Thought Leaders In Cloud Computing: Overview

Over the past few weeks, I have been speaking with a series of thought leaders in cloud computing. We will soon be publishing these in-depth interviews. Let me share a few thoughts with you based on what I have heard thus far across various conversations.

IBM Delivers, Does Not Dazzle

On October 15, IBM (NYSE:IBM) reported third-quarter results that topped estimates, and the company raised its full-year guidance. However, IBM’s shares dropped because its results were not as good as investors had hoped and there was a drop in contract signings. Let’s take a closer look.

Not Your Father’s IBM

After Intel’s strong results this week, yesterday IBM (NYSE:IBM), the world’s leading computer services provider with annual revenue of $103.6 billion, reported a strong second quarter and also increased its 2009 earnings outlook. IBM has benefited from its strategic transformation towards Smarter Planet solutions, business analytics and cloud computing. Let’s take a closer look.

Sun: Now What?

I was never happy about the prospect of the IBM-Sun merger, and am glad to see that the deal has fallen through. But the question now looms even larger: what happens to Sun next?

IBM Wants to Buy Sun? Why?

Boy, I wrote the last Sun piece with a recommendation for Sun to hold on to its OpenSource business, and divest the hardware business, and thought that Cisco may be interested in the DataCenter business in particular. And the news this morning is that IBM is considering buying Sun for about $7 billion.

Deal Radar 2008: AmberPoint

AmberPoint is the industry leader in SOA (Service-oriented Architecture) visibility, management, and security software. The company’s software is used in 63 countries on six continents. AmberPoint works closely with other platform providers and system integrators to provide companies with the advantage of standards-based application architecture. Their solutions take a non-invasive, policy-based approach which uses .NET and Java to integrate with the enterprise.

Top 10 Outsourcing Stocks

Anything I write about outsourcing seems to lead to a heated debate. My article on the Death of Indian Outsourcing was one such piece. The more recent Obama and Outsourcing received a similar welcome. Regardless of what happens to the outsourcing industry as a result of the US elections in November, outsourcing firms will remain key contributors to a changing

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Deal Radar 2008: Realtime Worlds

Realtime Worlds is an entertainment software company that produces hit video games like Grand Theft Auto, Crackdown and Lemmings. Their latest game is the community-based All Points Bulletin (APB), which is expected to be released soon. The company is also currently developing new software technology that will have applications in various other industries.