RouteScience Gets Real

RouteScience is set to stream for Real Broadcast Networks. The win in the nascent yet competitive intelligent routing space comes after on the heels of a big contract to improve Google's response times.

by Colin C. Haley of internetnews.com [October 29, 2002]

RouteScience, a San Mateo, Calif., maker of Internet traffic routing equipment, is set to announce a deal with Real Broadcast Networks (RBN), the streaming media hosting arm of RealNetworks.

The firm's PathControl hardware will be used to bolster the performance of RBN's network, which supports radio and TV stations nationwide. Financial terms were not disclosed.

"Real Broadcast Network serves 2,000 streams a month," said Rob Pursell, RouteScience's director of product marketing. "Chances are, if you are listening to a radio station over the Internet, they are making it happen."

In addition to service providers such as RBN, PathControl is used by large public sites such as search engine Google, and Fortune 2000 companies, including mobile handset maker Qualcomm.

The equipment sits next to the edge router and measures real-time performance of all possible Internet paths from the company to tend users. It uses these measurements to inform the edge router to send traffic along the best path based on costs and performance metrics.

For example, during business hours, companies can route traffic to the best performing path, regardless of costs. During less important overnight hours, data can be send over less expense Internet service providers (ISPs) which may have slightly slower performance.

For RBN, which will install the equipment in its Seattle data center, the product will provide listeners with skip-free and delay-free music and video.

"PathControl (enables us to) manage the best possible pathway for streaming content over the Internet which results in faster start times and uninterrupted streaming," said Nagesh Pabbisetty, vice president, Real Broadcast Network.

RouteScience is among the early entries in the nascent sector. Others include Netvmg, Proficient Networks, and Sockeye Networks. All are looking to convince customers of the return on investment (ROI) of their product or service.

The timing is challenging. Service providers and telecom carriers are delaying or canceling equipment purchases while the economy languishes. When asked if there is room for four companies in the space, Pursell said the answer isn't as clear as it was three years ago.

"If it were 1999, I would say 'Yes,'" Pursell said. "In this environment, even with a compelling ROI, the market now is early adopters."

That could change if the economy perks up, Pursell said. If not, some consolidation may take place. He added that he would like to see all four do well. It would be a validation of the intelligent routing concept.

In other RouteScience news, the privately held, venture-backed company released an add-on appliance for the PathControl 3300 VPN appliance that enables enterprises with two ISP links to optimize all Internet Protocol applications.

For enterprises with just two ISP links, the PathControl 3350 stack offers the same route control and reporting functionality as the company's more expensive PathControl 5000-series modular, chassis-based products at a lower price point.

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