Highwinds Launches Expanded Game Delivery Network Solutions Suite

WINTER PARK, Fla., Aug. 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Highwinds^®, a leader in content delivery, network and cloud-based IP services, today announced that its GDN^™ (Game Delivery Network) has been expanded to include an integrated download manager, launcher, patcher, and other new products and services for online gaming companies.  Highwinds' expanded suite of CDN (content delivery network) and gaming solutions that comprise the GDN is made possible, in part, by an extension of its partnership with Solid State Networks, which provides Highwinds with exclusivity for certain Solid State technologies within the gaming vertical.  Solid State has been developing game delivery solutions since 2005, and their portfolio includes the leading commercially available download manager, game patcher and game launcher solution.

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"We introduced Highwinds GDN a year ago as the first CDN specifically tuned for game delivery, and since that time, our commitment to the online gaming community hasn't wavered.  We listen to the needs of our customers, and we continue to develop innovative solutions for them," said Steve Miller, founder and CEO of Highwinds.  "Our partnership with Solid State is rooted in both the spirit and the strength of collaboration, bringing together leading technology and intelligence from both companies to benefit our mutual customers.  The realization of these efforts and this partnership is a comprehensive go-to-market solution for game developers and publishers."

Highwinds GDN addresses the unique challenges of delivering online games to players around the world.  It includes content delivery services and a gaming software stack that enables faster downloads, lower delivery costs, fewer abandonments and better user experiences.  Highwinds GDN, which now includes Solid State's sophisticated game management product suite, improves player onboarding, simplifies game patching, allows publishers more opportunity to engage with players, supports multi-CDN deployment, load balancing and optional Peer-to-Peer assisted delivery, provides for deep, robust, real-time analytics, and much more.  Highwinds also offers its "GDN Launch" high-touch consultative service to help game companies optimize their massive global game launches.

"We are impressed by the technology, capabilities and service commitment that Highwinds brings to the table," said Rick Buonincontri, founder and CEO of Solid State Networks.  "As partners we share a common goal of meeting the needs of game operators at the highest level and are working together to identify and develop new capabilities that will have a meaningful impact on their business operations."

Highwinds' suite of game delivery solutions includes ...

• GDN Deliver – boost game download performance and player onboarding
• GDN Play – maximize the point-of-play experience and improve player engagement
• GDN Update – publish patches, new versions and additional content efficiently
• GDN Analyze – maintain a precise focus on metrics that matter
• GDN Access – protect gaming investments with access control technologies
• GDN Monetize – enable new monetization strategies that increase the bottom line
• GDN Connect – optimize connectivity with gamer-to-server matching services
• GDN Balance – increase performance and scale through multi-CDN load balancing
• GDN Launch – plan and execute flawless game launch events

Steve Miller and Rick Buonincontri, as well as top executives and engineers from Highwinds and Solid State Networks, will be available for private meetings at GDC Europe and gamescom taking place Aug. 13-19 in Cologne, Germany.  To schedule a meeting, please call +1.407.215.2400 or e-mail [email protected].  Learn more about Highwinds GDN at www.highwinds.com/gdn.

About Solid State Networks, LLC
Solid State Networks is a developer of industry-leading content delivery solutions.  Since 2005, the company has worked with leading game and software application developers, content publishers and e-commerce providers to facilitate the digital delivery of content to consumers and enterprise users worldwide.  For more information, please visit www.solidstatenetworks.com.

About Highwinds Network Group, Inc.
Highwinds is a content delivery, network and cloud-based IP services business that offers a comprehensive suite of CDN solutions.  The company delivers games and rich media over its high-performance RollingThunder^® network to millions of global users every day.  Highwinds CDN and GDN customers gain unprecedented command and control with its StrikeTracker^® console and open APIs.  Highwinds is headquartered in Winter Park, Fla., and maintains data centers around the world.  For more information, visit www.highwinds.com.

Highwinds, RollingThunder and StrikeTracker are registered trademarks, and GDN is a trademark, of Highwinds Network Group, Inc.  All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

SOURCE Highwinds