Cloud News: RackSpace, Cloud.com, Verizon

Here’s a roundup of some of this week’s headlines from the cloud computing sector:

Rackspace launches startup program.  Rackspace announced a new program, the Rackspace Startup Program, in which the company will provide cloud computing resources to startups participating in programs with TechStars, 500 Startups, Y Combinator and General Assembly.   Rackspace began as a small entrepreneurial venture itself and will help provide guidance and cloud compute resources to help power these startups to success. In addition to the program, Rackspace also announced the availability of the version 2.0 application, Rackspace Cloud 2.0, now available on the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. The free download allows system administrators the ability to manage OpenStack clouds and their cloud servers and files from mobile devices and automate processes. “Now that the cloud application is available on more portable devices and has more features, Rackspace is extending fanatical support by bringing ease of use and portability to the cloud,” said Mike Mayo, mobile application developer of the Rackspace Cloud.

Cloud.com launches CloudStack 2.2. CloudStack sponsor  cloud.com announced it has launched CloudStack 2.2, the latest version of its open source cloud computing platform.  Some of the new features include support for Citrix XenServer 5.6 and the Xen Cloud Platform, the ability to manage multiple availability zones geographically dispersed, an improved user interface, and CloudBridge to enable applications to interoperate with other cloud solutions including Amazon EC2 and S3 APIs as well as the upcoming OpenStack API. "With the advancements around usability, scalability and management, CloudStack 2.2 offers enterprises the fastest path to successfully deploying and managing their own infrastructure cloud," said Cloud.com CEO Sheng Liang. "We continue to benefit from the feedback of our successful large-scale deployment customers and the open source community to further enhance our solution."

Verizon and SAP partner for cloud based CRM. Verizon (VZ) and SAP America, a subsidiary of SAP AG (SAP) announced that they will jointly deliver the SAP Customer Relationship Management (SAP CRM) rapid-deployment solution to enterprise workers through Verizon's cloud offering, Computing as a Service (CaaS). Verizon's CaaS presents a application delivery system comprising integrated delivery centers around the world and is paired with their global IP network. Additionally enterprises can integrate their SAP applications with Verizon's Mobility platform through the Sybase Unwired Platform to mobilize applications including the Mobile Sales for SAP CRM application. "Verizon and SAP have joined forces to harness the true potential of the cloud by delivering proven enterprise applications that enable workers to enhance their ability to serve clients and to better business outcomes," said Kerry Bailey, group president, cloud strategy and services for Verizon. "Together, we are opening up a whole new world that allows clients to truly work without boundaries." The joint company announcement comes a little over a year after Vierzon launched an application management service that offers enterprises end-to-end management of SAP applications and delivery platforms with custom service-level guarantees that extend beyond server and application availability to include transaction and business-process metrics.