Cloud computing is seen by many people as the natural evolution of Grid computing concepts. Both, for instance, rely on the use of service-based approaches for provisioning compute and data resources. The importance of understanding business models and the economics of distributed computing systems and services has generally remained unchanged in the move to Cloud computing. This understanding is necessary in order to build sustainable e-infrastructure and businesses around this paradigm of sharing Cloud services. Currently, only a handful of companies have created successful businesses around Cloud services.
 
This research evaluates the major trends in the cloud computing industry including the effect of cloud services on mobile applications/stores.  The report includes a cloud computing case study and ROI assessment. It also includes a comparison of cloud services providers with analysis of major companies/offerings including Saleforce.com, Google, and a SWOT analysis of Amazon Cloud services.
 
Target Audience:
 
•    Cloud services companies
•    Network service providers
•    Telecommunications companies
•    Outsourcing firms and service bureaus
•    Application developers and app stores
•    Large multinational enterprise companies
•    Small to Medium Business (SMB) and their suppliers

1.0       EXECUTIVE SUMMARY           3
2.0       INTRODUCTION          5
2.1       CASE STUDY: AMAZON WEB SERVICE AND CLOUD INFRASTRUCTURE        5
2.2       CLOUD APPLICATIONS            8
2.2.1    GRID COMPUTING      8
2.2.2    CASE STUDY: HOW TO USE GRID COMPUTING TO SAVE IT COSTS   9
2.2.3    TRANSACTION SYSTEMS         14
2.2.4    DEPLOYING CLOUD COMPUTING      15
2.2.5    CLOUD FORMATION   19
2.3       CLOUD DEPLOYMENT SCENARIOS     22
2.3.1    SCENARIO 1    22
2.3.2    SCENARIO 2    23
2.3.3    CASE STUDY: CLOUD AND THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT (ROI)      26
3.0       MOBILE CLOUD          30
3.1       CASE STUDY: HOW TO USE THE CLOUD WITH MOBILE APPS           33
3.1.1    SALES FORCE CLOUD GOES MOBILE  34
3.2       THE FUTURE OF THE APPLICATION MARKETS WITH THE CLOUD     35
4.0       PROVIDERS ANALYSIS AND MARKET PROJECTIONS TO 2017            40
4.1.1    GOOGLE VS AMAZON AS A CLOUD SERVICE PROVIDER:      42
4.1.2    HP TO PENETRATE THE CLOUD MARKET       43
4.1.3    MOBILE CLOUD COMPUTING MARKETS       44
4.1.4    THE FUTURE OF APPS IN THE CLOUD            45
4.1.5    CONTEXT AND LOCATION SENSITIVE APPLICATIONS IN THE CLOUD            45
4.1.6    PAY POINT SOLUTIONS           45
4.1.7    SWARM DATA MINING           46
1.1       PREDICTIONS FOR THE NEXT GENERATION   47
4.1.8    MOBILE PAYMENT SYSTEMS IN THE CLOUD 50
4.1.9    M-PAYMENT ANALYSIS           53
4.1.10  MONEY TRANSFERS    54
4.1.11  GEO TAGGING MULTIMEDIA IN THE CLOUD 54
4.1.12  BREAKING THE PHONE MOLD            56
4.1.13  SUMMARY      58
4.1.14  CLOUD COMPUTING AND BIG DATA 59
4.1.15  CONCLUSION  59