Salesforce.com Selects NTT for UK Data Center

Here’s a roundup of recent headlines from the data center industry around the world:

Salesforce.com announces UK Data Center.  Salesforce.com (CRM) announced that  it has signed an agreement with NTT Europe to establish a European data centre in the U.K. The facility is scheduled for completion in 2014. As demand for cloud computing rises in Europe, Salesforce.com will support the company’s cloud computing services across its growing customer base in Europe, Middle East and Africa. "Europe was salesforce.com’s fastest growing region in our fiscal year 2013, delivering constant currency revenue growth of 38 percent," said Marc Benioff, Chairman and CEO, salesforce.com. "We are doubling down on Europe with the announcement of our new data centre in the U.K., which will support continued customer success in EMEA." Robin Balen, Managing Director of NTT Europe's Wholesale Data Centre Business, said ths SAlesforce.com facility will be "powered 100% by renewable energy sources."

Telecom New Zealand acquires data centers.  Telecom New Zealand announced that it has  signed a conditional agreement to acquire privately-owned New Zealand IT infrastructure and data centre company Revera Limited for NZ$96.5 million. The Revera brand will be retained and Revera will continue to run as a standalone business.  "We're pleased to have a computing infrastructure company with the track-record and reputation of Revera joining our team and strengthening our group," said Simon Moutter, Telecom Chief Executive. "Telecom is refining its business strategy to become a future-oriented, competitive provider of communication, entertainment and IT services delivered over its networks and the Cloud. This acquisition adds a respected brand that deepens our IT services portfolio for business customers, particularly with regards to Cloud services. Both Gen-i and Revera will be better positioned to respond to evolving customer needs in the areas of big data and cloud computing."

Allstream Offers Cisco UCS Service.  Cisco (CSCO) announced that Canadian communications provider Allstream has launched a Hosted Collaboration Solution (HCS) as a hosted and fully managed unified communications and collaboration solution. Allstream HCS brings the Cisco Unified Communications and Collaboration suite of applications to Canadian businesses through a new, cost-effective, cloud-based delivery model. The new offering allows Allstream customers to operate Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) including integrated voice, video, presence and mobility applications for compatible desktop and mobile devices. "Businesses are looking for ways to improve and simplify their communications and allow their people to collaborate easily and with a high degree of mobility," said Dean Prevost, President, Allstream. "Allstream Hosted Collaboration Solution is backed by the security and reliability of our national 30,000 kilometre IP fibre network and, being a cloud-based service, offers the benefit of being an operating vs. capital expense, allowing customers simpler budgeting and greater flexibility in their IT services."