Sunday was the end of the World Cup so Microsoft decided to play off the theme with videos of fans in the pubs singing OLAY, OLAY, OLAY but instead sang O Cloud, O Cloud, O Cloud, not exactly your bonding IBM theme song. Just to be clear this is a partner conference full of people who buy Microsoft products and resell them in their markets. And the cloud SCARES THE CRAP OUT OF THEM. What came across loud and clear is that Microsoft is not going to miss this round of IT transformation. Steve Ballmer gave the keynote and reiterated the key dimensions of the cloud, something that he spoke about back in March but for most of the partners this was brand new. Later I found out from a group of Microsoft executives that Microsoft has mandated that 90% of its products be cloud-focused by the end of the year. They felt that they had reached 70% by the conference, a lot of it ... (more)

The Top 250 Players in the Cloud Computing Ecosystem

In the run-up to the next Cloud Expo, 7th Cloud Expo (November 1–4, 2010) being held at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Silicon Valley, it's time to give my earlier list a complete overhaul. Here, accordingly, is an expanded list of the most active players in the Cloud Ecosystem. I have increased it from the 'mere' 150 I identified back in January of this year, to 250, testimony – as if any were needed! – to the fierce and continuing growth of the "Elastic IT" paradigm throughout the world of enterprise computing. Editorial note: The words in quotation marks used to describe ... (more)

Cloud Expo Announces CloudCamp @ Cloud Expo Silicon Valley

Register for CloudCamp @ Cloud Expo Silicon Valley Follow @CloudExpo on Twitter Further cementing its position as The Largest Cloud Computing Event in the World, the organizers of the 7th International Cloud Expo being held at the Santa Clara Convention Center, Santa Clara, CA, on November 1-4, 2010, announced today that the event will also feature - on November 2nd, 2010 - a CloudCamp unconference. CloudCamp @Cloud Expo Silicon Valley is aimed at anyone working with, or interested in working with, cloud technologies. "With the rapid change occurring in the industry, we need a plac... (more)

Arizona Companies Put the I.D. in Fido

Phoenix, AZ, July 20, 2010 --(PR.com)-- fi.d.o (notice the I.D. in the name), is an innovative new kiosk system for creating personal pet identity tags that has customers mesmerized and pet tag sales soaring. It will be showcased at the Arizona Technology Council Partnering Conference scheduled for July 22 at the Scottsdale Hilton Resort and Villas. The public is invited and attendees will get a chance to experience the kiosk and receive a free customized pet tag. ATOMdesign, a Phoenix-based product development and branding firm partnered with The Hillman Group to develop every f... (more)

Who’s Gonna Buy Novell?

Novell set this week as the deadline for acquisition offers, according to the Wall Street Journal followed by the New York Times. Elliott Associates LLP spokesman Scott Tagliarino claims Elliott, whose $5.75-a-share offer put Novell in play a couple of months ago, knows nothing about Novell's schedule. "It's running its own show," he said. Elliott's offer is still on the table. Novell refused the hedge fund's unsolicited bid as too low but since the offer inflated Novell's sunken stock price the company knew it was trapped and went looking for a sweeter deal. The Journal report... (more)