"No-buffer" video streaming

Microsoft and content delivery network services provider Akamai are working on a new video service which promises to deliver high-speed video streaming that won't require buffering.

The new service, called AdaptiveEdge Streaming, will build upon Microsoft's IIS Smooth Streaming server technology, which gives users the ability to watch videos without buffering by adapting the video quality to the user's connection speed.

AdaptiveEdge Streaming will be powered by Windows Server 2008 and Silverlight, and will be deployed across Akamai's globally distributed server network. From there, it will leverage IIS Smooth Streaming to produce high-definition video application delivery for media companies.

Akamai says AdaptiveEdge Streaming will be available sometime in early 2009.