10 Hot Cloud Reseller Partner Programs
Sep 1st
10 Hot Cloud Reseller Partner Programs
Here is a list of 10 Hot Cloud Computing Reseller Programs on the internet. If we missed you don’t worry about it I’m sure we’ll hear from you. You can expect this list to be updated regularly. so if you have a program that you believe is worthy of a mention, let us know and we’ll see what we can do.
Google Apps
The Google Apps Authorized Reseller Program offers IT solution providers the ability to take Google Apps – a cloud-based suite of email, calendar, IM, and collaboration tools – to new and existing customers. Watch the Quick Tour video. 
As one of the global leaders in SaaS, Google Apps has experienced accelerating adoption with thousands of businesses signing up daily and over 2 million companies already using this solution to improve their business with better messaging and collaboration tools. Hear why more and more companies are going Google.
SoftLayer Cloud
The SoftLayer Reseller Program provides qualified hosting resellers with exceptional benefits as well as confidence that they are delivering their end customers a service with the highest performance and reliability. With SoftLayer, “value-adding” hosting resellers can better fulfill their end customer’s needs and grow their own services on demand.
The program gives resellers non-exclusive rights to offer standard SoftLayer services as well as products not sold directly under the SoftLayer name brand. Resellers receive generous volume discounts on dedicated server and upgrade purchases, setup fees and more. Resellers also receive preferred services, including a customized customer portal and auto-provisioned server delivery within 2 to 4 hours on components in stock.
RedHat Cloud Partner Program
A Red Hat Certified Cloud Provider offers a trusted destination for Red Hat customers, ISVs, and partners to use Red Hat technologies in public clouds, and meets rigorous testing and certification requirements to ensure the delivery of a safe, scalable, supported, and consistent environment for enterprise cloud deployments.
Through the Certified Cloud Provider Program, Red Hat has established the industry’s first program to certify that vendors have tested the cloud and have support processes in place to quickly resolve problems should they occur.
OpSource Reseller Program
OpSource’s Distribution Partners provide systems integration and outsourced solutions that include cloud or managed hosting. These partners resell OpSource solutions. Distribution Partners, including systems integrators, MSPs and VARs must be generate more revenue from services rather than rely on decreasing margins on hardware and software. Cloud computing represents an opportunity to translate expertise in infrastructure, network and software solutions into cloud hosting services revenue.
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Practically Speaking about Amazon Web Services – Part 2: A Cloud Giant
Sep 1st
Practically Speaking about Amazon Web Services – Part 2: A Cloud Giant
We saw the various innovative cloud products and services offered by Amazon Web Services in Part 1. At this stage, it is quite natural that we have the business economics going on in our mind as how big is the cloud business industry and what part is being played by Amazon. Let us have a look at how Amazon Web Services has fared in analysts views. After all, before Amazon Web Services came along, Amazon was the least known for putting up a fight with IT Giants: such as: Microsoft, IBM, Google etc., where they not?
IDC, in a press release dated June 23rd,2010, says that global revenue of public cloud services which was around $ 16 Billion in 2009 will grow to $ 55.5 Billion in 2014. The research report further states that IT cloud services are crossing the chasm with modest revenue; fastest growth of about CAGR 27.4%.
-Reference: Worldwide and Regional Public IT Cloud Services 2010–2014 Forecast by IDC – (IDC #223549)
Another report released by UBS Investment Research analysts Brian Pitz and Brian Fitzgerald says that, for the type of cloud services offered by Amazon Web Services the market size can be pegged at around $ 15 to 20 Billion in the year 2014.
As per analysts, Amazon Web Services clocked revenue of about $ 0.5 Billion in 2010; could go up to $ 2.54 Billion in 2014. And this is about a 5% of total market share! And a market share of about 15% in similar services! Analysts predict that from the last quarter of 2010, Amazon Web Services revenue will have an impact on Amazon Inc., as a company. Well, not minding accuracy of these market share figures, one can clearly say that Amazon is an early pioneer player poised to grow big.
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Confessions of a Cloudaholic
Aug 31st
Confessions of a Cloudaholic – Life in the Cloud
By Nimantha De Silva of CloudTweaks – Aug 31st, 2010
The script is written, actors are ready, it’s time to say ACTION, but hold on, this time it is not about a film, it is just about unveiling the script of Challenges faced in Cloud Computing. This article purely focuses on challenges faced on cloud computing along with how it’s architecture is made of and its key characteristics to make it so special. A real confession is about to make and lets follow it.
