• June 10, 2010

Content delivery network Akamai has acquired mobile services platform Velocitude. The move is aimed at bolstering Akamai's presence in the mobile market, extending its Web optimization services to handheld devices.

By adding Velocitude's technology, Akamai said it would be able to dynamically adapt customer Web sites for different devices and screen sizes. Since most sites aren't tailored to cell phones, mobile Web browsing on handsets has historically proven a frustrating experience for many. By improving the quality of mobile content browsing, Akamai could help expand uptake of the emerging medium.

"By integrating Velocitude into our global network, we will be able to offer customers a way to leverage Akamai cloud-based services for mobile performance, as well as to translate Web sites into specific device-optimized experiences," said Akamai President and CEO Paul Sagan in a statement.

Velocitude's platform also includes an m-commerce component allowing consumers to make purchases via mobile devices and view product information via text or video. That capability could be a good fit for Akamai, which says it works with 90 of the top 100 e-commerce sites. -- Mark Walsh