Cloud service is among the most popular internet based services that have been developed by some big companies such as Google, Yahoo and Microsoft. These companies provide the infrastructure needed to host internet services, since it is very expensive for an individual or company to invest on. They rent out these services allowing you to save.

Many businesses seeking to expand the applications of their enterprises are looking forward to the cloud service to outsource most of their infrastructure needs. Choosing the right cloud service provider can be stressful since there are very many. Here are some of the most popular cloud service providers in the world and their current trends.

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Amazon is a long time front-runner in the field of cloud computing. It delivers a set of tools that offer a scalable and inexpensive infrastructure as a service to companies that need reliable computing services as well as storage. Their EC2, or Elastic Compute Cloud service, allows users to run software and create virtual machines of their choice depending on their needs. 

Users pay for the server usage hourly and they have control over deployment and location. It is designed to work with other Amazon Web Services like S3, or Simple Storage Services, that allows users to retrieve and store unlimited data but paying for the resources used.

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It is a software-as-a service provider whose work is to distribute business applications through the cloud. Its use in business tools provides a business with proper customer relationship management services that helps you to stay connected with its customers and boost sales. Force.com is a platform-as-a-service that gives developers a chance to use the sales force infrastructure to develop applications that incorporate the sales-force solution.

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It is a leader in cloud-based web hosting. Its on-demand solutions give customers a way to get online servers as fast as possible without investing in the hardware. Users pay for sever usage according to the number of hours and they can delete or add server instances on demand. Fanatical Support service is their major selling point. It provides excellent customer support by providing technical expertise, solutions that will benefit the customer and rapid response to problems.

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Windows Azure Platform is the Microsoft’s answer to cloud computing. This platform-as-a-service allows developers to utilize Microsoft data centers and infrastructure to host, run and develop applications. Azure provides a complete set of cloud services including scalable storage, content delivery network, database functionality and computing environments.

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Google is a major player in internet technology and it has joined the ranks of cloud computing providers with its App Engine platform as a service. It is aimed at hosting and developing web applications using Google’s data centers and infrastructure. The engine supports many languages such as Python, Ruby and Java. This scalable service allows developers to pay for what they use without recurring fees or start-up costs.

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OK, and now let’s make a small detour from the American providers. Ninefold is an Australian cloud storage provider with free local support and locally stored data. It is more than a bunch of servers linked by technology and it does not live in a vacuum. It is much about lifeblood of the digital start-up community with improvements and innovations that result from quick access to storage and scalable compute. It has Ninefold Cloud Booster Program that gives members extra tools in the box in addition to community outreach and mentoring that leads to the development of new business models and innovations.

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Cloud computing from Terremark and Verizon helps you to control costs for your business and accelerate your IT innovation. It is flexible, pay-as-you-go and computing-on demand service. Other key features include;

- The ability to create your own system on blank servers and with more than 450 compatible operating systems to choose from.

- Persistent storage to prevent losing your server after powering it down.

- An insightful web console that allows you to create and manage a virtual network within minutes.

The above cloud service providers are among the best in terms of mobile access, ease of use, features and customer support. 

About the Author

Lana Wilde, a self-employed girl from Australia, enjoys reading about the latest technology trends. She most frequently reads and writes about the news of Ninefold, the Australian cloud provider.

The first part of the year is now over and gadget manufacturers have already hinted if not already released to the public their new products and technologies. And as we usher in the second half of the year, let’s take note of a few things that will probably be the trend in the IT world in the months to come.

TABLETS

Tablets have obviously swept the market by storm, especially now that other players and platforms have entered the battle field. Apple, with its iPad, is no longer the lone player in the tablet industry. Android OS has made it possible for other manufacturers to join the race in producing the best tablet for consumers. So far, Asus, with its Transformer Prime line and the recently announced Google Nexus 7 brought us the best droid tablets in this market segment.

Microsoft’s hand is also already in the ring. Their upcoming Windows Surface tablet which will run the latest version of Windows will ship before this year ends. Amazon is also rumoured to announce a new Kindle Fire, while an iPad mini is reportedly in the works.

ULTRABOOKS

Intel’s Ivy bridge processors have made it possible to cram incredible amounts of computing power in small form factor devices. Ultrabooks are probably the best example of the application of this technology.

As of now, almost every known PC manufacturer has announced or released an ultrabook. Prices have also been observed to slowly drop as more and more ultrabooks are made.

ILC (INTERCHANGEABLE LENS CAMERAS)

The little but not necessarily less powerful brother of the DSLR camera is slowly gaining popularity among professional and sub-professional photographers. Their less bulky bodies make ILC units make them handier and easier to handle compared to the beefier DSRLs.

Sony and Olympus were the pioneers in this market, but other brands, such as Canon, Nikon and Panasonic have their own offerings as well.

SMARTPHONES

Smartphone use and ownership will probably increase even further this year as consumers are treated with more price flexible array of smartphones. Android phones for example have now entry-level units that can fit people with tight budgets.

Hardware specifications are also likely to improve in the future. Entry level phones nowadays, have specs that are worthy for a mid-range phone from last year. Multi-core phones will also likely become a norm in smart phones especially with SoC manufacturers like Intel, Qualcomm and Nvidia are working hard to bring to consumers the best mobile experience.

Battery capacity for smartphones is also looking good in the future. Higher capacity batteries like that of the 2500mAh battery of the Lenovo P700 and that of the Philips W732 smartphone are leading the way for phones with longer battery life.

CLOUD SERVICES

Cloud services are not something new, but it was only late last year that the technology has been commercialized. The convenience of having your data available on any device at any time has made the technology really popular especially in this age of seamless data transfer.

Cloud services like Apple’s iCloud, Asus’s WebStorage, Google’s Google Drive, Microsoft’s Sky Drive and Drop Box are all readily available on smartphones and computers. And this year, we’re also seeing that their capacity is slowly increasing and their features improving.

And these are the things that we should look forward to in the months to come. Whether or not they become a hit to people, is still a question if something new and better will come our way. But for now, all the signs are pointing to a bright future. J