Web Hosting NewsEMC, the world’s top provider of corporate computer storage hardware, is in early-stage talks with Germany’s SAP AG to deliver computer programs over the Web, a senior SAP executive said on Wednesday.
The proposed tie-up comes as Massachusetts-based EMC makes a push into a much hyped new area of technology known as “cloud computing” that centralizes computing and storage functions at data centres, and allows people with PCs or laptop computers and Web access to tap vast stores of information from afar.
The companies would use virtualization technology to deliver that software to customers, Doug Merritt, president of SAP Labs North America and a member of the SAP Executive Board, told Reuters in an interview.
He did not discuss specifics of their proposed collaboration.
In a virtual environment, companies install software on machines at one data centre and workers use inexpensive computers equipped with software that allows them to run the software remotely.
Companies save money because technicians can perform maintenance from a single location, saving them the trouble of accessing equipment sprawled across the company. The technology makes it easier for companies to move operations in a natural disaster.
Merritt declined to comment on financial arrangements of any potential deal, saying it would be premature to do so. He would not say how quickly the products could be available.
An EMC spokesman would not comment on the proposed venture.
EMC has said it is betting hosting software and services will be a key to growth over the coming years. In November, Chief Executive Joseph Tucci said the company had developed hardware known as “Hulk” and software dubbed “Maui” for running these types of data centres.
This month he announced the formation of a new division to sell services and software over the Internet.
It is a new area for EMC with plenty of competition from some of the biggest names in technology.
IBM, Hewlett-Packard, Symantec and Microsoft are also exploring the area to diversify their sales. They are competing with younger, Internet-focused companies Google, Amazon.com and Salesforce.com.
Analysts say prospects for the sector are better than in the late 1990s when key players, including Exodus Communications, were among the Internet boom’s highest-flying stocks.
At that time, most major hardware and software companies did not go into the Web hosting business. Instead, they sold their equipment to companies such as Exodus and telephone carriers that built data centres. Exodus went broke in 2001 after the dot.com bubble burst.
“The big companies are investing in this seriously now. The technology is much different. This isn’t about dot.com companies looking for a place to get rich quick,” said Doug Chandler, an analyst who follows the industry for market researcher IDC.
The business did not live up to expectations at the time, partly because it was still early in the rise of the Internet as a business tool and companies were reluctant to trust the Web for accessing valuable software and data, Chandler said.
That is still the case with many large companies, but it’s changing among smaller businesses that do not have the expertise to run and secure their own data centres, he added, noting that outsourcing such operations can cut costs.
So far EMC has only announced one key services product, an upgraded version of an automated backup service known as Mozy that it purchased last year.
EMC said earlier this month it plans to sell Mozy’s services to large corporations. Mozy backs up computers over the Web, encrypting the data to keep it secure and storing identical copies at mirrored data centres. EMC provides those services via a recently upgraded infrastructure that it calls Fortress.
Big changes are possible with the way in which the internet service providers manage and distribute our internet access.
Comcast already chokes its customers’ peer-to-peer transfers, Time Warner Cable is testing pay-per-use pricing, AT&T has proposed filtering out illegal downloads, and Verizon says again it might consider pushing some Internet bits faster than others. Leaving aside the morality and legality of such practices, if ISPs really do start to regulate traffic, this is good news for some companies and bad news for others.
Winners:
ISPs:
Anything cable and phone companies can do to increase revenue (by charging based on the amount of bandwidth subscribers consume) and/or decrease capital spending (by reducing network capacity used for piracy) is good for their bottom lines. And because Americans don’t have much choice for Internet access, we don’t see many people ditching their ISP for another provider, no matter how angry they get. Many ISPs are also pay TV providers, meaning their video-on-demand offerings — which wouldn’t get the bandwidth surcharge — could get more eyeballs.
Cisco:
More complicated bandwidth maneuvering means more network gear and services to buy. Cisco (CSCO) has spent a ton of money on traffic management technology, including its $200 million acquisition of P-Cube in 2004.
Traffic management companies:
These include Sandvine, Allot Communications (ALLT), and Arbor Networks. ISPs will use their technology to filter through their networks and weed out the offending bytes.
VPN providers:
Companies offering “virtual private networks” are essentially selling an encrypted tunnel between a downloader and the file they’re downloading. ISPs won’t be able to screen this traffic. But this won’t help in situations where people have to pay for service based on how much bandwidth they use.
Netflix, Blockbuster:
DVD rentals still make up the vast majority of their business, and these don’t require any Internet bandwidth to transmit.
Lawyers, lobbyists:
We don’t expect the service providers to do anything radical enough to cause a mass subscriber exodus. After all, they need their businesses to grow, not shrink. But when ISPs are inspecting your Internet activity, that raises privacy concerns. And expect the companies on the “losers” list below to ramp up their lobbying for “net neutrality” laws that would bar ISPs from favoring some Internet files over others. It’s already started up again.
Losers:
Apple:
iTunes is the leading digital media store, but if consumers have to pay extra to download big files, Steve Jobs’ $3/$4 movie rentals don’t sound so great, especially in hi-def, where files are even bigger.
