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Tag Archives: Cloud computing
Connected Anywhere
There will be few in the tech industry who missed Dropbox’s recent funding news. Its latest round of funding closed at $250 million with a market valuation of $4 billion. Although impressive, I was far more intrigued by Drew Houston’s, CEO, ambitions to integrate into our lives. Houston wants to create a world where our data is never far away. Indeed, Houston sees a future where Dropbox is integrated into just about everything, from cameras to televisions, from cars to refrigerators. Houston wants your data to follow you, wherever you are.
It’s tantalising to imagine such a reality. To have our photos, videos, music, documents and every other piece of important data close to our fingertips and accessible by any connected device. Dropbox is certainly not alone in its ambition to become the universal keeper and distributor of data though. One need only look at Apple’s iCloud or Google’s rumoured Drive (GDrive) to see this is a huge market and one where the Internet giants are keen to capitalize. There can be no question that part of the reason Dropbox is trying to make as much noise now is the threat from Apple and Google, especially on mobile devices. Read more
The Human Cloud and IT’s Arab Spring
I’m fascinated by the human cloud. I believe it represents a seismic shift in the way we work and in the very way we live. The notion that we can use the rapid advancements in global networks to build an online workforce not bound by office locations, able to work effectively from anywhere, at anytime, is tantalising. For many companies, the human cloud is already a critical part of business operations. Indeed, as the global recession continues to bite and the demand to find a greener existence deepens, the human cloud presents a unique and unchallenged opportunity.
However, there are still critical barriers to overcome before we can truly embrace the possibilities of a global human cloud. Some of these barriers are technological, while some are more ideological. In fact, it may well be the latter that are the most difficult to overcome. As the Economist highlighted in a recent article, we’re in the midst of an IT Arab Spring. Yet it’s not governments that are being overthrown here but the old guard of corporate IT. Read more
Could Broadband be the Shining Light of US Infrastructure?
As the political gears in the United States’ electoral machine begin to pick up speed, it’s fascinating to see the topics that are driving discussion. As you would expect, economic growth, employment and social welfare are some of the hot issues being bandied around by potential candidates. Yet one topic that has been largely absent from this early round of dialogue is the state of the country’s transport and communications infrastructure. Looking at some of the latest figures, this may be something that is about to change.
A recent Economist article highlights the critical condition of the country’s heavily overburdened air, rail and road systems. According to research from the World Economic Forum, the country’s infrastructure has actually deteriorated in recent years. In a global 2010 poll, the US was ranked 23rd for its transport systems. With much of the country travelling on antiquated air and rail networks or using roads that have fallen into disrepair, it isn’t surprising to find that this is impacting upon journey times.
The Challenge of Big Data
One of the many things that excite me about working in the tech sector is collaboration. Working collectively on new ideas and new technologies with people spread across the globe continues to inspire me on a daily basis. While on vacation a few weeks ago, I was able to watch such collaboration in action at a conference held by Om Malik on the topic of big data.
With a global delegate list and many people remotely interacting through social media channels, the Structure Big Data conference explored all aspects of managing today’s enormous data demands. However, there was one particular discussion that caught my attention. Focused on the challenges of moving big data around the world, this particular dialogue dived deep into the hurdles both business and domestic users face when trying to access data when they need it, where they need it.
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Bandwidth Demand Big Data Cloud computing Collaboration Conference Core Network Corporate Backbones Data Access Encryption Facetime Fixed Infrastructure Grid/Cloud Computing Long Haul Transport Low-latency Low-Latency Transport Metro Core Transport Mission Critical Mobile Backhaul Mobile Infrastructure Om Malik Online Communication Packet Optical Transport San Connectivity Skype Structure Big Data Venture Capitalists Wireline Backhaul
Is the Buzz Back in Infrastructure?
After a few days out of the office, I found myself yesterday thrown into a hectic schedule of analyst briefings and development calls. At the end of the day, one fact was undeniable – there’s a definite buzz in the optical networking space. As I mentioned in an earlier post, our global networks are at the first stage of what Infonetics Research is calling an optical reboot: The rebuilding of the networks’ core on a foundation of 40/100G, OTN and ROADM technologies.
The success of this rebuild is critical for every member of the networking ecosystem, from businesses aiming to leverage the latest cloud computing applications to reduce IT costs and complexities, to domestic users seeking to consume rich-media applications across a range of devices, and even service providers intent on providing a high-quality of service while at the same time growing profitably. The optical reboot is the first step to ensuring our networks evolve into a flexible infrastructure that can scale to meet tomorrow’s bandwidth demands.
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40/100G Ben Horowitz Cloud computing Corporate Backbones Dig Facebook Foursquare Grid/Cloud Computing Groupon Hardware Internet Bubble Long Haul Transport Metro Core Transport Mobile Backhaul New York Times Optical Optical Networking Optical Reboot OTN Packet Optical Transport ROADM San Connectivity Social Media Software Twitter Venture Capitalists Wireline Backhaul
