Akimbo, a start-up based in San Mateo, California launched an Internet-based video-on-demand service that promises DVD-quality video for television viewing. Akimbo licenses special-interest programs from a variety of video providers and hosts and delivers them via broadband connections (either cable or DSL) and in-house Ethernet or Wi-Fi networks.
The Akimbo player stores up to 200 hours of Microsoft Windows Media 9 content onto an 80 GB hard disk drive. The unit offers composite video and S-video outputs. Content is protected using Microsoft Windows Media DRM.
At the heart of the Akimbo Service is the Akimbo Guide, an on-screen listing of available programs that matches personal interests, past favorites and currently available content. The Akimbo Service will begin with 50 categories of content, including independent films, foreign language, news, health and fitness, sports, children's programs and education. Akimbo initially lists content from 22 web programmers, including CinemaNow and Ifilm.com.
The Akimbo Player is expected to start at $199. The monthly subscription to the Akimbo Service will be $9.99. http://www.akimbo.com
- Akimbo is headed by Josh Goldman, who previously served as president and CEO of mySimon, an online comparison shopping website that was acquired by CNET Networks for more than $730 million.
- Akimbo's founder and executive vice president of sales and marketing is Steve Shannon, a former ReplayTV executive who helped pioneer the digital video recorder (DVR).
- Akimbo is funded by Draper Fisher Jurvetson, Sprout Group and Zone Ventures.
