NEWS
Despite a new-found love for cloud computing, Microsoft isn't ready to put traditional on-premises software out to pasture just yet.
With the development of its online operating system Azure and a range of other online business services, Redmond is ramping up its efforts in the cloud to keep up with rivals such as Google and Amazon.
Head of software and services at Microsoft International, Steve Clayton, told silicon.com the future of software is not entirely online, however.
"We're not saying everything's going to move to the cloud, because for some people that won't necessarily make sense," he said.
Many people will still want to work offline when there is poor connectivity according to Clayton but if their work is all stored in the cloud, they have limited options to access it.
"I think the notion that everything's just going to go to the cloud is folly in a way - it's kind of you're going to push everything up to the cloud just to bring it all the way back down again," he added.
He added that the recent Google Mail outage will make people think more carefully about jumping into the cloud and suggests that Microsoft's software plus services approach is more realistic.
"The approach we're taking is a good reminder that actually there is a lot to be said for client software on a device," he said.
Clayton - who this week spoke about cloud computing at a conference hosted by IT services company Equanet - added businesses who have invested in the on-premises approach aren't likely to ditch it overnight.
Nevertheless, Microsoft is pushing ahead with the development of its operating system, Windows Azure, which is currently in "community technology preview", or pre-beta form.
"There are a lot of people out there testing it and playing with it, there are a few people building applications on it. It's sort of in pre-beta phase at the moment and we'll hear more about it this year," Clayton told silicon.com.
Microsoft is developing business services that run in the cloud under the Business Productivity Online Suite banner including an online version of Exchange for business email, while an online version of SQL Server is already available.
Clayton added that versions of SharePoint and the Dynamics CRM technology will also be making their way into the cloud in the near future.
Comments
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1. Karen Challinor
cloud computing applied to large or medium sized businesses makes sense if they implement it on an intranet and keep all assets in house, then there are no issues over jurisdiction, privacy, security and so on.
as such this idea has been around for years in the form of thin client computing
when applied to the general population and small businesses it is little more than a marketing dream designed to give the cloud companies a steady revenue stream rather than the bursty one they get from off the shelf software sales
2. anonymous
... " 'community technology preview', or pre-beta form. "
'alpha'?
3. Nick Cole
Behind every cloud is blue sky! So as long as the geniuses who think up wonderful schemes are aware that the 'cloud' does not ecompass the answer to life, the univers and everything. And that ultimately the cloud will not be there 100% of the time, just like the weather. It may work for some users but not all users, for some of the time but not all of the time.
4. Roger Huffadine
When the cloud comes down to Earth its called FOG - if it was called FUG it would be even closer to the truth. FUG = marketing speek for fear uncertainty & doubt - that marketing in a nutshell.
5. Andrew Meredith CEng CITP
The Cloud is, as many have already suggested, a fresh marketing gloss on a boring old concept. It is the last blush of the traditional business hosting concept, before too many people realise that the costs associated with doing this stuff yourself and so truly owning your own information have come tumbling to a point where self hosting becomes irresistibly practical.
Don't fall for it people. Just picture your connection to the wonderful all knowing cloud going down at that vital point for your business. If this was your own software on your own server, you can do something about it. If it's all in the Cloud you could easily be watching that vital customer walk out to your competition and be utterly powerless to do anything about it.