Introduction
Cloud computing, from its evolve itself has become a major talking point. There were wide spread consensus among many industrial observers to check whether it is ready for noticeable deployment in the year 2010. So before digging deep into cloud, lets figure out what cloud computing is defined for. Even though it was introduced sometime back, it can still be identified as in the emerging stage, so there are many definitions based on several releases, but the most appropriate according to my view is the definition given by Wikipedia saying “Cloud computing describes a new supplement, consumption and a delivery model for IT services based on Internet, and it typically involves the provision of dynamically scalable and often virtualized resources as a service over the internet”. With the introduction itself, this topic was subjected towards many discussions, arguments, reviews, etc… Many expressed their ideas over this new born kid, but it was not to stop it but to make it much better. From that time onwards, cloud did grow and overcame many obstacles, but it is not finished yet. There are a certain set of challenges which needs to be addressed. The challenges which came into limelight along with the boom of the cloud are as follows:
- Who has given rights to access the information that organizations are putting on these external cloud application and systems servers?
- What and how does an organization’s compliance posture for applicable laws, regulations, standards, contracts and policies change when business, and sometimes even customer and employee, information is stored in the clouds?
- How long does information put into the clouds stay in those clouds?
- Do the clouds have retention policies?
- Can information be permanently and completed removed from the clouds once it is put there?
- Are there any logs generated to show how that cloudy information is accessed, copied, modified and otherwise used by anyone else?
- Can all necessary information in clouds be easily retrieved during e-discovery activities? If so, what are the related costs involved in it?
Even though cloud has not reached its peak yet, there are certain level of growth in cloud usage from the year 2008 to 2010, mainly due to its change of architecture. Lets figure out how the architecture is built to make cloud look more clearer than earlier.
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Top 30 Cloud Service Providers Gaining Mind Share in 3Q 2010
Aug 31st
Top 30 Cloud Service Providers Gaining Mind Share
Article by: Ray DePena with Cloud Expo
Image Credit to incomingit.com
It has certainly been an exciting week in the Cloudsphere with Dell and HP battling it out over 3PAR. It’s clear who is on Dell and HP’s radar, and I’m looking forward to seeing the rest of 2010 Cloud acquisitions as the segment continues to consolidate.
Its been almost 2 quarters since the last report, though the BTC Logic team has done an excellent job in their Top Ten Cloud Companies in 2Q10 Report to pick up the slack. CRN released The 100 Coolest Cloud Computing Vendors list joining the The Top 150 Players in Cloud Computing, 85 Cloud Computing Vendors Shaping the Emerging Cloud, 50 of The Biggest and Best Cloud Computing Companies, The VAR Guy’s SaaS 20 Index, and even Congress has gotten into the Cloud game – Congress Holds Hearing on Cloud Computing.
With that M&A activity as background, here are my rankings for the Top 30 Cloud Service Providers Gaining Mind Share in 3Q 2010.
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Practically Speaking about Amazon Web Services – Part 1: The Evolution of Amazon AWS
Aug 30th
Practically Speaking about Cloud Computing – Series by Cloudtweaks
Practically speaking: Gartner declared that Cloud Computing is at its peak of the Hype Cycle with inflated expectations in 2010. We are witnessing the same in 
reality now. The talk is no longer about its definitions or security concerns. As cloud computing is entering into the offices of CIOs, CTOs, CFOs and CEOs with a bang, it is execution time. In this Practically Speaking Cloud Computing Series in Cloudtweaks, let us have information-exchange of practical knowledge and experience.
Practically Speaking about Amazon Web Services – Part I: “The Evolution of Amazon AWS”
Last week Amazon celebrated their fourth birthday of its Amazon Elastic Computing Cloud (Amazon EC2). No doubt that Amazon Web Services is the pioneer and poster child of cloud computing. It is quite appropriate that we take Amazon Web Services as first to go for Practically Speaking:
Cloudtweaks Cloud Computing talks.
