Is the Internet ready?

Cloud Computing is here; there isn’t a doubt about it. It has hit us all fast. Consumers seem to love it, and business tends to love everything Consumers like. But, and there is always a but (in this case there are several, but let us focus on this one), what about the Internet? Is the Internet ready? Everything in Cloud Computing, normally, presupposes on-line connectivity. Even music now is streamed instead of simple played. Do we have the needed bandwidth for all that? Especially in mobile devices? There are already several news around the world about ISP (Internet Service Providers) limiting their bandwidth or the amount of downloaded data because of the enormous increase of use. And what happens if we lose connectivity?

Microsoft in The Cloud

I have been reading a lot about Microsoft finally hitting The Cloud with Office 365. Well, I couldn’t disagree more with that vision. I am not a Microsoft fan, but the true is that Microsoft as always been around. Maybe not in the most brilliant way, not always with integrated products or solution, sometimes with multiple ones addressing the same problem, but definitely with Cloud products (e.g. FolderShare, Mesh, Skydrive). Additionally, Microsoft has the needed expertise for a long time (the updates services?). The only difference is that now, they have decided to professionalize it.  To, finally, build a business around it. Even the time for it, which many consider late when compared to other players, was, in my opinion, thoroughly choosed. Don’t forget that Microsoft in not only changing their business model, they are changing it for all their partner and, believe me, not all of them are adapting well to this new reality.

The Cloud: making IT a commodity

One of the majors improvements powered by the Cloud paradigm is making IT a commodity. The IT industry, however, was not able to take advantage of this new reality. In the Cloud world Business, literally, meets Consumers.  IT giants are having great difficulties adapting to this new, empowered and consumer-centric, working model. These giants are used to collect partners, which in turn sell their products to IT managers and CIOs. This traditional business model is having some difficulties imposing itself in the Cloud  and I, sincerely, do not believe this would happen, at least in a short term and without some model redefinition. That being said, it is time for business owners, CEOs, entrepreneurs and department managers (among others) to update themselves, to redefine their business.

Posted in CloudViews , Opinions: visionary | Tagged businesses , CEO , CIO , , commodity , IT | Leave a reply

Cloud will be Europe IT main platform by 2014

According to Resellernews : “The majority of chief information officers across Europe believe the cloud will provide their main IT operating channel by 2014, according to research” . Well, I know the Cloud is here and is changing, very quickly, the IT world but isn’t this to fast?

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How the Cloud is changing businesses

According to : “A slew of new offerings in the cloud are helping even the tiniest of businesses look and act like big companies” . This is, in my opinion, a new reality arising from the Cloud paradigm. New ways of working are allowing small companies to, easily and in a low cost basis, spread their products around the world and act, in the global market, like big companies with a fraction of the costs. However, to obtain these results, managers need to be open mind about new ways of thinking and new ways of doing business: the Cloud way.

Posted in CloudViews , News , Opinions: visionary | Tagged "global market" , businesses , | Leave a reply