An open letter to the community regarding "Open Cloud"

I write this letter in order to be 100% transparent with you about a new initiative that could prove critical to the development of computing and the Internet: the protection of the term “Open Cloud” with a certification trademark (like British Standards’ Kitemark® and the FAIRTRADE symbol) as well as its definition via an open community consensus process.

Cloud computing users will soon be able to rest assured that offerings bearing the “Open Cloud” brand are indeed “open” in that critical freedoms (such as the right to access one’s own data in an open format via an open interface) are strongly protected. It will also ensure a level playing field for all vendors while keeping the barriers to enter the marketplace low. Offerings also bearing the “Open Source” mark will have additional freedoms relating to the use, modification and distribution of the underlying software itself.

Cloud computing is Internet (“cloud”) based development and use of computer technology (“computing”). It is the first significant paradigm shift since the introduction of the PC three decades ago and it is already changing our lives. Not only is it helping to deliver computing to “the other 3 billion” people, but also facilitating communication and collaboration, slashing costs and improving reliability by delivering computing as a utility (like electricity).

The Open Source industry is built around the Open Source Definition (OSD), which is itself maintained by the non-profit Open Source Initiative (OSI). The fledgling “Open Cloud” industry should be built on a similar set of well-defined Open Cloud Principles (OCP) and the associated Open Cloud Initiative (OCI) will closely follow their example. The proposed mission is simply “To define and protect ‘Open Cloud’” and the body will be developed from inception via an open process. Even if USPTO eventually reject our pending registration, by drawing attention to this critical issue now we may have already won.

I need your help, which is why I have called on individuals like Joi Ito and Bruce Perens, as well as established vendors including Google and Amazon (and their respective developer communities) for assistance. By way of this open letter, I commit to donate assets held in trust (domains, trademarks, etc.) to a non-profit similar in spirit to the Open Source Initiative which acts to protect the rights of the number one stakeholder: You.

Sam Johnston
Founder

Cloud Computing Strategy

Due to the overwhelming increase in cloud computing activity Australian Online Solutions is now focusing on an pure consulting services model delivering strategic advice on issues relating to cloud computing to large enterprises throughout Australia, Europe and the USA.

No new customers will be accepted for existing products and services and existing customers will be contacted individually to discuss their options.

"Save the Netbooks" campaign launched to fight impending trademark threat

The "Save the Netbooks" campaign is fighting the impending trademark threat from Psion Teklogix, who have given until the end of March 2009 to cease using the term, citing trademarks relating to a line of products discontinued over 5 years ago.

For more see the Press Release and http://www.savethenetbooks.com/.

iPhone Enterprise Configuration and Deployment

Coinciding with today's launch of iPhone 2.0 for Enterprise, we are happy to announce immediate availability of our iPhone 2.0 configuration service which has been in development during the beta period.

Configure your users securely and seamlessly over the air so as to allow them to be immediately productive with their revolutionary new communication device. Google Apps users enjoy fully automated configuration of identity, inbound (IMAP), outbound (SMTP) and security (SSL/TLS) settings and custom configurations (including Microsoft Exchange) are available on demand.

Features include:

• Push email
• Push contacts
• Push calendar
• Global Address List (GAL) support
• Certificates and identities
• WPA2/802.1X
• Enforced security policies
• More VPN protocols
• Device configuration
• Remote wipe

Contact us today to see how we are Changing the way we work™ through revolutionary new technologies like Apple iPhone.

TrustSaaS declared 'Mashup of the Day' by ProgrammableWeb

TrustSaaS.com has already won it's first accolade within hours of its launch, having been declared 'Mashup of the Day' for 7 July 2008 by ProgrammableWeb!

TrustSaaS uptime monitoring, alerting and reporting for SaaS launched

We are pleased to announce the launch of TrustSaaS.com today, an uptime monitoring and alerting service ('SaaS Weather Report') for Software as a Service (SaaS) run by an independent third party. It checks service status every 60 seconds (over 500,000 times per service per year), instantly alerting subscribers of problems by email and/or SMS. TrustSaaS records downtime with the highest resolution possible and response times are also analysed. This information is included in monthly reports delivered by email to subscribers, allowing them to make comparisons between providers, monitor end-user experience, verify Service Level Agreement (SLA) compliance and trust that SaaS is delivering on its promises.

During the launch period subscriptions are only $100 per provider per year.

Microsoft Exchange™ Connector for Google Calendar

Improve user efficiency with seamless integration between Google Calendar and Microsoft Exchange™

• Seamless, efficient Server<->Cloud solution
• Rapid, low-risk remote installation & support
• Google & Microsoft trained & certified engineers

Allow your users to communicate effectively through the bi-directional sharing of Free+Busy information between Microsoft Exchange™ Server and the Google Calendar component of Google Apps. This seamless, scalable and elegant solution functions as a connector between Google Calendar and Microsoft Exchange™ servers and requires no client side components. Various deployment options (eg sync vs real-time) meet the needs of all clients.

For more information see Microsoft Exchange™ Connector for Google Calendar in the Google Enterprise Marketplace.