The great challenge—and opportunity—of cloud: interoperability
Cloud computing and distributed applications are part of a greater shift to building out an ecosystem with inter-dependent parts. This may seem obvious, but what is less obvious is how the industry will interoperate and develop systems that let information flow through the ecosystem.
Interoperability, and the challenge of maintaining control of operations in the face of it, is a central issue for those that operate distributed applications on the internet — or “in the cloud.”
In this case, however, I’m not talking simply about creating and controlling interoperability from the developer level. Tools and services like Dell’s Boomi or IBM’s CastIron have existed for years, and have some success in delivering more flexibility to integration between applications and services. However, these services are focused on solving the developer’s key issues with integration –how to make sure messages move between components based on a process definition and one or more translations, if needed…
OnLive’s 
As virtualization and cloud computing have risen to prominence, so has the need to reduce the costs and complexities of virtual machine management. Vendors are starting to address the issue with user portals that offer services like virtual desktops and ERP and CRM applications, which may require several back-end processes to be set up.
Stoneware, the leader in Unified Cloud computing, announced the availability of webNetwork version 6.1.1. The webNetwork 6.1.1 release adds new features and enhancements that ensure customers will continue to have a robust platform on which to deliver files, applications and reports through a secure browser-based webDesktop, whether those resources reside in their private data center, the public cloud or on a local device.
Nearly 95 percent of Backupify’s business comes from corporate users and 75 percent of that revenue comes from companies with more than 100 employees. That’s why the cloud backup company is formalizing an enterprise support and service program.
Callidus Software Inc. (NASDAQ: CALD), the leader in sales effectiveness and cloud computing, announced today that Citrix Systems, a recognized leader within the technology industry, has selected the CallidusCloud® Commissions solution to drive the performance of its sales organization, automating commissions and outsourcing its sales compensation operation processes. The agreement was signed in the third quarter of 2012.
Salesforce.com now has six cloud-computing lines of business: sales force automation, customer service, marketing, collaboration, human capital management, and Salesforce.com development platforms (Force.com, Heroku, and Site.com). Sales force automation is already a $1 billion-plus business, and if predictions by CEO Marc Benioff hold true, the customer service, development platform, and marketing businesses will catch up soon.