Cloud Computing and China Mobile

"The comprehensive cooperation with China Mobile will serve as a model for our cloud strategy globally." On December 17, China Mobile and Microsoft signed a strategic cooperation memorandum. Both parties expressed at the signing ceremony their commitment to significantly enhance cooperation in technology, market, and services, fully tapping into the potential of cloud computing, and jointly promoting the progress and development of the information society. Kevin Turner, Chief Operating Officer of Microsoft, expressed great excitement about collaborating with the world's largest mobile operator.

"The comprehensive cooperation with China Mobile will become a model for our cloud strategy globally." On December 17, China Mobile and Microsoft signed a strategic cooperation memorandum, and both parties expressed their commitment to strengthening cooperation in technology, market, and services. Microsoft COO Kevin Turner expressed great excitement about collaborating with the world's largest mobile operator. The cooperation aims to fully explore the potential of cloud computing and jointly promote the progress and development of the information society.

By 2010, cloud computing had moved beyond conceptual debates and entered the application stage. Various enterprises began to launch cloud computing products and actively explore business models.

"In 2010, our products have fully transitioned to cloud computing." Kevin Turner believes that Microsoft is already leading in the field of cloud computing...

"Both of us have our own advantages and can complement each other. We are both very excited about this cooperation. You can imagine that China Mobile is the largest mobile operator in the world. If Microsoft can find a partner like China Mobile, Kevin Turner is so excited because if the cooperation with China Mobile is successful, it will be a highly influential model case in the global communications field for Microsoft, providing a very good foundation for Microsoft in the communications sector and the cloud computing market."

With the promotion and popularization of 3G technology, various application services and data volumes based on mobile communication will experience explosive growth. The user demand will greatly increase the difficulty of operational management and also pose challenges for building cloud computing platforms. Microsoft, as a company with global operational experience, will provide comprehensive cloud computing solutions and services, working hand in hand with China Mobile to build a cloud computing platform that offers more convenient, fast, and secure mobile communication and information services to a wide range of users.

The global IT and internet industry has developed to a stage that provides a mature industrial environment for cloud computing. In China, under the macro goal of building an innovative country, there is a high level of attention on the construction and support of the IT industry (mainly including cloud computing). Microsoft's goal and mission in China is to help enterprises and consumers fully experience the benefits brought by cloud computing.

In November 2008, Microsoft collaborated with Suzhou Industrial Park and Jiangsu Fengyun Network Service Co., Ltd. to create the SaaS service platform - Fengyun Online; at the end of 2009, Microsoft signed a cloud computing technology cooperation memorandum (MOU) with Chunghwa Telecom in Taiwan, focusing on cooperation in client device software application services and cloud services, to jointly create cloud service business opportunities with a new operational model; in September 2010, Microsoft China Cloud Computing Innovation Center was established in Shanghai, equipped with an experienced engineering team and a dedicated laboratory to assist partners and customers in rapid modeling, concept validation, and testing of cloud computing solutions; in November 2010, Microsoft signed a cooperation agreement with the Shanghai Beixin Emerging Service Industry Park, announcing the joint creation of the first "Cloud Computing Application Incubation Center" in China, as well as "Health Cloud" and "SME Cloud."

From these specific application cases, 2010 can be said to be the year Microsoft began its transformation, focusing on cloud computing as the core, integrating products and technologies, and transforming business models.

The business model is gradually becoming clear, and the potential of the new industry is exploding.

"Microsoft is integrating the power and applicability of the cloud with network and local device experiences. Now is the best time for developers to bet on Microsoft." Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer stated that cloud computing has presented new business opportunities for enterprises and individuals in the industry chain, and with more enterprises participating, it will promote the recognition of cloud computing's value by customers.

On November 2, Microsoft held the 2010 Professional Developers Conference (PDC) at its headquarters in Redmond, Washington, showcasing how developers can develop applications in cloud computing and the rich experiences brought by cloud computing. This PDC conference was broadcasted online, with over 20,000 developers participating in 200 PDC events around the world, in addition to those present at the Microsoft Redmond campus. Since the commercial launch of Microsoft's cloud computing platform Windows Azure earlier this year, it has shown strong growth, currently hosting nearly 20,000 applications.

"Last year, we invested over $9.5 billion in R&D, with 70% of our military R&D personnel dedicated to cloud computing-related work, and this number will rise to 90% in the future." Kevin Turner believes: "The development of the IT industry drives cloud computing to become an inevitable trend for the next 20 years. Microsoft achieved a comprehensive transformation of its products to cloud computing in 2010, developing existing products, creating new cloud-based products, and developing infrastructure to support cloud services globally. All Microsoft products and services are now available with cloud services (Office 365, Office Web Apps, Windows Server, Windows Azure, Xbox, and Xbox Live, etc.). Most Microsoft products have cloud versions, including Windows, SQL, Exchange, SharePoint, etc.

In terms of cloud computing applications and deployments, Microsoft is focusing on both public and private clouds. In the public cloud sector, it provides new services and products, including the operation of existing services and the continued development of new features for Windows Azure. In the private cloud sector, Microsoft has released the latest private cloud product package "Hyper-V Cloud," which is a benchmark architecture developed for customers who want a risk-free transition to private cloud deployment. Server vendors collaborating with Microsoft include Dell, Fujitsu, Hitachi, HP, IBM, and NEC, all of whom have agreed to provide certified private cloud product packages as part of a fast-tracking cooperation plan.

Cloud computing is the result of the gradual development of existing IT and internet technologies and business models, gradually transforming into existing software development experience, capabilities, and various resources. The global economy and IT industry development, along with the expanding internet and mobile internet, have made cloud computing the focal point of the IT industry. By 2010, customers have generally recognized the value of cloud computing. We clearly see that cloud computing has truly landed in 2010, no longer remaining in the conceptual stage. At the same time, new industrial opportunities are becoming increasingly clear.