No one disputes cloud computing as a viable resource delivery model. Now the challenge? Deliver the best solution in a world where processor power follows Moore’s Law, storage is bound by the physics of spinning media, and cloud providers need to deliver optimized system level performance at a reasonable cost. Solid State Storage combined with dynamic, intelligent caching software to “learn” data “hot spots” and move them transparently onto flash memory fills the gap.
In his session at the 11th International Cloud Expo, Scott Cleland, Worldwide Product Channel Marketing Manager at LSI, will describe three flash-based application acceleration alternatives for providers looking to move ahead of the crowd.
Seizing Control of Data Delivery
The “consumerization of IT” is a topic we’ve heard a lot about recently – especially when it comes to “Bring Your Own Device (BYOD).” One area that is less talked about, yet a growing trend under the “consumerization” umbrella, is the use of free, consumer-type file transfer services in the workplace.
A tough economy has forced IT departments to do more with less – especially within small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). Working with limited resources and budget, SMB IT professionals are still expected to manage everything from network infrastructure to cloud services to security and compliance issues, all while keeping the business running smoothly. Sometimes this results in long “wait” times for employees.
SOASTA Acquires Real User Measurement Company
SOASTA today announced the acquisition of LogNormal, the leading performance measurement company delivering real user measurement and monitoring for mobile and web applications. The acquisition extends SOASTA’s platform to deliver actionable intelligence for both marketing and operations executives on real user behavior.
“SOASTA is focused on constantly improving the user experience on mobile applications,” said Tom Lounibos, SOASTA’s CEO. “SOASTA has been delivering a fast, affordable and scalable performance solution for enterprise customer for years. The acquisition of LogNormal extends our vision of delivering the full life cycle of development, testing and measurement solutions to ensure the optimal user experience for our customers. We are excited to have LogNormal as part of SOASTA, especially Buddy and Philip with their dedication and experience in performance management.”
“SOASTA is the leader in mobile and web performance testing and we are excited to combine our expertise to deliver performance testing, monitoring and measurement in a single platform,” said Buddy Brewer, LogNormal’s CEO. “The combination of LogNormal’s expertise and SOASTA’s real-time analytics engine will provide unprecedented insight into mobile behavior.
AppNeta Launches Global MSP Partner Program
AppNeta today announced the launch of a new partner program for Managed Service Providers (MSPs). The AppNeta MSP Partner Program is designed to offer easy, revenue-generating services for assuring performance of critical applications such as VoIP, video conferencing, virtualization and web-based services. Today, AppNeta’s MSP Partners seamlessly and easily integrate AppNeta services into existing managed service contracts and create enhanced service offerings including network assessments, continuous monitoring, proactive troubleshooting, and scheduled reporting and alerting.
AppNeta’s PathView Cloud network performance service provides channel partners with unmatched breadth of insight and time to value, enabling them to see across multiple customer infrastructures in one view, and then pinpoint exactly where problems are occurring and why. The new MSP Partner Program offers unique pricing terms, centralized dashboards and alerts, white-labeled custom branded interface and a utility-based MRR billing model.
“We understand the demands on customer networks today, especially as business applications become more performance-sensitive. It is absolutely necessary for MSPs to have 24/7 performance visibility,” said Jim Melvin, CEO of AppNeta. “AppNeta is partnering with MSPs to develop an easy-to-implement service assurance program that will not only improve customer satisfaction, but will create new revenue sources at the same time.”
“Bandwidth Management Group is thrilled to be part of the AppNeta MSP Partner Program. We can now measure the performance of our customers’ wide area networks and cloud applications with continuous remote site monitoring,” said Christian Fedor, president, Bandwidth Management Group. “The new billing and training programs have made it easy for us to integrate the AppNeta solution into our existing managed service portfolio.”
While AppNeta has a long-standing partner program with more than 400 partners around the world, the new MSP Program is enhanced with key benefits to partners managing ongoing services and delivering critical applications to their global customer sites. The AppNeta MSP Partner program features:
- Monthly, consumption-based billing
- Easy, cloud-delivered implementation and automatic service upgrades
- Simple, straightforward licensing
- Regular upsell opportunities to customers
CaptureToCloud Extends Social Workspace to iOS Devices
CaptureToCloud’s Social Workspace has been extended to all iOS devices. This is the first mobile app that can capture a full copy of Internet content while it’s being viewed on an iPhone or iPad, and immediately make it available for social media sharing and collaboration. This app is used by professionals and businesses to capture mobile content into their CaptureToCloud workspace where it can be organized, shared and discussed alongside other important content. The new iOS app is included in both the free and premium services – available in the Apple App Store and at www.capturetocloud.com.
According to a recent study by the Pew Research and American Life Project, “some 88% of U.S. adults own a cell phone of some kind as of April 2012, and more than half of these cell owners (55%) use their phone to go online.” Viewing Internet content on an iPhone or iPad is one of the most common uses. With CaptureToCloud, users can be viewing that content and immediately save a copy, share it with colleagues, discuss it and read it offline.
