At the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona last week, most of the leading service providers gathered to give their view of contemporary and future technologies and trends. Much of the spotlight at MWC focused on future mobile broadband technologies, as well as the shift in focus from smartphone devices to smartphone platforms and ecosystems. One trend worth watching is the development of mobile broadband networks, particularly the 4G Long-Term-Evolution (LTE) technology. Status of … [Read more...]
Are IaaS and PaaS Cloud Models actually converging?
February 21, 2011 By 2 Comments
Choosing the right type of platform is one of the more important decisions facing companies developing cloud computing strategies, particularly when considering Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) and Platform as a Service (PaaS). Selecting a Software as a Service (SaaS) service provider is normally more straightforward, as the software offering is already well-defined, although some SaaS providers, like SalesForce with its Force.com platform, are offering PaaS solutions as well. In recent … [Read more...]
Removing the mist surrounding the Cloud
February 18, 2011 By 2 Comments
The hype surrounding cloud computing is expected to reach unprecedented levels over the next few years. According to recent research by analyst Gartner, CIOs view the cloud as their top technology priority for 2011 and it expects the number of organisations using on-demand computing to rise to 43% within four years. Despite being lured by the prospect of achieving significant cost savings and efficiency gains, not all organisations are ready to embrace cloud computing and some lack an … [Read more...]
The Forecasted Mobile Traffic Explosion and its Impact
February 14, 2011 By 2 Comments
There’s incredible growth in mobile data in the coming years, according to several vendors and analysts who have recently issued reports. This is a particularly interesting development for mobile cloud computing, as most of the forecasted traffic is expected to be driven by cloud-based services. In a new Global Mobile Data Traffic Forecast Update for 2010-2015, issued by Cisco’s Visual Networking Index (VNI), there are clear indications of a real explosion in mobile data traffic. Some of … [Read more...]
Are accounting firms reluctant to endorse cloud computing?
February 9, 2011 By 1 Comment
Some accounting firms still require convincing before they endorse the cloud. I tracked down several accounting professionals to ask why. “I’m a firm believer in [the cloud - I really am,” says Carolyn Duffy, who directs business advisory services for Hein & Associates. “But if I had some special legacy system, I would have to look at the integration issue.” Similar concerns from accounting firms about integration, software customization, cost or IT services qualit should … [Read more...]
Advanced browsers are key to mobile cloud computing
February 6, 2011 By 2 Comments
The key requirements for mobile cloud computing are a web interface and Internet access to remotely stored applications in the cloud. Handheld mobile devices like smartphones and tablets require browsers that can quickly display and execute remote applications optimized specifically for mobile cloud computing. From a user perspective, this makes it less obvious that the application is not native or handset-centric, but run from the cloud. To support mobile cloud computing, there is an … [Read more...]
Can Microsoft become dominant in the cloud?
February 2, 2011 By 1 Comment
While some industry watchers say Microsoft has been late in getting its cloud computing game rolling, the company's strength and capabilities should not be underestimated. Remember the early days of the Internet, when Microsoft seemed to endlessly drag its feet while nimble new players like Netscape rolled out pioneering products? When Microsoft finally flexed its muscles, it quickly turned things around. Will the same thing happen in cloud computing? Azure vs. AWS There are some … [Read more...]
