AT&T takes content delivery to the cloud

AT&T Inc. (T) is embracing the cloud one step further with a new content delivery network set to launch by late September. The cloud-based AT&T Content Delivery Network is aimed at improving the delivery and speed of media-rich content like videos and graphics.
AT&T plans to target the new cloud-based offering at a variety of businesses and industries. A set of examples include virtual campus tours of universities, x-ray image delivery for hospitals, on-demand movie distribution by media companies and virtual demonstrations from software and technology companies.
“More and more businesses are relying on video, pictures and animation to get consumers excited about their products and services,” said Sam Farraj, assistant VP of AT&T’s digital media solutions at AT&T Business Solutions. “Our CDN technology not only delivers videos and other attention grabbers at ‘lightning like’ speed, but it delivers them efficiently and at low cost.”
The platform will improve performance, control and flexibility of digital content, the company said. It will also enable separate billing and reporting for divisions or resellers and provide analytics around user preferences, usage and buying patterns.
Built on AT&T’s global IP network, the company claims its content delivery network will have the largest reach of any of its competitors.