If we have a look at Google Trends for cloud computing, we can note that the whole thing started in the year 2007. Since then, particularly in the past four years, 2009 and 2010 have been the years of peak. Almost all major hardware and software IT vendors announced their strategy and service offerings in these two years. They include Microsoft, Oracle, SAP, IBM, Google, HP, Dell, Intel and so many others.
Google Trends for cloud computing all regions_ Cloudtweaks chart.
However, Amazon Web Services started its Amazon EC2 Service from the year 2006 itself.
Google Trends for Amazon Web Services all regions Cloudtweaks Chart.
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HP continues its position by increasing the bid for 3Par Inc
Aug 27th
By Associated Press
SEATTLE — Hewlett-Packard Co. has again raised its bid for 3Par Inc. above an offer from rival Dell Inc., suggesting that the little-known data-storage maker could be worth more with one of the PC companies’ marketing muscle behind it.
The latest offer from HP for $27 per share in cash, or about $1.69 billion, is nearly three times what 3Par had been trading at before Dell made the first bid last week.
Earlier on Thursday, Dell said 3Par had accepted its second offer of $24.30 per share in cash, or $1.52 billion. Dell made its first offer, $18 per share, for 3Par on Aug. 16, and HP responded Monday with a bid of $24 per share.
HP and Dell, two of the world’s largest personal computer makers, are looking at 3Par as a way to build up their “cloud computing” businesses, which involve delivering software, data storage and other services to customers over the Internet. Either company would buy 3Par in part to cut data-storage costs.
Before the bidding began, 3Par had been trading at about $10 per share. Some analysts described even Dell’s initial offer price, at two-thirds of HP’s latest bid, as too steep.
But Andy Hargreaves, an analyst for Pacific Crest Securities, said Thursday that Dell and HP are willing to pay more than twice 3Par’s previous value because they believe they have the marketing and distribution muscle to turn 3Par into a much larger business. Revenue for 3Par in the most recent fiscal year, which ended in March, was $194 million — less than 1 percent of Dell’s revenue in the most recent year.
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Cloud Summit – Turning the Cloud Promise into Business Reality
Aug 25th
CloudTweaks would like to introduce the Cloud Summit Event in November with one of our Event Partners. TM Forum.
TM Forum
Management World Americas
Cloud Summit
Turning the Cloud Promise into Business Reality 
November 9-11 2010
Orlando, Florida
TM Forum’s Cloud Summit is the only conference this year giving you a front row seat in the cloud debate amongst industry leaders.
This is your opportunity to meet and learn from the companies at the cutting edge of cloud technology and enterprise deployment.
To learn more, view speaker line-up and the full summit programme visit:
www.tmforum.org/cloudsummit/cloudtweaks
To register:
Go to www.tmforum.org/mwa10/register
Call Paige Sorce: +1 973 944 5100
Email: register@tmforum.org
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First Mobile Cloud Platform for the Enterprise
Aug 24th
Model Metrics Introduces the First Mobile Cloud Platform for the Enterprise
Next Generation 2GO Cloud Platform Decreases Time to Market for Enterprise-Ready Mobile Applications Leveraging Adobe, Amazon Web Services, Google and Salesforce.com Technologies; Announces Expanded Support for Adobe AIR on Android
CHICAGO, IL–(Marketwire – August 24, 2010) – Model Metrics, the leader in cloud computing services for the enterprise, today introduced the first mobile cloud platform for the enterprise, enabling business users to take critical business functionality with them, wherever they go. Based on the company’s 1,300 plus custom, mobile and mutli-cloud deployments including Crescent Healthcare and Elkay Manufacturing, Model Metrics 2GO Cloud Platform leverages the industry’s leading cloud technologies from Amazon Web Services, Google and salesforce.com to deliver enterprise-class mobile solutions with expanded device support, including Android and any device running Adobe® AIR®, HTML5 or iOS.
Mobilizing the Cloud
Model Metrics 2GO Cloud Platform was developed to address customer demand for enterprise-class mobile cloud solutions that are scalable, highly customizable and easy to implement in order to make cloud computing work for mobile workforces and to support today’s trend of more business interactions taking place on mobile devices. According to Juniper Research, the mobile cloud computing market is expected to reach $9.5 billion by 2014, with the majority of this growth being driven by businesses (ABI Research: ‘Mobile Cloud Computing’ the Next Big Thing, Juniper Research: $9.5 billion by 2014).
