Madge.web and Inktomi Form Alliance

Madge.web (http://www.madge.com) announced a deal Thursday with Inktomi to use Inktomi products in its delivery network.

Inktomi makes a network cache solution for the distribution of rich media content. Madge.web will deploy Inktomi's Traffic Server and Content Delivery Suite software across its network.

Inktomi (http://www.inktomi.com) also announced that it will invest in Madge.web's next round of financing, which is currently expected to be completed by the end of the year.

"We are very pleased to be working closely with Inktomi, the leading provider of Internet infrastructure software, on the deployment of next generation business-to-business content distribution services," said Robert Madge, chief executive officer of Madge.web. "While content distribution networks have focused on web site acceleration and basic business-to-consumer content delivery, we are focused on the integrated needs of businesses, particularly those for whom rich content is central to their activities. Inktomi's leading network software platform delivers core technology to make this possible."

Madge.web also owns a Europeon broadcast service called Madge Broadcast Network (MBN) which it deployed in alliance with RealNetworks. Essentially it is interconnected (and similar) to the Real Broadcast Network in the United States.