My Experience with Akamai
August 22, 2007 – 12:42 pmAt some point, for a job, I was tasked with finding a good content delivery network that could host Flash videos so our server wouldn’t crash when the volume was high. I was told that Akamai was very good so I decided to check them out. Below is a transcript of the conversation.
====================== START CONVERSATION ======================
Thank you for your interest in Akamai. Your request has been put into our work queue for the next available representative. You may also click on the “call us” button and submit your request. A representative will contact you shortly.
You have been connected to Raghav Prasad.
Raghav Prasad: Welcome
Hello, how may I help you?
Me: I need to know what your pricing structure is for Flash video hosting
Raghav Prasad: Akamai is not a traditional hosting company,but we do host static dynamic and video files.
Raghav Prasad: Media Files.
Me: Yes…I need to know what your pricing structure is for that.
Raghav Prasad: regarding pricing I can ask one of my representaive to get in touch with you as soon as possible.
Me: Please do…I’ve been trying to get pricing from you all for almost a week now
Raghav Prasad: My reresentative would get in touch with you at the earliest
Me: When’s the earliest?
Raghav Prasad: My representative would get in touch with you within the next 24 hours.
Me: Ok…thanks.
Me: Please have them contact me as soon as possible.
Raghav Prasad: Ok
Raghav Prasad: Is there anything else that I can assist you at this point of time.
Me: How many simultaneous connections can Akamai handle?
Me: I’m trying to figure out how fast the video downloads would be if there are around 5000 users on the site all trying to watch video
Raghav Prasad: Regarding this my reresentaive would be the best person to give you more information.
Me: So basically you have no information?
Raghav Prasad: My represntative would get in touch with you at the earliest.
Me: What can you tell me?
Raghav Prasad: As i am not a technical person my representaive would be the person to give you more information .
Me: So you can’t tell me anything?
Raghav Prasad: I am really sorry at this point in time i do not have any technical information readily available,my representative would give you a call reagarding your enquiry.
Me: Thank you for your time…goodbye.
Raghav Prasad: Thank you for contacting us. Please do not hesitate to contact us again if we can be of further assistance.
====================== END CONVERSATION ======================
Good old Raghav (a.k.a. Ramalamadingdong) didn’t really have any information. Needless to say, they didn’t get our business. Akamai, if you’re reading this, I strongly suggest you hire better “customer support” representatives.
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2 Responses to “My Experience with Akamai”
I hear he didn’t fare well with Jack Spanish either…
By Jack
on Aug 23, 2007
Raghav Prasad: Welcome
Hello, how may I help you?
Jack Spanish: greetings
Jack Spanish: is Akamai a traditional hosting company?
Raghav Prasad: Akamai is not a traditional hosting company,but we do host static dynamaic and media files.
Jack Spanish: what is your pricing structure for that?
Raghav Prasad: Can you please provide me more details on your requirements.
Jack Spanish: do you wear funny hats?
Raghav Prasad: Can you please give me your requirements.
Jack Spanish: An archived version of each 384Kbps stream is available as a downloadable FTP file. These files may be downloaded to your local machine and then played back in the Microsoft Windows Media Player. Please be aware that the content files ARE LARGE (around 100MB/per hour of video). The FTP files using the “Zip” compression format. The entire file must be downloaded and uncompressed before your are able to playback the video. The Zip format provides a
Jack Spanish: what would be your pricing structure?
Raghav Prasad: Are you lnterested in live streaming or on demand streaming.
Jack Spanish: live but we want to put it in a zipped format
Raghav Prasad: Ok
Jack Spanish: with a few funny hats and smelly herrings in the mix
Jack Spanish: we are primarily an alpaca farm based operation
Raghav Prasad: Regarding this i will ask one of my representative to give you a call as soon as possible.
Jack Spanish: so the network infrastructure has a lengthy backbone
Jack Spanish: and a funny looking face
Jack Spanish: we want hats to detract from the smelly herrings
Jack Spanish: can you help?
Raghav Prasad: My represntative would be the best person to give you more details on the same.
Jack Spanish: do you work with alpacas often?
Raghav Prasad: I am sorry, i can’t give you this information at this point of time.
Jack Spanish: what information can you give me?
Raghav Prasad: My representative would be the best person to give you more information on your requirements.
Jack Spanish: i was really hoping i could talk to wilford brimley, is he in today?
Jack Spanish: hello?
Raghav Prasad: Regarding this you contact 617 444 3000.
Jack Spanish: will i be able to speak with wilford?
Raghav Prasad: Please contact this number and some would direct you further.
Jack Spanish: but i want to speak with wilford
Jack Spanish: can this be arranged?
Raghav Prasad: Please contact 617 444 3000 and someone would direct you to the person.
Jack Spanish: Raghav?
Jack Spanish: can you guarantee that I would speak with Wilford Brimley?
Raghav Prasad: I am really sorry i cannot assure that you would get in touch with wilford brimley at this point of time.
By Jeremy
on Aug 23, 2007