NEC to invest in cloud

NEC says it will invest 100 billion yen in three years to fiscal 2012 ending March 2013 to expand its cloud computing services and overseas operations, says Japan Today.

The move comes as companies like rival Fujitsu are boosting investment in cloud computing, which allows software and stored data to be accessed remotely via the Internet.

“Overseas operations and services business - such as cloud computing - are the drivers of future growth,” says NEC Senior VP Takuji Tomiyama.

IBM has unveiled a new cloud services platform, which aims to make it easier for communications service providers to take advantage of cloud computing, states VentureBeat.

Dubbed the 'IBM Cloud Service Provider Platform', the platform is “a comprehensive set of hardware, software, and services,” IBM claims.

Service providers will be able to provision tens of thousands of virtual machines every hour, as well as run and manage millions of virtual machines concurrently. They could create “hundreds or even thousands of new services” quickly and cost-effectively with the platform, the company says.

Verizon Business this week opened a Hong Kong data centre in Tsuen Wan to support its growing customer demand for private cloud computing services, bringing Verizon's total number of data centres in Asia to 15, writes Computerworld.

According to the service provider, the 3 000 square-metre-Hong Kong facility offers three cabinet choices: standard cabinets for an optional redundant handoff, premium cabinets for blade servers and high-density server stacks, and half cabinets for smaller installations.

Verizon Business has also set up data centres in Singapore, Japan and Australia. According to Andrew Dobbins, the company's Asia Pacific vice-president, about 70% of the company's current top 50 customers are Asia-based.