Amazon: Likewise, the Unbox store/movie rental service becomes less attractive.
Hulu:
The NBC U/News Corp. JV is putting together a great service, but if subscribers have to pay extra to stream video files over the Web, it’s less sexy. The rest of Web video industry: Everyone from Yahoo to Google’s YouTube. Their video files are usually smaller, but still eat up a lot more bandwidth than emails.
CDNs:
Akamai Technologies (AKAM), Limelight Networks (LLNW), and other content delivery networks are betting on a future where more video gets distributed over the Web. Cracking down on piracy is good for these guys, because some of their biggest clients are legit digital media sellers like Apple and Amazon. But if ISPs charge extra for big downloads, CDNs could end up pushing fewer movies over the Web.
P2P companies:
Peer-to-peer transfers are already getting tampered with, thanks in part to their long-time connections to piracy. But legitimate companies like Pando and BitTorrent could have trouble using P2P to deliver files for their big-media clients if ISPs’ filters get in the way.
UK Internet service provider Claranet (uk.clara.net) has been hacked as the result of a major security vulnerability in the Linux kernel revealed earlier this week.
Using a bug in the sys_vmsplice kernel call, which handles virtual memory management, the hacker was able to gain root privileges and swap Claranet customers’ index.html files with the hacker’s calling card. The exploit was found at approximately 6 p.m. on Tuesday.
Claranet said: “Malicious activity related to the vulnerability was detected on Claranet’s shared hosting platform. Within 10 minutes Claranet contained and halted the malicious activity, and locked down the platform to prevent further damage. The shared hosting platform was fully patched with the vendor’s updates by 10 a.m. on Wednesday. Less than one percent of the total websites hosted on the Claranet platform were affected and all were restored to their original states by 1 p.m. on Wednesday 13 February.”
Security notification firm Secunia said that switching to either version 2.6.23.16 or 2.6.24.2 of the Linux kernel protects users from attack. There are also hotfixes designed to plug the vulnerability without having to upgrade the kernel.
Linux vendors said they are working on a permanent solution to remedy the problem, while Claranet continues to monitor announcements of new vulnerabilities and works to patch them.
Web hosting provider Easy CGI announced on Tuesday that it has begun offering DotNetNuke 4.8 through its script installation tool.
The new DNN release fixes some 50 minor bugs and provides many new enhancements like integrated pipeline support for IIS 7 and support for implementing breadcrumbs in custom designed skins.
“We have a strong commitment to being the premier DNN host provider,” says Ted Beckwith, vice president of Easy CGI. “This dedication helps us focus on what the DotNetNuke developer community is looking for and addressing it with our product offering.”
DotNetNuke offers Easy CGI customers support for multiple portals or websites off one install, easy management of website hosting, design, content, security and memberships as well as access to technologies like ASP.NET 2.0, Visual Web Developer and SQL Server 2005 express.
Easy CGI recently signed an agreement to make Oddcast’s SitePal Talking Avatar available to its shared hosting customers.
Web host and domain name provider Dotster has begun pre-registration for .ASIA domain names, it was announced yesterday. The new Top-Level Domain (TLD) is recognized by the Internet Corporation of Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), and operated by The DotAsia Organization. The .ASIA extension relates to 73 countries and spans Asia, Australia and the Pacific region ?key global areas enjoying substantial growth.
Dotster expects the Asia/Pacific region to ultimately play a dominant role in Internet ecommerce. The time is right for a .ASIA domain extension and Dotster is taking the lead in providing it to businesses and home users alike,?explained Dotster, Inc. CEO, Mr. Clint Page. China will shortly replace the U.S. as the largest Internet market in the world. By 2010, 95 percent of all South Korean households will be wired for broadband Internet and 94 percent of Japanese homes will have broadband access, with Hong Kong, Singapore and Australia expected to be nearly 80 percent wired. With more than 60 percent of the world’s population, Asia is experiencing remarkable economic, technical and cultural growth that businesses can take advantage of with a .ASIA domain name from Dotster.?
The registration process currently taking place includes applications for Governmental Reserved Names, registered trademarks and service mark holders, and for companies in the region to use their name with the .ASIA domain. From February 20, 2008, the 搇andrush?begins, meaning registration is open to anyone who meets the eligibility requirements?- a person or a corporation that is a legal entity in the .ASIA community? First-come, first-served registration is expected to begin in March.
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SuperbHosting.Net, a subsidiary of Superb Internet Corporation, is proud to announce the winner of the ‘Win a Wii’ contest for December 2007. Every customer that signed up for an account with SuperbHosting.net between December 1st and December 21st was entered into the contest, and on December 21st, Launchfire Interactive was chosen as the contest winner.
“Being picked as the winner of the Wii from SuperbHosting.net was a wonderful surprise. I have always enjoyed the excellent service and support provided by Superb, and they have always gone above and beyond to do the job better than anyone else” states Mark Round of Launchfire Interactive. “Over the years I’ve been a customer of many hosting providers, and none have come even close to the excellent experience I have had with Superb. You folks certainly know what it means to provide top notch, reliable service and excellent customer care! I’ll be sure and take care of the Wii as well as you take care of your customers! Thanks again Superb.”
