Hostway Launches Cloud Computing Service FlexCloud

Hostway Corporation has launched its cloud computing infrastructure FlexCloud, adding cloud computing functionality to all its hosting packages. The new service includes automated allocation of CPU, memory, storage and bandwidth for individual websites.

The company states that the first to benefit will be its North American customers' websites, which will be hosted on the new cloud computing infrastructure. All new customers' websites will also be placed on FlexCloud. It further states that FlexCloud includes automated allocation of CPU, memory, storage and bandwidth for individual websites, reliability through infrastructure architecture and deployment, and end-user features.

Ricoh and IBM Form Global Strategic Alliance Supporting SOA

Ricoh announced a Global Strategic Alliance with IBM that will provide customers with document solutions. As part of the alliance, the companies will first launch a new Ricoh offering, Document Security and Management Services (DSMS) in the United States. The DSMS offering includes Assessment & Deployment, End User Services, Managed Services, Security, Green Office, and Enterprise Content Management services, which will be delivered by Ricoh Document Solutions and Services Division and IBM's Global Technology Services. In addition, Ricoh has an agreement to resell IBM's Managed Server offering and collaborate on the sale and delivery of IBM software, hardware and services, such as End User Services, Internet Security Systems (ISS) Services, Business Continuity & Resiliency Services, and Storage & Data Services.

Ricoh and IBM have signed an agreement to demonstrate Multi-Function Product (MFP) -based solutions that fully integrate with a corporation's IT applications and infrastructure and are based on the principles of service oriented architecture (SOA). Because of its support for SOA, Ricoh MFP can be integrated into existing IT infrastructures to drive business processes, create a custom portal on the MFP panel and receive messages at the MFP.

According to a release from the allying companies, a SOA-enabled Ricoh MFP facilitates the integration of new technologies, including autonomic computing. Additionally, by integrating supply chain management systems with diagnostic data generated within the MFP, the ability to automatically order MFP supplies can be performed.

Ingres Using Salesforce CRM to Extend Cloud Computing

Salesforce.com has announced that Ingres Corporation is using Salesforce CRM to support its global business growth. Following a two week deployment, Ingres integrated Salesforce CRM with the Intacct financial management system from the Force.com AppExchange. Salesforce.com partner Demand Solutions Group helped Ingres with its Salesforce CRM deployment and customization. Ingres is deploying Intacct, Xactly and Vtrenz via the Force.com AppExchange to extend cloud computing throughout the enterprise.

In addition to deploying Salesforce CRM, Ingres deployed Intacct via the Force.com AppExchange for integration between Ingres' financials and Salesforce. The SaaS Intacct solution shares data with Salesforce CRM, so finance has visibility into the sales pipeline, contract status and other critical information, and sales can view account status and accounts receivables details.

Ingres also tapped into the Force.com AppExchange for additional functionality, deploying Vtrenz for additional marketing automation capabilities, and Xactly for sales compensation. When the company needed a custom opportunity form for the business development team to feed information into Salesforce CRM, it built one using the Force.com platform.

EMC Expands Virtualization Portfolio with New VMware Services

EMC announced it is a gold-level VMware Authorized Consultant (VAC), expanding its global alliance with VMware to help enterprise customers around the world accelerate their business by virtualizing their information infrastructures and data centers. EMC's Global Services helps customers by extending virtual infrastructure into a consistent enterprise-wide strategy.

The EMC Global Services portfolio for the VMware platform focuses on key customer requirements, such as:

- Business continuity for virtualized environments, including VMware Site Recovery Manager (SRM)
- VMware operations, management, and reporting best practices
- VMware infrastructure acceleration and implementation, and
 -Planning and deploying client virtualization

EMC will leverage more than 1400 services professionals and engineers who have completed the VMware hands-on training and hundreds who have continued to complete the VMware Certified Professional (VCP) certification test to offer a full lifecycle of strategy, design, implementation and managed services that help customers integrate VMware architectures and operations into their data centers, remote offices and desktop strategies.

For those customers deploying mission-critical applications from companies such as Microsoft, Oracle and SAP on the VMware platform, EMC service professionals will leverage EMC's ongoing investment in EMC Proven Solutions that have been validated and integrated with both EMC and VMware technologies.

Clearwire Introduces Clear 4G Mobile Internet Service to Portland

Clearwire claims it has transformed Portland into the fastest unwired city in the West, making the city home to one of the first 4G WiMAX wireless broadband services in the world, called Clear. With Clear, consumers and businesses can access the Internet wirelessly, at broadband speeds ─ at home, in the office, around the Portland metro area, and on the go.

Clear's mobile, residential and business plans can be purchased by the day or by the month, and do not require long term service contracts. Home Internet service plans start at $20 per month, while mobile Internet plans start at $30 per month. Additional savings are available for customers that purchase both home and mobile Internet services or that sign up for a two-year service agreement.

