Citrix Systems Inc. acquired Cloud.com on Tuesday for a rumored price of $200-250 million. “The acquisition will let Citrix customers run cloud-computing software faster and more cheaply.” GoDaddy.com, Zynga, and Nokia are all Cloud.com customers that rely on the service to run their website in the cloud and handle their traffic. This acquisition puts Citrix into closer competition with VMware and Amazon.com, which also host websites on their cloud platforms.

• Citrix Systems Acquires Cloud.com to Challenge Rivals VMware, Amazon

The four reasons Casey outlines as to why the cloud is not overhyped are geography, faster deployment speeds, room for growth, and frequency of updates and enhancements. Geography because companies with offices all over the state, country, world, what have you, can access the same data at the same time, without the fear that something problematic would happen to a single data center. Faster deployment speeds and room for growth are important because as businessues such as the Schumacher Group grow rapidly, the cloud services can be set up quickly, keep up with growth, and maintain high speeds better than an on-site server would. And finally, the frequency of updates and enhancements allows for more growth and simple updates without hassle.

• 4 Reasons Cloud Computing Isn’t Overhyped

According to new In-Stat research, public cloud computing “is set to grow “153% from 2010 to 2015.” IaaS is predicted to grow to about $4 billion by 2015, SaaS will grow 142%. In addition, small businesses are expected to be the fastest growing size segment, “growing from $2.5 billion by 2010 and $6.6 billion by 2015.” SaaS and IaaS are important to small businesses because of the ease of use, the accessibility, and the cost savings they provide.

• Public Cloud Computing is Set to Grow 153% From 2010 to 2015

Cloud services “can and will fail at some point,” there is no reason to deny it. However, to ensure that business runs smoothly during these times, businesses must fully understand what possible problems could arise and find out how to solve them if the event occurs. If an organization is experiencing performance problems, consider Cloudsleuth, “an open online cloud community sponsored by Compuware,” which helps uncover and solve performance problems. If companies do experience slower response times or lower network bandwidth, they should try to uncover the issue before it turns into something even larger, such as the service shutting down completely. Do not let these types of problems discourage you from joining the cloud. Just like IT services, problems will arise, but learn how to fix them and have an alternative plan prepared, and the downtime will go smoothly.

• What to Do When the Cloud Fails

VMware announced their new version of vSphere cloud operating system on Tuesday. The new upgrade is “aimed at making it easier for small and medium sized businesses to adopt cloud computing.” The upgrade included better security, storage, and recovery features. New storage features allows for companies to “pool internal storage from several computers into one secure pool” without needing to purchase additional services or hardware. VMwares announcement was juxtaposed with Citrix’s acquisition of Cloud.com, which puts the two companies in bigger competition with the other.

• VMware Expands Cloud Suite, Boosts Storage Abilities

ServiceMax, a field service management solutions company, built their service chain management and field service support business entirely on the Force.com platform. “Force.com is the backbone of our business from a technology, sales and marketing, and services standpoint” says Stacy Epstein, VP of Marketing. “Everything we do runs alongside or on top of [Force.com].” ServiceMax was also able to create an iPad app through the platform and Database.com. If you would like to hear more about how they utilize Force.com, watch the video by clicking on the link below.

• Cloud Talk: ServiceMax Builds an iPad App in Just 2 Weeks with Force.com

Recently, there have been a number of incidents in cloud security and service, including issues with Amazon, Dropbox, and Sony’s Playstation. However, despite these setbacks the cloud is still steadily growing with both companies and consumers switching to the cloud. This means that even though there are still a few kinks to be worked out, the cloud is here to stay. ”Taking advantage of the cloud is the most scalable and the most cost-effective way to provide computing resources and services.” Cost alone is a huge reason why many companies are jumping on the cloud bandwagon, but also it is quicker, often times safer, and conveniently always there when you need it.

• Why Is There a Steady Migration to the Cloud Despite Reliability and Security Concerns?

Kell touches on an important and often overlooked aspect to the cloud: choice. Cloud computing allows for choice in almost every way. Consumers are free to choose which platform they use, can pick between many different cloud applications, and if they don’t love any, there are many resources out there to help you design one yourself (or even have a company like Delivered Innovation design it for you). You “are free to choose from any and all available technologies at any time.”  Moreover, not only are there many choices in the cloud, but these choices are only growing. Every day new applications are developed, technology gets wiser, and the cloud becomes easier to use.

