Loadbalancer.org founder and managing director Malcolm Turnbull believes the Pokémon Go server crash was avoidable. Picture by Deep South Media head of visual Paul Collins.
The significance of having high-spec IT infrastructure has again been emphasised after the servers for worldwide app phenomenon Pokemon Go crashed following the UK launch (14 July).
The augmented reality game has been downloaded over 20 million times, with some US observers calling it “the biggest game in US mobile history” after its first week on the charts.
Portsmouth tech firm Loadbalancer.org specialises in technology that manages activity on IT systems to prevent collapses under the strain of sudden bursts of traffic, enabling reliable use for customers.
Founder and managing director Malcolm Turnbull believes the app’s servers could have been better prepared.
“The servers were unable to handle the unprecedented demand. Pokemon is a very popular brand and the sudden surge in downloads should have been anticipated.
“Loadbalancer.org works with several big companies whose websites and IT applications also attract millions of users.
“Our software prevents crashes from occurring by automatically adding more web servers to handle peaks in demand, ensuring customers aren’t angry and frustrated with crashes.”
Pokemon Go, based on the viral 1990s Pokemon video games, utilises augmented reality technology to enable gamers to catch creatures at millions of locations worldwide.
Images of Pokemon are displayed via a smartphone’s camera, encouraging users to clock up miles of walking in the search for rare characters.
Pokemon gyms are often located at important landmarks such as the Portsmouth Spinnaker, where players can battle it out to capture each other’s Pokemon.
Frustrated users had earlier seen a message from manufacturers Niantic that read: “Our servers are humbled by your incredible response.”
High-profile customers of Loadbalancer.org include NASA, the BBC, the United States Postal Service, BT, Mercedes Benz, ASOS, Vodafone, SEGA, Estee Lauder, O2, Bacardi, River Island, the NHS, Premier Inn, Verizon and Selfridges & Co.
