How Mobile Cloud Computing Benefits Development and Usage of Mobile Apps

Mobile cloud computing provides many advantages for application developers as well as their end-users. It is a boon for corporate users in particular, that do not have enough capital to invest upfront on required hardware and software.

Mobile applications have made smartphones "smart". The first wave of mobile apps were native apps, however with the increase in Internet capabilities for mobile devices, apps became faster and more powerful, as it was no longer necessary to manage the data storage and processing within the application.

Cloud computing changed mobile application development forever. With benefits like low initial investment, ease of adoption, scalability and elasticity, operational efficiency and large overall cost savings, it didn't take long for mobile app developers to adopt cloud computing.

Cloud computing offers the performance and flexibility that mobile app developers require. Because smartphones and tablets with advanced browsers are capable of accessing stored applications remotely in the cloud, developers can now build apps one time and deploy them across multiple platforms, including iPhones, iPads, Android devices, etc. In short order, more innovative and useful apps were developed more quickly and cost effectively. With this, the smartphone and app markets began to grow at a remarkable rate that shows no signs of slowing.

Advantages to the users
With cloud-based apps, mobile users do not need high-end hardware and infrastructure to run or maintain mobile apps. Businesses are able to pass along the reduced cost of development to their users, while improving the functionality of data sharing, and offering features like collaboration that were not previously feasible. All told, users with any Internet-enabled device can run many more apps and more powerful apps than ever before, at little or no cost.

Advantages to the developers
The advantages of cloud computing for mobile app developers are most pronounced. One, cost savings. Developers need not invest heavily in building infrastructure and resources. Cloud computing provides instant access to scalable mobile application tools for building mobile and tablet apps. Two, cross-platform app development. Developers can now build an app once and deploy across multiple platforms. And of course, building once and deploying to many devices dramatically reduces the cost of developing apps. Three, deploying apps to app stores and web sites is much easier. For example, developers can avoid device manufacturers or carrier app stores to distribute their apps, and publish them on their own private channels.

The future of mobile apps in the cloud
Despite the many advantages, cloud-based mobile apps will remain hampered by the limitation of wireless bandwidth capacity and intermittent network availability. We expect this will be a short-term problem as new developments in wireless technology are announced every day. In the meantime, alternate techniques like usage of HTML5, which does local caching, enable offline use of apps.

Overall, mobile cloud computing is strong and growing fast. When the limitations on connectivity are resolved, it will become the major player in development and usage of mobile apps.

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The Growing Popularity of Cloud Computing

Cloud computing is not a brand new concept. However, it has recently emerged into the realm of public awareness. What exactly is cloud computing? It is the use of external networks to store and process data. The move to the cloud means that files and data are no longer stored on the end user's computer. Some may find this concept frightening, but many others are embracing the change. If you are someone who works frequently on the Internet or spends a good portion of your computer time online, chances are you have experienced some form of cloud computing.

Document storage is one aspect of cloud computing that is gaining popularity among computer users. Traditionally, users have stored documents directly on their computer hard drive or external storage device. However, many people have found that the cloud is perfect for composing and storing documents. Services such as Google Docs have created an amazing word processing experience that works directly in the browser. Documents are auto-saved on a remote server and are easily shared among multiple people without the hassle of sending file attachments through email. This service has taken the challenge out of sharing work-related projects that require document collaboration.

Online backup services are another example of cloud computing becoming more common. Services like Mozy and Carbonite run real-time backups of a user's entire computer system and store it on a remote server. These services remove the need for purchasing external storage devices that may not be reliable. Sometimes, external hard drives do fail, resulting in the loss of data that is expensive to retrieve. External storage devices don't always backup automatically and may require a user to do this manually. What happens when someone forgets to backup their data on a regular basis? The risk of losing important files like work projects or treasured family photos due to hardware failure makes online backup services very appealing.

The introduction of netbooks into the technology market has begun pushing casual computer users to adapt to cloud computing. Netbooks are mini laptop computers that are designed to simply surf the Internet, check email and perform basic tasks on the computer. The Chromebook is a perfect example of cloud computing in action. It runs Google ChromeOS operating system using the Chrome browser to perform tasks. The Chromebook runs on the assumption that the user is connected to the Internet. Instead of installing traditional software, the user performs tasks with web applications that run inside the browser. Some analysts suggest that this is only the beginning of cloud based operating systems and the use of software as a service as opposed to traditional computing.

Cloud computing is quickly moving into the entertainment market as well. Subscription based services like Netflix and Hulu that stream movies and television shows online have provided users with a cheaper alternative to expensive cable services. There's no need to purchase DVDs or expensive players either, as everything is accessible directly on-demand through a computer. In the world of gaming, services such as OnLive have provided a gaming environment in which an individual does not need a high-end computer to play the latest games simply because the game is run in a remote environment.

