Akamai Acknowledges It's Not Delivering HD Video To The iPhone

Earlier in the month, during Akamai's webcast about their HD network, Tim Siglin pointed out on his blog that Akamai's claim that they could deliver HD video to the iPhone wasn't accurate. Tim had a lot of back and forth emails with Akamai, which he documents on his blog here, and I questioned Akamai on the same topic with a post entitled "Does The iPhone Support HD Video? I Say No. Akamai Says Yes".

Earlier today, at the Streaming Media Europe show in London, Tim reported that Akamai has changed their stance on the subject and now acknowledges that they are not delivering HD video to the iPhone. From Tim's blog post a few hours ago:

[Akamai's Suzanne Johnson, who will be appearing on my panel at Streaming Media Europe 2009 later today, has confirmed that a more accurate version of Tom Leighton's "45 million iPhones capable of playing HD content" statement should have been stated as this:

"By year's end, as part of the Akamai HD Network, up to 45 million iPhones and iPod touches will be capable of displaying high-quality video encoded from HD source content."

She also stated that Akamai understand that "the iPhone does not display true HD by definition but can offer consumers an HD-like high quality video experience that complements what they get on TV."]

I think it is important Akamai has changed their stance on this as HD quality video is very important to the future of all companies involved in the online video space as well as how it is defined. We need to keep the standards that we think of with broadcast HD quality to be the same when talking about online video so there is no confusion as to what's HD, and what isn't.

While it's good to see Akamai acknowledge that they aren't delivering HD video to the iPhone, I'd like to see Akamai define what they consider to be "HD quality" when they are talking about delivering "HD quality" video across their network. I still can't find any definition of this by Akamai on their HD Network product page.

Comments

[Dennis Lundin]

Seriously, this makes no sense either, more useless marketing info. Anybody can displaying high-quality video encoded from HD source content "By year's end, as part of the Akamai HD Network, up to 45 million iPhones and iPod touches will be capable of displaying high-quality video encoded from HD source content."

She also stated that Akamai understand that "the iPhone does not display true HD by definition but can offer consumers an HD-like high quality video experience that complements what they get on TV."]

Lets stop all the marketing nonsense and get a definition on HD online.

[Bob Barnshaw]

Hi Definition in the broadcast world not a technical term with specific definition. Rather, it refers in a general sense to the 16 different HD video standards that have been defined around the world. HD video standards are in contracts to the legacy NTSC / PAL / SECAM or standard definition worldwide standards.

HD standards vary by resolution, frame rate, and either progressive or interlaced presentation. One constant is that all HD content has a 16:9 apsect ratio while US-based SD content is 4:3. A sample HD defintion would be: 1080p /24 meaning 1920 x 1080 resolution, progressive frame refresh, and 24 frames per second.

I suggest that if HD content is referred to from an Internet perspective that broadcast definitions are used with added bit rate information. Further, that bit rate be the distinguishing characteristic: 1080p / 24 / 4Mpbs. Consquently, a CDN, like Akamai, could say that they can deliver HD programming to "prime time level audiences" at average bit rates in excess of "X" Mbps!

[Melinda]

Why is Akamai so arrogant? No other company in the online video space would try and get away with making a statement like this, let alone doing it in a webcast to the world. What made Akamai think they could?

We took our contract to another provider last quarter, away from Akamai, and am glad we did. I'd rather give my half a million dollars a year to a company that's easier to deal with and actually wants my business.

[Byron]

True HD video with hi-fi audio will be available with mp4 technology as I understand and only when the existing respective networks will support the broadband necessary to drive it. Mp4 hand held devices were designed and developed years ago, however, as usual, we (the United States) have been slow to adopt and implement new telecommunications applications. I believe mp3 is all that is being offered in the market today. Is the iPhone an mp4 device? I don't think so, because of the reports that it is not offering true HD video with hi-fi audio. Will Akamai drive mp4 applications? You bet! Are there any out there to be driven? Nope. Whats the hold up? I suppose (and this is only a guess) it is because the investors in mp3 require returns on their mp3 investments before upgrading their technology to mp4 and offering those applications to the rest of us. Maybe next year.

[Mark Smith]

My faith in the industry has been restored. Well done to Tim and Dan for following this claim by Akamai. It amazes me that Akamai has the lack of knowledge/ ethic to talk about mobile technology honestly. They are playing catch up in a market which both complex and lacks standards. All CDNs are now looking at mobile and "saying" they can deliver but content providers are very frustrated with the limited services hacked together with the existing CDN.

When I saw their claim I cried out "why is n't someone calling them on this". So thank you again. It is good to see the Streaming Media doesn't just swallow the marketing spin and care about facts.