There has been an announcement of Java support for Google App Engine (GAE) last week, along with several new features aimed specifically at businesses to try out cloud computing. The notice has been served by Google to reconfirm the Internet giant’s interest in providing enterprises with its evolving cloud computing capabilities. So, I am examining what’s new and what’s missing in GAE for enterprises that are looking to try out cloud computing.

The enterprise software market has so far remained fairly resistant to Google’s offerings including, search to SaaS products, at least compared to the uptake in software from established enterprise leaders that include Microsoft, IBM, Oracle and SAP.

Today’s the scenario is different with increasingly broad interest in cloud computing that may provide Google with an ideal opening provided they can successfully deliver their unique strengths in the technical and economic underpinnings of networked computing in a form businesses that are found compelling for cutting costs, becoming more agile and transitioning successfully to the next generation of computing.

The good news for Google is that only Microsoft currently has a credible cloud computing offering heading to the market with Azure, though IBM and Oracle are certain to follow shortly. Thus, there is a clear opening for Google if it can offer businesses what they really need in the cloud before the leading enterprise software firms manage to arrive and increase competition. This will not be easy as the network is Google’s turf and it is clear that the platform wars have indeed returned.

The original GAE was primarily a consumer Web application which focused cloud computing offering at the outset and was concerned about performance and high scalability much more than it cared about a robust feature set. It took cloud computing to a new level that was also about making it run quickly. GAE also required that you adopt its choices in programming language (Python), database (proprietary data store) and request or response application model. The latest additions promise to bring several of the capabilities and technologies that enterprises will require and open up Google’s nascent cloud computing platform for a much broader range of uses for all business enterprises. These additions will move Google much closer to the enterprise space than it was earlier, though there is still clearly plenty of work to do in order give Google the definite edge in cloud computing. .

Just when the dust raised by Google with its announcement of Google Chrome OS, was about to settle, actually it was not allowed to settle, things were taken to Microsoft’s court yard with lightning speed and people expected a befitting reply and Microsoft obliged, only that much, postponing the real stuff for Monday. But surmises were quick to be made, past projects dug up and at the amphitheatre where nerds and geeks jostle, the weapon that Microsoft was going to unleash on Monday to counter the Google blow is getting tantalizingly revealing.

But before we get a peek at the hidden dagger, tell me if I am wrong. Did Google say the Chrome OS is also for Desk tops and PCs? Not that my brain could pick up or the sparks weren’t strong enough for this old fused brain.

I do not want to spoil the party. But sage counsels have put 2 and 2 together and have been quick to reveal that Microsoft is going to announce its cloud ready MS Office. But are mere earthlings ready for the Office in the cloud?

If Microsoft hoists its Office in the cloud does Google have to come out with an OS for desktops? People will access the Office equivalent through the Net Books. Is that the scenario we are heading towards? Can Microsoft and Google manage the memory requirements and have the capacities for such an exodus?

We first have to wait for the sparring to begin so that we can chatter and silently clicketty clatter.

One thing is for sure. At the cost of repetition, these are exciting times for us who savor the nuances of technology.

Cloud Computing, is the latest buzz in the tech industry. Cloud and Computing are the words that describe how the technology is used and now the hiccups have begun in cloud computing. Just creating capacity in a server farm and hoping that the customers would come running to use the capacity there by minimizing their installation expenditure was wishful thinking.

The cloud operators somewhere down the line seem to have forgotten that a part of cloud computing matter of fact the back bone of the cloud is “SaaS”, “Software as a Service”. Before vendors start approaching customers they have to understand the soft ware requirements of the client. The number of users and the contact points that are spread across, the inter action between customers and customers, the security of data, the upscaling of storage requirements and the flexibility the vendor can provide to the customer. The customer will no doubt first evaluate the vendor and his software before subscribing to the service.

No sign of that seems to be happening.

The advantage U.S has its belief and support of the theory that in any field there will only be three main players. Although unsaid unstated is the business model where thes three players who emerge try and garner all the business.

When the cloud has to operate in such an environment it is not difficult to fathom the nature of the model they have to develop for a particular environment.

First the cloud operator has to sit down and concentrate on his “SaaS” capability. Develop a skeletal model that can adapt itself to specific requirements of the business models.

No efforts seem to be put in to this. The vendors have to invest in “SaaS” apps and then approach customers. Presently the customers outsource their work requirements. No guesses as to where this work gets outsourced. If the vendors are serious about their cloud capabilities they have to sit down with these apps that are being developed ( and there is a wealth of information available for that purpose) and arrive at a skeletal product for a particular business model. For e.g SaaS for a bank may not be the same as “SaaS” for a retail chain or a communication network.

Ultimately cloud computing is not about provision of virtual machine and storage capacities and web based services alone. It is about creating software which the customer finds attractive for which he is ready to migrate to the cloud.