• Interoperability in the Cloud

Carlberg highlights some newly released apps from last week- The Chatter Game, salesforce.com CRM Dashboards, and Mass Lead Converter. With The Chatter Game, you can “reward target behavior with points” to those employees who use Chatter often and effectively, which motivates employees to use the app. salesforce.com CRM Dashboards provide reports and dashboards for Marketing and Sales Executives, Managers, and Salespeople, making it easier to manage business. Lastly, Mass Lead Converter allows you to convert multiple leads at the same time, cutting down on time. All of these apps are easy to understand, install, and make our lives a little easier.

• Apps Aren’t Just for Kansas Anymore

The two most desirable features of PaaS are revenue generation and commodity pricing, according to Warfield. “PaaS vendors need to embrace these two features and nail them before worrying about much else.” If your company’s PaaS is not producing traffic and thus, not delivering revenue, that must be fixed. However, this is usually the hardest thing to do, and if you do not have a solid traffic stream, Warfield suggests either repurposing or looking into partnering opportunities. Give it some thought, and add your input to the discussion.

• The Two Most Desirable Features of a Platform as a Service

Dodson outlines various reasons why the cloud is essential for health care providers. He makes the argument that, “by utlizing cloud based platforms… health care IT departments can shake-off the burden of supporting on-premise applications that don’t directly affect patient care.” Some of his reasons for moving health care to the cloud includes cutting down their budgets, the need to get more information, faster, and the need for security. Doctors are already starting to use iPads to take down patient information and transfer prescriptions to pharmacies, so we are already starting to see the benefit of the cloud and cloud resources at work in this industry.

• Five Reasons Why Cloud Computing is Essential For Health Care

Quickbooks announced Intuit Anywhere, a PaaS with pre-built integration to other cloud-based services. “With one-click, [customers] can “Connect to QuickBooks” from an Intuit Anywhere enabled app, sign-in with their Intuit Account, and instantly have QuickBooks data available to them.” A few well known Quickbooks partners are already signed up to use this application, including eBay and Concur. The idea of PaaS with pre-built integrations to other cloud based services is new in PaaS technology, and we cannot help but ask whether this was what PaaS was meant to do from the beginning, or is Quickbooks breaking new ground?

• Announcing Intuit Anywhere

This week, VMware announced that they intend to acquire Digital Fuel, an IT Financial Management SaaS solutions. Digital Fuel provides solutions to optimize IT cost and value, by enabling companies “to plan, manage and optimize cost and value in the emerging world of cloud based dynamic IT.” Digital Fuels’ mission corresponds with VMware’s, in the sense that VMware is constantly coming out on top as the global leader in virtualization and cloud infrastructure solutions in IT. Details of the acquisition were not announced, and is schedule to close this July.

• VMware to Acquire Digital Fuel, IT Financial and Business Management SaaS Company

GMO, Japan’s most sought after name in cloud hosting, announced their intention to move into the US with GMO Cloud America Inc. GMO decided to move to the US because of “the growing demand created by businesses that are embracing the scalability and portability of cloud hosting and computing.” At it’s launch, GMO will provide three different packages: GMO10, GMO20, and GMO30 at low introductory prices for the next six months. GMO10 will be free during this period. With more companies moving to the cloud every day, it isn’t a bad idea to open up more options for cloud hosting.

• GMO Launches Cloud Computing Solution in U.S. Market

Contendo raised $17million from partners Citrix and Juniper Networks to support the company’s growth. Contedo specializes in cloud-based acceleration technoligies, including site and mobile acceleration. Contedo expands to grow overseas with their funding, moving into Asia-Pacific and Latin America. Citrix stated their investment in the company was driven by, “the synergy between the services and technologies of Citrix Systems and Contedo blend on-premise physical and virtual appliances… thereby improving end user experience from any location to any device.”

• Cloud Technology Startup Contendo Raises $17 Million From Citrix, Juniper, VCs

Last week Intuit and Salesforce announced that they would be teaming up together. However, details of the pairing are not clear. In this article, Howlett brings forth some of these issues, such as whether or not Quickbooks will be a tab on salesforce.com or a separate application, whether this is globally available or restricted to the US, and asks why salesforce.com has not announced this pairing, only Intuit.

On Monday, Appirio announced the acquisition of Infowelders, a full service salesforce.com implementation consultancy. Infowelders will allow Appirio to gain a larger presence in the Midwest market, increase their customer base, and “position Appirio as the most certified cloud-focused partner of salesforce.com.” The acquisition is expected to close at the end of March.

