Inktomi

In 1997 Inktomi began beta testing its traffic servers, which intelligently managed network data flow and aimed to eliminate bottlenecks and redundant traffic on the Internet and corporate intranets. The traffic servers were based on network caching technology that created a local repository of requested information by moving it closer to the user and allowing multiple users to access data more quickly than by utilizing the Internet's national backbone. The traffic servers also reduced the amount of traffic over the Internet or corporate intranets, thus freeing up bandwidth. The traffic servers included network caching software that was developed at the University of California at Berkeley and ran on Sun Microsystems workstations, which could scale up to accommodate traffic growth. Key markets for the traffic servers, which were released later in 1997, included Internet service providers (ISPs), network backbone providers, and business enterprises. Inktomi's traffic servers were introduced at a time when the amount of overall redundant traffic over the Internet was estimated at 40 to 80 percent. Other companies introducing network caching products in 1997 in competition with Inktomi included Novell and Cisco Systems. In addition to developing its shopping engine service in 1999, Inktomi upgraded its traffic server and released version 3.0 in mid-1999. The new version added support for two operating systems, Windows NT and Free BSD, in addition to Sun Solaris, Digital Unix, and SGI Irix. Perhaps the most important aspect of Traffic Server 3.0 was a new set of application programming interfaces (APIs) that allowed third-party providers to add value-added services, such as content filtering and automatic reformatting for cell phones and TV set-top boxes. These new APIs were designed to allow the addition of a range of network services and keep up with new developments in network caching technology. With the release of Traffic Server 3.0, Inktomi announced six new Traffic Server partners that would offer a range of new services. In the first half of the year Inktomi forged several alliances to signal its entrance into the wireless Internet infrastructure provider market, including deals with AirFlash, Cap Gemini, Portal Software, Hewlett-Packard, Sun Microsystems, Spyglass, and GWcom. Through these alliances Inktomi was able to offer wireless operators a complete platform solution. The company subsequently signed a deal with wireless handset manufacturer Nokia Networks to deliver infrastructure software to wireless network operators. Inktomi's participation in content delivery took another step forward in August 2000 with the formation of Content Bridge, an alliance that initially included Inktomi, America Online, and Adero. Content Bridge was formed as a content distribution network, where producers and hosters of information and e-commerce functions would pay to have their content pushed to the caching servers of large Internet hosting, content delivery, and access providers. Inktomi would supply core network infrastructure technology; Adero would provide operational services, including centralized billing and settlement services; and America Online would deploy Content Bridge technology in its network. Among the first to join the network were Digital Island (content provider), Exodus Communications (hosting services), Genuity (hosting services), Mirror Image Internet (content provider), Madge.web (hosting services), and NetRail (access provider). Following a period of beta testing, the Content Bridge alliance began limited operations in January 2001. Operating partner Adero Inc. backed out at the last minute and sold its interest in the alliance to Inktomi for $23.5 million. In September 2000 Inktomi announced its largest acquisition to date when it acquired FastForward Networks, a San Francisco-based software developer for Internet broadcasts, for $1.3 billion in stock. FastForward's software platform could support million