Cloud computing: Microsoft gives a trailer of the future

Applications being launched in China to reach Pakistan in two years.

KARACHI: Microsoft will launch its Azure and Office 365 within the next two years in Pakistan and expects that businesses will be open to the idea of cloud computing, according to Microsoft Pakistan Business Group Lead, Servers and Tools, Stephan Consalvi.

Cloud computing is a service that allows users to use data centres to share resources, software and information over a network, typically the internet.

Microsoft’s service currently being launched in China will reach India and Pakistan within the same timeframe.

Around 15 per cent of the businesses in developed countries use online server-based cloud computing, however, developing countries usually use more cloud computing, said Consalvi.

Microsoft was showing off its business solutions at ITCN Asia and trying to sell them by leveraging their familiarity to their office suite. They are targeting medium-sized businesses like SAP and will be offering them as SAAS (software as a service).

The annual ITCN Asia, the country’s biggest IT event of the year, a three-day event was held at the Karachi Expo Centre recently with more than 120 companies participating.

With the world getting closer through increasing collaboration via mobility and technology, cloud computing is making a name in some countries. Microsoft is introducing its Azure which allows building, hosting and scaling of applications in Microsoft data centres while Office 365 allows people to use its office suite online.

The software needs only needs an Internet connection along with a device to operate, no installation is required.

The company and its partners organised a series of live demos and presentations for experts and early adopters highlighting the company’s cloud strategy. It also explained how to step into the private cloud and manage your information technology across physical and virtual server environments.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 24^th,  2011.