“In today’s world, people expect a seamless transition from their desktops to their mobile devices and to be constantly connected to their apps and important content,” said Ramon Nunez, CEO, CaptureToCloud. “Mobile access is a key component of our anywhere, anytime workspace and capturing mobile content is a natural extension of what we provide on the desktop.”
CaptureToCloud aims to make it easy for professionals and businesses to incorporate Internet content into their daily work. The iOS app not only gives users access to all content in their CaptureToCloud library while they’re away from their desktop, but also allows them to capture and share new content they find with an iOS device, keeping them just as productive and engaged with projects and discussions.
Aspera to Exhibit at Cloud Expo Silicon Valley
SYS-CON Events announced today that Aspera, Inc., creators of next-generation software technologies that move the world’s data at maximum speed, will exhibit at SYS-CON’s 11th International Cloud Expo, which will take place on November 5–8, 2012, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA.
Aspera’s unwavering mission is to create the next-generation software technologies that move the world’s large data at maximum speed, regardless of file size, transfer distance and network conditions. With the unstoppable explosion of Big Data in a world where IT and networking infrastructures are more diverse and flexible than ever, Aspera focuses on supplying innovative data transfer solutions that help organizations operate and collaborate more effectively on a global scale.
Cloud Computing: EMC Brings in New CTO So Incumbent Can Work with Maritz
EMC has named John Roese, nicked from Huawei, as CTO.
He replaces Jeff Nick, who has moved over in a similar capacity working with chief strategist Paul Maritz, the former CEO of VMware, who’s got a mystery job at VMware’s parent company EMC. Maritz is said to be focused on Big Data and emerging applications initiatives.
Roese was general manager of Huawei’s North American R&D organization and the executive leader of its Enterprise Global Competency Center, which provides enterprise technology innovation and incubation as well as sales, marketing and operations support for Huawei’s enterprise field sales and marketing teams worldwide.
Before Huawei, he was CTO of Nortel, with functional responsibility for an R&D staff of 12,000 and an annual budget of $1.7 billion.
Cloud Computing: SoftLayer Catalyst Program Fuels Startups
SoftLayer Technologies is helping start-ups like MODX, SpotRight Inc. and Epic Playground build a solid foundation for success with its Catalyst Startup Program. Through this unique incubator program, SoftLayer provides free infrastructure and hosting services, as well as strategic product, market and operating advice from its senior-level employees. After a year in the Catalyst program, these entrepreneurs will have gained a competitive edge and be well positioned with strong, differentiated offerings.
“As a former startup ourselves, we are keenly aware of what it takes to transform an idea into a profitable business. While free office space and IT infrastructure services are of great benefit to new companies, we believe that a true incubator program should provide even more,” said George Karidis, chief strategy officer at SoftLayer. “Our Catalyst program also enables participants to get advice from our in-house experts, who help them validate business models, share ideas about marketing strategy and make key introductions to potential partners and investors. MODX, SpotRight and Epic Playground are among the more than 250 Catalyst participants that are capitalizing on our unique mix of mentorship and the infrastructure needed to achieve success.”
Wildcard Subdomains in Windows Azure
Want to support my.fancy.app.can.serve.up.anything.mybrand.com in your Windows Azure application? Just use wildcard CNAMEs and a little code glue!
I was meeting with a small company today that has developed a SaaS solution around task and project management. It’s a very cool application, and as is the fashion these days, uses subdomains to determine the end user’s company as requests come to the browser. So, if I were to sign up for the application, my home url would be http://adamhoffman.getdonedone.com, whereas if you signed up (and had the unlikely name of Bill Ion), your home page would be http://billion.getdonedone.com. This is handled in ASP.NET application code on their Win2K8 servers hosted at Rackspace. The question quickly became «hey, we can do something similar in Azure, right?»
The answer is yes, and no, and yes. Let me explain.
Insightly Gets $3 Million to Take SMB CRM Apps to More Platforms
Insightly, a provider of customer relationship management (CRM) software for small businesses, today announced it has completed a $3 million financing round led by Emergence Capital Partners. Insightly, which is ranked as the number one customer management application in the Google Apps marketplace, is using this financing to expand its service outside of the Google Apps platform and make it available to all small businesses starting today.
“Small businesses around the world want CRM software that is easy to use, doesn’t require hours of training, and fits their budget. Insightly’s simple user interface and freemium pricing model meets their needs perfectly,” said Anthony Smith, CEO of Insightly. “We’ve seen massive growth in the past two years by meeting this demand, and Emergence’s investment will allow us to further accelerate this growth and continue to enhance our users’ experience.”
Insightly’s intuitive cloud-based CRM software meets the needs of small businesses and allows users to easily keep track of customer interactions and manage leads, proposals, opportunities, projects and files from any device, at any time. Insightly can be accessed via a web browser from any PC, laptop, smartphone or tablet to keep business moving forward, both in office and on-the-go