The first of the products of the cloud is going to hit the market from Microsoft and it is an anti-malware product called Morro with which Microsoft is testing the cloud readiness of net users. It is termed and being publicized as free. It is not free in the conventional sense that you can down load and install it on your system.
It is free in the sense that the service is being provided by free.
Considering the amount of malware that is in circulation it would be embarrassing for Microsoft if conservative consumers would have viewed the product suspiciously if it was a free down load.
But Microsoft is killing many birds with a stone.
To use this software your surfing data is processed through Microsoft’s data centres read “cloud” for presence of any virus or malware.
This will give Microsoft an edge over its competition. Depending on the number of users who opt for this service not only will Microsoft keep an eye on the evolving malware by keeping abreast of the developments it can also hone up its skills in developing anti malware code that it can incorporate into the product. Then there are security conscious big firms and if they like the idea of real time developments in the spyware department by Microsoft by letting it look after their security then it is a first toe hold Microsoft is getting in the cloud and the strategy sure is that the rest will follow.
It would be fascinating to see how many users of the net will take this free product and place the trust in Microsoft. More than the numbers it is established businesses and concerns who will be willing that matters.

The best thing about the on going browser wars is not which is best? Because all the browsers have to prepare you to operate in the cloud. Therefore the freedom of choice is given to you with respect to choosing the browser. The real test in cloud computing will be, will the users accept the control exercised by the service provider and then it boils down to which application would he choose for the work that he wants to do. Cloud computing is not yet here nor has it been accepted but cloud computing readiness is here.
This is where browsers like FireFox will lose because they do not have anything else to offer except the addons. But then the distant future is only a horizon and has not yet dawned.
Microsoft has an added advantage that it is Windows 7 ready and so as far as personal computing and low level business applications go it does not have to worry.
There has been talk of Google’s own Operating system. That is a distant possibility but not a matter of urgency.
Ultimately it boils down to what attractive applications can the cloud offer in personal computing and whether the big businesses bite the byte, whom essentially the cloud will endeavour to attract.
Chrome can be down loaded presently and is easy to install. It guides you in the process and you can access all your files. It also fetches your book marks, pass words etc., from Fire Fox or IE. It is not yet Mac and Linux ready but it is expected soon. The tabs that appear or basically a “omni bar”( web address bar) and a “book marks bar” placed below it. There is also a “recent book marks” bar to the right of the screen.
The controls are to the right of the “omni bar”. They are the “page icon” and a wrench. The “page icon” lets you use “google gears” for applying short cuts etc., and the “wrench” is for the purpose of history, browsing, down loads etc.,
You can also switch your search engine by clicking on “options” below the “wrench icon”. Facility exists for setting up own home page. This is duplication of the work that igoogle does. Once you create your home page you can also create short cuts and all the paraphernalia associated with the browser disappear giving you a feel of a desk top application. Here is the rough view of the GOOGLE’s Chrome, Mozilla’s Firefox and Internet Explorer from Microsoft after the cloud computing days start. For the purpose of navigation through a web site instead of the arrow keys you have to “right click”
The facility of searching has been extended to pages within your desk top also. The history does not give the URL of the pages you visit but it does give a brief sketch of the site. Even book marks can be searched where a field is provided for the purpose and the contents are displayed to the right of your book marks. The private browsing of FireFox is called “incognito” in chrome.
Memory management has been introduced in Fire Fox 3.5 also but in chrome it has to be done manually by using and checking the task manager provided for this purpose. Fire Fox 3.5 lets you “restore previous session” automatically in case of a crash but in chrome this has to be done manually by using the “options/ basic menu”. But if you are working by using tabs in chrome problems arising out of that will affect only that page only and not the entire system but a task manager provided for this purpose will warn you of problems that arise in memory management.

Before concluding we would like to reiterate that in the browser wars it is not which browser is better as all the browsers provide you with a choice of using a browser you like and will also integrate your desk top with the web. The important thing is these are only the means and not an end to themselves.

In a recent interview to the CNN the CEO of Google Eric Schmidt stated that his company is patient and wait for the big companies to switch to Cloud Computing as they have already invested large amount of money as Capex in the existing hardware and software.
The topic may sound a bit wooly but it essentially means turning hardware and software requirements of existing companies in to a commodity and shared utility like electricity or telephone net works.
Indian tech companies have already turned Saas, “Software as a service” into a commodity although they do not say so but where they make their money is by churning out the same product for different companies.
The next logical transition when ever it takes place would be for existing businesses, no doubt first in the U.S to share these standardized and universal Apps and only pay for that there by reducing their Capex, which will then become operational expenditure.

Cloud computing, at the present stage does pose some problems like security of data and other legal problems which no doubt can be circumvented when competitors choose different providers rather than the same ones.

Are Indian companies ready for the challenge or would they prefer to play lackeys to the big daddies? The answer would more likely be later. They may be also be acquired or probably continue doing the work for the big players. It is for certain that they would not let go off the advantage of cost.

Where would that leave our techies? Frankly they would be advised to take that visa when the next wave begins. Till then they would be advised to acquire skills in soft commodity development.