“While we strive to ensure our focus is being ‘Ahead of the Rest’ when it comes to our hosting services and taking care of our customers, it’s always fun to be able to reward our customers with something out of the ordinary,” notes Curtis R. Curtis, Sr. VP, Sales & Marketing. “Giving away the hottest Christmas gift of the year was definitely out of the ordinary; in fact, just getting one was out of the ordinary. What better way to say thank you, than having to go that extra mile - or thousands of miles - to do so!”
The Nintendo Wii gaming console, the fifth home gaming console released by Nintendo, was the must-have gift for 2007. The unique wireless controller makes it fun for anyone 5-years-old, 85-years-old, or anywhere in between.
About Launchfire Interactive
Launchfire is an award-winning interactive promotions agency specializing in contests & sweepstakes, advergames, and viral marketing. We combine superior strategic and creative thinking, leading edge technologies, and engaging content to deliver measurable results. We have run successful interactive promotions in more than 25 countries for many of world’s leading brands and agencies.
Hostway Web Hosting has partnered with security solutions provider Alert Logic, it was announced yesterday. Hostway’s dedicated server plans now include Alert Logic’s Threat Manager Intrusion Detection Services offering enhanced 24×7 network protection, vulnerability monitoring, and automated IT compliance reporting.
With the introduction of Alert Logic, Hostway’s dedicated hosting customers will receive a browser-based managed solution that provides 24×7 threat monitoring and defense against threats such as viruses and worms. The solution also offers Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) compliance functionality.
“The Threat Manager solution addresses our dedicated customer’s unique and comprehensive security needs,” explained Hostway’s Vice President of Hosting Services, Mr. John Martis. “It eliminates the hassle and cost to the customer of deploying traditional security solutions. This partnership with Alert Logic aligns with our focus on superior customer service and delivering best of breed products and solutions”.
“Our partnership with Hostway demonstrates the growing demand for SaaS-based security and compliance solutions,” explained Alert Logic’s Vice President of Sales, Mr. Dan Sell. “By leveraging Hostway’s Dedicated Server Hosting and Alert Logic’s technology, we are providing mid-sized businesses a simple solution with the highest possible level of IT security.”
Aplus.Net, popular webhosting service provider, has made significant changes to its dedicated hosting plans, to better accommodate it’s customers.
The change involves a shift to a more hardware-based naming system, with the names of Aplus.Net’s dedicated hosting plans now based on each server’s CPU. The company’s website has been reconfigured to highlight these new names, and also to present the servers in three new categories: Single-Core Servers, Multi-Core Servers, and Multi-Processor Servers.
“As with our efforts in rebranding our shared hosting services last month, we’re taking the necessary steps to ensure that our consumers understand exactly what they’re getting when they shop for an Aplus.Net dedicated server,” commented Ryan Elledge, Aplus.Net’s Chief Operations Officer. “That means more clearly defining the way our servers are named, categorized, and presented on our website.”
This rebranding move comes after the company announced earlier in the month that it had reduced prices on all dedicated server set-up fees by wide margins — amounts totaling hundreds of dollars in some cases. The change also represents the latest in Aplus.Net’s campaign to overhaul not only its dedicated hosting plans but also its entire suite of award-winning products and services to better position the company in an increasingly competitive marketplace.
“We work hard to make sure Aplus.Net customers have every advantage we can offer,” added Dennis Kittrell, Senior Product Manager for Aplus.Net. “Therefore, it made sense to present our dedicated hosting products in as clear and as accessible a manner as possible. For example, what was once the Standard Server is now the Celeron 1.8GHz; and what was once the Premium XR Server is now the Quad Core 2.33 GHz. We’re confident that this new convention will improve the Aplus.Net customer experience.”
The new dedicated hosting names are effective as of today, Monday, February 11, 2008, according to company officials.
Domain registrar and Web hosting provider Dotster (dotster.com) announced on Tuesday that it has appointed Daniel Frechtling to chief marketing officer and Ross Johnston to VP of business development.
“Dotster is proud to welcome Daniel Frechtling and Ross Johnston to our executive management team,” says Clint Page, CEO of Dotster. “Both have stellar track records in helping to elevate and grow successful Internet services and other leading businesses. We look forward to Daniel and Ross helping Dotster further achieve its aggressive business goals in the marketplace.”
As the CMO, Frechtling will help shape Dotster’s strategic marketing vision and growing company revenues, as well as lead the company’s market research and analysis, product management, marketing communications, direct marketing and sales. Frechtling has over 15 years of marketing and management experience, having most recently served as senior VP of marketing and business development for early education company, Knowledge Learning.
As VP of business development, Johnston will develop new strategic partnerships within the US and internationally, which will enable Dotster’s various platforms to acquire new customers. He joins Dotster with nearly twenty years of business development and marketing experience, having most recently served as senior director of business development for CNET Networks.
Each web hosting solution is designed for some purposes, it could be from blog web hosting, family site hosting to ebusiness web site hosting. In webhostingclue.com, we give out the Best Web Hosting Awards to those which have been the best solutions for the given categories.
Know more about How We Select the Hosting Award Winners
