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AT&T's Cloud Strategy: Bigger Is Better - 03-03-2011

by ashish - DreamLab - http://dreamlab.co.cc

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AT&T's Cloud Strategy: Bigger Is Better - 03-03-2011

by ashish - DreamLab - http://dreamlab.co.cc

AT&T's Cloud Strategy: Bigger Is Better

by ashish - Thursday, March 03, 2011 http://dreamlab.co.cc/2011/03/atts-cloud-strategy-bigger/ AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) may take its knocks for being a massive former monopoly, but when it comes to delivering cloud-based services to enterprises, having vast IP and IT resources, mobile and fixed networks, and long-term relationships with computing and applications giants can only be a good thing. (See AT&T Ramps Cloud Strategy, IBM Deal.) That's why AT&T's description of how it differentiates in the increasingly competitive world of cloud is all about a high degree of integration and security, mobile enablement, and ease of use for its business customers. "What is key for us is the ability to leverage the cloud as part of a network service experience -- without a network you don't have a cloud," says Steve Caniano, VP of AT&T Hosting and Cloud Services. "By layering capabilities of cloud in conjunction with our network, we really think we can offer customers a different value proposition." AT&T hasn't been touting its cloud capabilities as loudly as some competitors (Verizon Business , can you hear me now?), but that may be changing. This month, AT&T unveiled five significant enhancements to its cloud strategy, including making it easier for customers to use AT&T VPNs to link to cloud computing, enhancing its cloud storage and cloud security capability, extending clouds to mobile applications and increasing work with third-party application providers. (See AT&T's Dapper Den for App Developers.) The latter capability could become among the most important, says George Hamilton, cloud services analyst with Yankee Group Research Inc. ) "Success in...