• Appirio Acquires Infowelders, A Salesforce.com Consultancy

Home networks are most likely going to be moving towards the cloud, possibly leaving room for new opportunities for startups. What home networks will need are simple, easy to navigate “cloud-based services for novices to manage and better utilize their home networks.” While there are home based networks such as Open Flow available, these networks may still be too complex for the average user.

• Are Home Networks Destined for Cloud-Based Networking?

What is the best Platform as a Service? According to Perry, “it depends on who you are and what you’re trying to do.” Users have private and public PaaS systems to chose from, all with differing market segments. For example, DotCloud is a relatively new PaaS, which is looking promising and offers more flexibility than a PaaS system such as Heroku. When shopping around for a PaaS system, remember to keep your focus “well-segmented” and chose a service that reflects your customer needs.

• What’s the Best Platform-as-a-Service?

IBM is really stretching with its latest cloudwashing, trying to somehow rebrand mainframe technology as “cloud.”

• Not So Fast: IBM Pushes Mainframe Towards the Cloud

Jonathan Rico, a Force.com developer, gives his list of 20+ “Force.com Commandments.” Some of our personal favorites include, “Thou shall not assume a 75% coverage is good,” “Thou shall not create all of your classes with ‘Without Sharing’ keyword unless you know what you are doing,” and “Thou shall not use Chrome and not use the ‘Force.com utility belt’ and ‘Force.com Logins’ extensions”. To sum it up with the words of Rico, “Amen.”

• Force.com Commandments

Groupon attributes most, if not all, of their business scaling success to working in the Cloud. The company uses both Amazon and salesforce.com to keep their site powered up and running smoothly. “Salesforce was chosen not just because of the company’s experience in supporting large business types, but because of the types of tools that can be integrated or built-on-top of the platform.” Groupon’s backbone is their daily deals offered to customers, and in order to keep these deals coming Groupon sends them out through the salesforce.com platform. This way, all employees have the opportunity to review it, discuss it through Chatter, and make changes.

• How Groupon Uses the Cloud to Scale its Business

Earlier this week, Appirio launched CloudSpokes, a crowdsourcing development community that allows companies to connect to cloud experts in their area. “CloudSpokes will create transparency for the market around cloud platforms and cloud development,” as customers and consumer connect for project execution. As the cloud continues to grow, resources such as this will grow in demand.

• Cloud Meet Crowd- A Match Made for the Enterprise
  

The Federal Government has began taking advantage of the cloud with their launch of the Federal Cloud Computing Strategy. The government can now consolidate data, making it easier to navigate and quicker to get to, as well as “reduce [their] data center infrastructure expenditure by approximately 30%,” up to $20 million, which could be spent on new cloud technologies. Every week, companies are switching over to the cloud, and the Government’s shift is just the beginning.

• Federal Cloud Computing Strategy Officially Launched

In the Public Cloud, PaaS has become somewhat of a middle ground between SaaS and IaaS. PaaS combines the positive qualities of SaaS, such as low costs and customization options, and the positive qualities of IaaS, such as efficiency and high amount of data storage. “As these capabilities become more sophisticated and their complexity increases, the drive to abstract and re-simplify pushes IaaS toward PaaS.” Ultimately, PaaS is advancing quicker than SaaS and IaaS, and will continue to do so.

• IaaS and SaaS Lead to PaaS

2010 was the year where everyone shifted towards the cloud, and 2011 will be the year everyone understands how to use it. Urquhart believes that cloud applications will greatly impact companies in three ways: making data and analytics faster and easier to swift through, allowing companies to more easily try out new business ideas without investing too much money, and by allowing companies to back up their data via context systems.

• Cloud Computing’s Killer Applications

With large corporations such as Google and Facebook hiring immense amounts of engineers, combined with an increasing number of US graduates pursing jobs oversees, a shortage of good engineers is underway. Which is why, Reddy suggests, graduates should look into working at a startup company. “The downside risk is relatively low. With lots of venture capital funding, salaries and benefits at startups are competitive to those at large companies.” Startups give engineers the opportunity to do what they actually love doing, as opposed to the bureaucracies of a larger corporation. At this point, we would like to give ourselves and other startups, a firm pat on the back.

• Why Engineers Are Better Off Joining Startups