The 2GO Cloud Platform:
- Designed for field representatives and other mobile workers who need a mobile and/or offline solution delivered quickly to simplify everyday tasks and enable productivity while on the go. Users experience seamless performance whether on or offline and see an immediate impact to their productivity with streamlined clickstreams and usability.
- Decreases time to market for customized mobile cloud solutions with pre-built functionality that meets 80% of business needs out of the box, and is significantly more cost-effective than solutions developed from scratch.
- Provides enterprises with multiple device options including Android tablets and smart phones, iPhones and iPads, BlackBerry, Windows Mobile and traditional tablet PCs enabled by Adobe Flash® Builder™ for Force.com, HTML5 and Salesforce Mobile.
New to Model Metrics 2GO Cloud Platform
- New modular architecture that enables enterprises to pick and choose functionality from a series of pre-built, mobile-enabled components to rapidly build and deploy mobile applications that meet their specific business needs.
- Additional device support includes a tested, pre-release version for Android devices utilizing Adobe AIR, with a general availability release expected at the end of 2010. Android device functionality includes advanced business functions such as bar code scanning integrated with Salesforce CRM out of the box.
- In addition to life sciences, pre-packaged solutions now available for consumer goods and retail leveraging multiple 2GO Cloud Platform modules to improve field sales and service execution and enabling clienteling. Includes order entry and bar code scanning, advanced signature capture and call routing.
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Cloud Computing is Changing the Way Business is Done
Aug 24th
Cloud Computing is Changing the Way Business is Done
The Old Model
Not too long ago hardly any one was using Google Apps for accessing and updating their documents, now it appears almost everyone uses Google docs when connected to the Internet instead of The Microsoft Office tools. Similarly some 2-3 years ago there were just a few top notch video games available on the Internet, but now users can play games without installing the software on their PC.
It’s real, Cloud Gaming is on the move!
In the near future almost everyone will be using online applications for their office and business purposes. Google, Amazon, Salesforce, IBM and Oracle are the main players in the market to offer their clients almost all types of IT infrastructure and business solutions. This concept of shared hardware and software resources among many users is the basis of cloud computing. These resources are owned and provided by vendors who charge the users on utility based methods.
The New Cloud Model
GLOBAL SHIFT
The shift in Cloud computing is actually a paradigm shift from the client-server technology. Cloud computing is completely changing the way computing work is done in the business world. The major IT giants have already prepared themselves for this inevitable shift. They have already built data centers, launched different cloud based technologies, offered PaaS (Platform-as-a-Service) and SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) to businesses around the world.
Doing Corporate Functions in the Cloud
Office workers will now be able to perform routine and new activities using PaaS and SaaS. This is more efficient not only in terms of time and money, but in quality and agility as well. Corporations will not need to worry about their increasing storage demands as Cloud computing offers economic and practical pricing model. These services are low priced, scalable, agile, and have utility based billing methods.
In Search of the Best Proportion
Concerns with the reliability, security and legal issues, there will still be a need for private clouds or at least private servers. Many financial and health related companies are bound by law to keep their client’s record personal and in their own storage locations. This limitation will force such companies to use hybrid cloud – a mixture of private and public cloud. Using hybrid clouds will let enterprises keep their confidential and desired data in their own private storage location.
By CloudTweaks
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Cloud storage lives up to the hype
Aug 23rd
Very Interesting Report By Tom Henderson and Brendan Allen, at Network World
In our continuing series of groundbreaking tests of cloud computing services, we take a look at what enterprises can expect if they decide to entrust data to a cloud storage provider. We found that cloud storage lives up to its advance billing in two key areas: cloud storage can be fast and the pay-as-you-go model can be a real cost saver. We also found that security could be an issue for enterprise shops, and the formulas for trying to predict overall costs can be complex.
The services that we tested were Amazon S3, Rackspace’s CloudFiles, Egnyte’s On Demand File Server, Nasuni Cloud Storage, and Nirvanix‘s Storage Delivery Network. Amazon, Rackspace and Nirvanix represent the containerized/object-oriented model. Egnyte embodies the file/folder metaphor, while Nasuni offers a different twist – it’s a front-end that simplifies cloud storage for enterprise customers and connects to other cloud storage vendors on the back end.
