivery of Web content for mutual customers. As part of the agreements, Novell will integrate Akamaizer functionality into the Novell Internet Caching System (ICS) and Novell Content Exchange solutions. Utilizing Akamai's content delivery network of more than 4,200 servers worldwide, Novell will provide Web content acceleration using its caching solutions. The combination of Novell's ability to accelerate web servers with Akamai's acceleration of content to the end user, is hoped to increase adoption of the Akamai network for content delivery.

As part of the alliance, Novell will also offer Akamai's FreeFlow and FreeFlow Streaming services to its customers, while Akamai will offer the integrated Akamai/Novell solutions to its customers.

"By bringing our technology together with Akamai's FreeFlow service, we are offering a comprehensive and extremely efficient solution for customers to adopt global content distribution," said Eric Schmidt, chief executive officer, Novell. "This combined solution creates a content acceleration network from the first foot to the edge of the Internet."

"The advantages of high-speed, reliable content delivery are critical for enterprises seeking to increase customer satisfaction and retention," said George Conrades, chairman and chief executive officer, Akamai. "With its product and service offerings, Novell provides a compelling option for content providers to leverage Akamai's network. Through our relationship, enterprises will be better equipped to realize the potential of the Internet as a reliable, efficient eBusiness tool."

The Novell Internet Caching System is a scalable caching appliance that improves the speed and efficiency with which Internet content is delivered. The Novell Internet Caching System is distributed exclusively through Novell's OEM partners. For more information regarding pricing and availability of OEM vendors' Novell ICS-based appliances, visit www.novell.com/products/ics/howtobuy.html.

Akamaizer software automates the process through which embedded Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) are translated into Akamai Resource Locators (ARLs). When a request for Web content is made, the Akamaization process is triggered and the HTML content with embedded ARLs is delivered. The Web browser then automatically requests the Akamaized content and is dynamically directed to the optimal Akamai server.