IBM Acquires Video Tech Specialist Clearleap

IBM today announced the acquisition of Clearleap Inc., a provider of cloud-based video services, to boost its cloud computing initiatives. The deal is part of the company’s bigger strategy to help clients unlock the value of video as it grows in importance in business. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

IBM’s main goal in acquiring Clearleap is to accelerate the delivery of video services as strategic sources of data for today’s businesses. The business of creating compelling and personalized video experiences is growing fast, and IBM want a piece of this fast-growing market.

Robert LeBlanc, Senior Vice President, said in a statement:  "Clearleap joins IBM at a tipping point in the industry when visual information and visual communication are not just important to consumers, but are exploding across every industry”, and also added: "This comes together for a client when any content can be delivered quickly and economically to any device in the most natural way."

Braxton Jarrat, CEO of Clearleap, said in a statement: “With consumer demand for video growing exponentially, the business of creating compelling and personalized video experiences is booming. This makes the acquisition by IBM, a global leader in technology, a perfect fit”, and also added: “As a part of IBM, we can extend the capabilities and global reach of the Clearleap innovations to grow and scale like never before.”

Founded in 2008 and based in Duluth, Georgia, Clearleap's open API framework enables organizations to easily build video into applications. The framework also enables access to key third-party applications that clients may already have in their working environment. Clearleap’s platform is highly optimized for massive scalability, which enables clients to support millions of concurrent users within seconds. It's platform has already been tested and proven by leading brands such as HBO, A+E Networks, The NFL, BBC America, Sony Movie Channel, Time Warner Cable and Verizon Communications. 

In addition to API services, Clearleap’s platform also includes subscription and monetization services, and data centers from which to host video assets. Currently, the company operates data centers in Atlanta, Las Vegas, Germany and Amsterdam, The Netherlands. 

Once complete, Clearleap platform will be integrated into the IBM Cloud platform to provide enterprises with a fast and easy way to manage monetize and grow user video experiences and help its clients to deliver those video services securely over the web and mobile devices. Clearleap’s video services will be offered through IBM cloud services, where users can securely share data and content across geographies and hybrid clouds. 

IBM is working hard on its cloud strategy to enhance the performance and management of its business tool, and help its clients extract meaningful insight. IBM plans to offer the Clearleap’s API on IBM Bluemix next year to help clients to build their video offerings.

Clearleap is the latest in a series of organic and external investments IBM has made in recent years in the areas of data file management. Last year, IBM snatched Aspera, which develops a technology to speed large data transfers over broadband networks. And in November, it completed the acquisition of Cleversafe, a developer of object-based storage software and appliances that enable enterprises to quickly store, manage and retrieve unstructured data. 

As part of it's cloud strategy, the Cleversafe and Aspera technologies will be leveraged for use with Clearleap’s platform to help clients store and retrieve video content through the cloud.

Video service and innovations are no longer new for IBM. The company has been a long-time developer of video and digital media innovations. IBM has more than 1,000 patents in that field since 1995, and has already won four Emmy Awards for video related innovations. 

Image credit: ZDnet