iCloud Powered By Microsoft, Amazon Servers and Irony

[Phillip Swanson]

The Register is reporting that Apple's iCloud service is powered by Microsoft's Azure and Amazon's AWS servers for hosting.

Apple reportedly wants to focus on building the consumer-side experience of iCloud, rather than become a full-time cloud storage service provider. After the embarrassing launch of MobileMe Apple outsourcing it's server-side duties to those more experienced and trusted in the server/cloud sphere provides a blanket of technical security as well as PR security. If someone flubs up, Apple doesn't have to take all the flack. Still, relying on two of your largest competitors to ensure your brand new and highly anticipated cloud-based service launches without a hitch wreaks of just a little irony.

Microsoft appears to be ignoring any hints of ironic comedy and is ecstatic with Apple's use of Azure, reportedly calling the deal a "validation of Azure," and "a great opportunity to get Azure under a very visible workload." Whatever Microsoft or Amazon's thoughts, securing a customer like Apple translates to a large, long-term revenue stream. Well, as long as the service lives up to Apple's freakish standards of perfection.

Apple is set to debut its iCloud service this fall and will utilize three data centers initially, as well as spreading customer information across the three companies' servers. Sources believe Apple will be running "the full Azure service – the Windows Azure compute and controller part and SQL Azure storage which hosts tables, queues and flat files." This presents its own potential problems as Apple may have to utilize custom made software to retrieve and send files across multiple platforms.

Bottom line though, Apple must avoid a MobileMe level of embarrassment at launch, and by the looks of it they've gone to great lengths to do so including swallowing a little of their pride.

Source: Apple Insider, The Register

[rocketApe]

Seems like this piece of "news" keeps getting re-reported. Not that I don't think it's ironic that apple is relying on Microsoft and Amazon for anything, but c'mon, if I'm getting tired of hearing about it, aren't you guys getting tired of talking about it?

[Tario70]

Actually I hope news like this keeps fanboys in check.

I've used Macs, Windows, & different distros of Linux & I just prefer Windows. I do love my iPhone & can't wait until the 5 is released & jailbroken so I can upgrade.

This is the kind of news that I hope shows people that one isn't "better" than another but that it's all based on what works for you & no one should need to defend or attack that.

[Labertasche]

It has been said many times, but people who really think that Microsoft and Apple have a bad relationship are the fanboys who need this we/they feeling to make themselves feel to be on the "right" side.

[feidhlim1986]

Does anyone really think that all Apple's backend services or even internal infrastructure runs on 100% Apple Products?

Apple are good at making consumer products, not at making enterprise level products or services - Microsoft and Amazon are.

[hapishyguy]

Bill Gates!

[andrewbixcube]

This is old news! I've known this for ages as my mate works for Microsoft! Hehe

[Raketemensch]

So if they're using S3 for the cloud, what the hell is the huge-*** new data center for?

[Poseidon79]

This is old news! I've known this for ages as my mate works for Microsoft! Hehe

Link me to the "old news" story. Having inside information doesn't make this old news as the rest of the world doesn't have friends at MS like you.

[boxxa]

This is why Apple is a stressful company. They see the cost involved in becoming a cloud services company and they know that what they invest in the technologies that exists now is a lot less to bring their users the service that want.

No need to reinvent the wheel

[domenicp]

Actually I hope news like this keeps fanboys in check.

I've used Macs, Windows, & different distros of Linux & I just prefer Windows. I do love my iPhone & can't wait until the 5 is released & jailbroken so I can upgrade.

This is the kind of news that I hope shows people that one isn't "better" than another but that it's all based on what works for you & no one should need to defend or attack that.

I'm a Windows application developer, but when I go home and want to use a computer, its the Mac that I go to. Its easier to develop apps on Windows, but easier in many ways to use apps on the Mac. I'm sure some (Apple fanboys or Apple haters) will disagree with one or the other of these preferences, but they are just that.

[Mrteacup]

I hate the way reporters talk like they know this crap. Like you have the right to say microsoft and amazon are dumb to work with apple. Like two successful companies didn't think about the outcome as good as you...

[Tario70]

I'm a Windows application developer, but when I go home and want to use a computer, its the Mac that I go to. Its easier to develop apps on Windows, but easier in many ways to use apps on the Mac. I'm sure some (Apple fanboys or Apple haters) will disagree with one or the other of these preferences, but they are just that.

& you hit my point right on the head. It's all about preference. Each OS has its strengths & weaknesses, but it's all about your comfort level & what you like to use. Use what you like & who cares after that!

(I do have OS X Lion running as a Virtual & several distros of Linux in virtual as well. I do like to play!)