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Last week's mega-multimedia merger between San Diego's Intervu Inc. and Akamai Technologies Inc. has some Internet companies jumping for joy.
For example, Tom Carter, who plans to launch his own multimedia Web site this spring, says the merger will further fuel the growth of Web broadcasts.
"The Akamai and Intervu merger will create a real dynamic platform for (streaming multimedia) distribution, so companies that are looking to provide streaming video and multimedia have a larger conduit," said Carter, the 35-yearold founder and director of InvestorVu.com, a Pacific Beach startup that is creating a global, interactive multimedia Web portal that highlights publicly traded companies.
As a result of last week's $2.8 billion stock-for-stock merger, Massachusetts-based Akamai, maker of technology used to speed up the delivery of Web site content, will own Intervu, the leading service provider for Internet audio and video delivery solutions.
The deal, which still must meet approval of the companies' shareholders and the Securities Exchange Commission, will make Akamai the largest global provider of Internet content, audio and video delivery services.
Akamai, Hawaiian for "intelligent, clever and cool," has already deployed more than 2,000 servers in more than 40 countries. Akamai will now have access to Intervu's clients, which include CNN, Excite@Home, Microsoft Corp., NBC, MSNBC, House of Blues and Turner Broadcasting.
For the last five years, Intervu has strived to create spellbinding images and technology for its clients.
Edward Huguez, the company's chief operating officer, recounted the events that led up to...