Clear broadband delivers up to 6 Mbps download speeds with the Clear residential modem, while mobile Internet customers can expect to receive up to 4 Mbps download speeds.

Clear is currently available in Baltimore, Maryland, and Portland, Oregon, and is developing a multi-year network build-out plan to bring the service to metro areas across the U.S. The Baltimore market currently operates under the XOHM brand, but will be re-branded as Clear in the coming months.

Clearwire currently offers pre-WiMAX Internet services in 46 markets throughout the United States. The company will announce roll-out plans for future markets and upgrade plans for existing pre-WiMAX markets early this year.

Soonr Brings Mobile Cloud Computing to iPhone

Soonr has announced the launch of an iPhone application that uses cloud computing to keep users in touch with their documents. A free version is available from the Apple App Store with expanded versions offered through mobile operators and SaaS providers.

Soonr makes the documents on a Mac or PC completely mobile. When the computer is online, Soonr automatically and instantly backs up the user's files in a "personal cloud."  iPhone users get a view of all their documents - whether they are Word, Excel, PowerPoint or virtually any other file type.

Soonr automatically maintains the latest versions of all users' key documents in the cloud. Soonr`s rendering software works across a wide range of document formats, so mobile workers don`t have to download specific programs to view their documents. Document pages can be previewed as thumbnails, and since the document resides in the cloud and not on the iPhone, accessing and viewing is fast.

All of Soonr's capabilities are available even when host computers are sleeping or powered off. Since Soonr continuously and securely backs up documents to the cloud, they can be restored in case of computer failure or loss.

Sharing documents via Soonr can be done in several ways. Users can send a document from their iPhone to anyone by simply entering the person`s mobile phone number or email address. Fellow Soonr users can create workgroups and share, view and comment on documents without using email and can share printers. When sharing files, users have the option of notifying a recipient of a share via SMS or email.

Tod Nielsen Appointed COO of VMware

"In this newly created role," said VMware's President and CEO, Paul Maritz, "Tod brings unique skills and capabilities that will help us improve our operational focus and enhance our execution across all areas of the business." He made the comment as VMware announced that Tod Nielsen had joined the company and been appointed  to the newly created role of Chief Operating Officer. Nielsen will report directly to President and Chief Executive Officer Paul Maritz.

"With Tod on board, I will be able to devote more of my time to the product strategy and development," Maritz said, "while Tod focuses more on business, marketing, and operations. Having worked closely with Tod in the past, I know that we will work effectively together and complement each other."

Nielsen, 43, joins VMware from Borland Software Corporation where he served as President and Chief Executive Officer since November 2005. Prior to Borland, Nielsen held several key executive management positions at leading software companies including Microsoft, BEA and Oracle.

VMware is an impressive company that is in the enviable position of giving customers a significant return on their IT investment which is becoming only more important in these challenging economic times," said Nielsen. "As an admirer of the company's strong track record of software innovation, I'm excited about working with my new colleagues at VMware to help our customers truly transform the way they manage their IT resources."

Nielsen brings more than 20 years of leadership experience in enterprise software and application development to VMware. Prior to Borland, Nielsen served as senior vice president, marketing and global sales support for Oracle Corporation. Prior to Oracle, Nielsen was the chief marketing officer and executive vice president of engineering at BEA Systems, where he had overall responsibility for BEA's worldwide marketing strategy and operations, as well as all research and development operations. Nielsen joined BEA after the acquisition of his private company, Crossgain Inc., where he served as its chief executive officer. Nielsen also spent twelve years with Microsoft Corporation, in various roles, including general manager of database and developer tools, vice president of developer tools, and, vice president of Microsoft's platform group

Red Hat has named Greg Symon as vice president

Red Hat has named Greg Symon as vice president and general manager of North American sales. With more than 25 years of business and sales experience, Symon will play a key leadership role in the development and execution of Red Hat's North American sales strategy and growth.

Prior to Red Hat, Symon held various senior sales management and business development positions during a 22-year tenure with Intel Corporation. He most recently served as senior managing director and founder of Intel's Global Software Relations organization within the company's Software Solutions Group. In this role, Symon led the creation and development of the software influencer organization focused on developing and maintaining global relationships with partners, Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) and Operating System Vendors (OSVs) to ensure success with the ecosystem and end-user account engagements.

Earlier in his Intel career, Symon was one of the primary architects and founder of both the Influencer Evangelist and Worldwide Business Development organizations. He has also held Intel positions including worldwide director of the Customer Solutions Group Influencer Sales Team, Americas director of the Architecture Management organization, manager of the Business Development organization and director of the Strategic Relations Managers Group. Symon received numerous company awards and recognition for his achievements with Intel.