TrueSpectra, Inc., the leading provider of Image Serving software, and Akamai Technologies, Inc. AKAM, the leading provider of secure, outsourced e-business infrastructure services and software, today announced that the companies have developed a more efficient way for customers to manage image production and publishing while simplifying their Internet infrastructure requirements. Esprit de Corp and The Sharper Image are among the first customers who have embraced the companies' complementary technologies.

To market the joint solution, TrueSpectra has become a reseller of Akamai services, including EdgeSuite(SM), an integrated suite of services for content and application delivery, content targeting, and business intelligence. Additionally, Akamai has integrated TrueSpectra's Image Serving technology with Akamai's edge servers, making the joint offering available on demand. As a result, joint customers can benefit from optimized delivery of rich content with the added capability of image serving for enhanced detail and clarity. The solution is particularly of value to companies with sophisticated online initiatives, such as Web marketing campaigns or product promotions, that rely on highly engaging, interactive content and uninterrupted website performance to ensure a superior end-user experience.

Worldwide retailer, Esprit de Corp, is leveraging the joint offering to enhance its online brand. Additionally, renowned specialty retailer, The Sharper Image, will benefit from the combined service.

"Sharperimage.com is an integral component of our multi-channel sales strategy," said Greg Alexander, senior vice president of information technology, The Sharper Image. "The combined Akamai-TrueSpectra solution will fulfill our need for a more efficient and scalable Internet infrastructure and will ensure that we provide the highest quality, most relevant experience for our online customers."

"As a chief provider of enterprise-class e-business services, we are continually extending the capabilities of our platform with innovative third-party solutions to deliver customers a more complete infrastructure offering," said Michael Ruffolo, executive vice president, Akamai. "This relationship enables content providers, especially those in the retail space, to maximize the delivery of high-quality, high-bandwidth images based on an end-user's connection to the Internet."

"Our unique distributed architecture is the first image serving solution which can leverage Akamai's distributed computing platform," said V. David Watkins, CEO of TrueSpectra. "The combination results in a powerful ROI opportunity for customers' e-business investments."

TrueSpectra Image Serving, delivered by Akamai, saves businesses time and money by eliminating manual processes for image production and publishing. Image Serving enables companies to use single source image files to generate all images, in any size, format, for any device type, on the fly. This enables businesses to replace static images with rich, interactive visual content and serve the optimum image based on factors such as connection speeds, device type or geography.

The Akamai EdgeSuite service is an integrated set of functionalities designed to reduce Internet infrastructure costs and complexities by extending the performance, scalability, and reliability benefits of content delivery across an entire Web site, including dynamic content and applications. As a foundation for Web marketing, the EdgeSuite service helps to distribute and manage the online component of an integrated marketing campaign, enabling businesses to simplify planning, deliver a quality customer experience, and effectively measure the results of a campaign.