Cloud computing is taking over faster than many may realize. More and more people are turning to it each and every day. As technology progresses, cloud computing will become a more efficient and accepted means of computing. It has created a revolution in information sharing that will become instrumental in technology growth for many years to come.

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Cloud Computing - A Silver Lined Cloud or Not?

It is said 'every cloud has a silver lining'; is this true of the concept of cloud computing?

To have your head in the clouds generally means you have no idea what is going on around you; does the same adage hold true for cloud computing or will putting your faith in it give you for clearer view of your IT usage and save you money as well.

What is cloud computing?

The term cloud is a name give to represent the whole of the internet and will be shown as one in diagrams.

In a nutshell this relatively new technology provides you with access to a remote server where your company runs all or a proportion of your IT from. This remote server is cunningly named the cloud, presumably because you do not need to know what is going on inside.

What is in the cloud?

Every element you would normally hold on your company server and individual employee's computers would be available from the remote server. The interior of the cloud does not only house the hardware needed to run all your IT needs but also includes software packages, applications and data storage normally run in-house; thus removing the need for your own server and its incumbent problems. It would also save the cost of purchasing multiple software licenses and maintenance. The technology would be shared with many other companies and individuals who buy into the scheme.

Does cloud computing give you access to everything in there?

The simple answer is "No". The cloud computing company and the client would draw up a contract stipulating what services were being purchased and agreeing a fee for there provision.

What services does cloud computing provide?

There are a number of different services provided the most popular being they are named with a prefix letter and followed by aaS (as a Service): -

• Saas - Software as a Service. This gives the client the opportunity to use shared software on the server. This can dramatically reduce the cost of using software as you will not have to purchase software packages or their licences nor employ someone to ensure their patches or service packs are up to date.

• PaaS - Platform as a Service. This is very similar to SaaS but you are using shared applications rather than software. As with software there may be a drawback if your company is specialised and you require dedicated applications or software.

• HaaS - Hardware as a Service. This is purely the supply of hardware space from the remote server. The main use here is for data storage, network equipment and server space. This can save costs on purchasing and maintaining your own servers as the cloud computer company takes responsibility for them all. It is also known as Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS).

• DaaS - Database as a Service. If the above three services were fairly straight forward with their naming this service should be a cinch to understand. The type and method of service may be different dependant on the cloud computer company.

The three main players in this type of computing are Google, Amazon and Microsoft.

The subject of this type of computing is quite complex and to cover the subject in a short article is not possible however these few paragraphs have at least given you the basics of what cloud computing is about and what it has to offer.

For more information about Cloud Computing visit Ancoris who are are an authorised Google Apps Reseller offer who offer the help with setting up Google Sites, Google Apps Email, Google Docs and everything related to Cloud Computing.

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8 Cloud Computing Companies To Watch In 2012

Cloud computing today is more popular than ever before. Over the last few years, nearly all leaders in technology jumped right into cloud computing market. Cloud computing firms that have potential to lead in 2012 are discussed below.

Google

The way we search information was completely improved since Google joined the industry. The search giant again improved the way we use our application software with their Google Apps that provide cloud-based email, calendar and documents for small and mid-sized enterprises to large companies. Google recently released Google Music Beta. It is a service which allows you store your music on the internet and provides instant access without having to sync between devices. It was also speculated that Google may be resurrecting their cloud storage project, GDrive.

Amazon

Amazon claims itself Earth's biggest selection. I thought it may also be one of the best cloud computing companies on this planet. Cloud computing, cloud storage space, cloud data bank, content delivery, payment, monitoring are examples of their services leading in the market. You need to look at Amazon.com's AWS if you are seeking an outstanding cloud service provider with competitive price.

Apple

Apple's answer to cloud computing market is to deliver iCloud service to their customers. Using iCloud, people can sync a variety of contents such as pictures, music, movies, documents etc. to cloud, and open or play it from any Mac, PC, iPhone & iPad. Having millions of existing loyal customers, iCloud will probably be a huge success. It was reported that Apple tried to acquire popular cloud storage company Dropbox for $800 millions, but their offer was declined.

Microsoft

Some people believed cloud computing is the threat to Microsoft. Realizing the changing trend, the OS giant is attempting to gain ground among the lead cloud computing companies with Windows Azure. Windows Azure is now really popular among their loyal Windows users.

Salesforce.com

Salesforce.com provides customer relationship management (CRM) products to enterprise consumers. It is one of the most successful cloud providers offering PaaS.

Dropbox

Dropbox, Inc. provides cloud storage to end users. It offers a variety of user clients across diverse mobile and computer OS. Using Dropbox clients, users can easily store and distribute files to others through the internet. Users may also stream audio and video from their Dropbox accounts to mobile Dropbox clients like Android, iPhone and iPad. Free customers can enjoy 2GB of free storage. They can get up to 8 Gigabytes of free online storage by referring other people to Dropbox. Paid account starts from $9.99/month for 50 GB. Dropbox also has 100 Gigabyte plan and large quota subscription.

SugarSync

SugarSync is an online storage company which offers software application to synchronize documents, graphics as well as other media among multiple computing devices (both Mac & Windows), and even automatically back them up online. SugarSync provides 5 Gigabytes of free online storage to every customer.

Box.net

Box.net is a content management and online storage company. Box.net now provides 5 GB to free user, whilst the competitor Dropbox offers only 2 Gigabytes. Nevertheless, Dropbox's users can get as much as 8 Gigabytes free of charge should they recommend their friends to sign up Dropbox. 500 GB of online storage costs $15/month in Box.net whilst Dropbox will cost you $9.99 for 50 Gigabytes. That is a huge difference. Yet, Dropbox has larger variety of client software - Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iPhone, iPad, Windows Phone, Blackberry etc.

In case you need to understand more about cloud computing and look at a full list of cloud computing companies, you should visit YesCloudComputing.com. It is a site featuring latest news and reviews on cloud computing and cloud computing companies.

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Going Into the Cloud Will Make Your Digital Life Easy And Safe

Cloud computing is here. It's something we all been waiting for. Now we all can store our data somewhere in the Internet and access them anytime, anywhere. And it's all mostly free.The question is what's in it for you? Plenty. You probably use cloud services on a daily basis, without even realizing it. And much more is just few clicks away. There are many companies that provide cloud services and it's virtually impossible to discuss them all, so I'll stick to those I use on a daily basis.

E-mail and contacts management

Registering with Gmail gives access to 7GB of storage, plus advanced mail filters, contact management etc. In one place you can store all your important mail, files, contacts etc.. Everything is always there, waiting for you. All you need is any type of internet terminal with an internet browser and you're good to go. If that's not enough, you can sync your contacts with your smartphone. That allows to keep all your data safe and updated. Each time you add a new telephone number on the phone, it's instantly uploaded to Google and stored. That way you can add, edit and delete your contacts, both from a PC or smartphone, depending on your personal preference. Sync services are available for all platforms including Android, iOS, Blackberry, Windows Phone and Symbian devices. In most cases it's just a matter of going through a simple setup and the rest is done automatically. Just keep in mind, that syncing requires an active Internet connection on the phone and your operator might charge you for it. It's best to buy a flat data plan or limit the number of syncs per day.

Calendar and tasks to do

Situation is similar here. If you transfer your calendar to Google Calendar, it will be stored in the cloud, so you can manage your appointment's through a web browser, instead a locally installed software. Setting up a link with your mobile, will keep your data synced and safe.

Documents

Google Docs cannot be treated as an equal replacement to Microsoft Office or LibreOffice. The service can create simple documents, presentations or spreadsheets, but opening larger files created using an office suite is almost impossible. In most cases, the document is distorted, therefore it's impossible to edit it. Still, if you need to write a short text or read something, it's a good alternative. Google is constantly working on the project, so we might see some interesting developments here. Microsoft, on the other hand, offers Office Web Apps, which have similar capabilities, with one exception: MS Office files are opened properly and look exactly the same as on the desktop version. However, editing them is another issue, as in edit mode graphs and images are not displayed, only a blank space is left. So I wouldn't recommend doing anything more than correcting typos with the Web Apps.

Pictures and video

Through Picasa Web albums, you can store all your photos and movies in the cloud and share them, with your friends and family. It's easy to use and therefore it's a good way of creating a backup of your most valued photos.

Files sync

If you own two or more computers, you might want to have all your files on all of them, without having to worry about coping it by hand, each time some changes are made. Unfortunately Google does not offer any service that can do that. Personally I recommend Dropbox or Syncplicity. Both offer 2GB of free storage, intuitive client apps, that monitor selected folders and keep them in sync. interestingly, if you delete a file by mistake and the change has already been synced to other computers, you can still recover the file, from the web-panel, where it's available for 30 days, after which it's removed permanently.

Summary

Going into the cloud with your data is a very easy and free way of syncing and backing up your most valued work. Just a few clicks can guarantee a good night sleep, knowing that everything you created in the evening, will still be there, in the morning. And that's an offer nobody can refuse these days.

I'm a full time computer enthusiast, who just finished writing his master thesis on product management strategies in the IT sector. Now I'm simply trying to leave a footprint in the world, by sharing my passion and experience with others.

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