Marc Benioff: Collaboration is moving to the cloud
Salesforce predicts the end of the desktop
/v3-uk/news/1954182/salesforce-predicts-desktop
08 Sep 2010, Khidr Suleman , V3
Salesforce.com used its Cloudforce event in London this week to talk up the importance of 'Cloud 2.0', which it said has already completely changed the way we communicate and work.
Marc Benioff, chairman and chief executive of Salesforce, pointed out that applications are no longer the only pieces of software being deployed through the cloud. Platforms including operating systems are now being consumed through the internet, as well as tools to build apps to help run businesses, he explained.
"Collaboration is moving to the cloud, and can serve companies of all sizes from startups to the largest enterprise organisations," Benioff said.
Benioff was also keen to differentiate between Cloud 1.0 and Cloud 2.0 platforms. Salesforce's enterprise software interface was originally modelled on Amazon.com in 1999, but the firm now sees Amazon as an example of Cloud 1 as it uses Windows/Mac operating systems, desktops, tabs and clicks.
Facebook, on the other hand, is a prime example of Cloud 2.0, Benioff said, adding that its feeds, push and touch features make it the "paradigm" in usability.
Salesforce is obviously impressed with Facebook, and its recently launched Chatter application is essentially an enterprise version of the social networking site. Chatter will be coming to iPhone and BlackBerry devices later this year.
Benioff said that Cloud 1.0 is easy to use, fast and low cost, but that the next step is to provide real-time social and mobile interactions.
"The world was different in 2000. We are moving into a desktop-less world, consuming objects and data in different ways," he said. "Why isn't all enterprise software like Facebook?"
In a not-so-thinly veiled attack on competitors such as Oracle, Benioff warned organisations to "beware of the false clouds" which are "not efficient, democratic or economical".
© Incisive Media Investments Limited 2010, Published by Incisive Financial Publishing Limited, Haymarket House, 28-29 Haymarket, London SW1Y 4RX, are companies registered in England and Wales with company registration numbers 04252091 & 04252093
Do you agree?
Everything old is new again.
In the mid 1990's, whilst training for my Novell 4.1 certification, there were many similar predictions. Rather than the term "The Cloud" it was simply "Server Side" or some other terms that amounted to basically the same thing -- data and even applications, residing on servers, with those servers mirrored and routers to point to the servers would make for a LAN that could be used from anywhere, at any time, just using a laptop. That was back when laptop docks were going to replace desktop machines. I didn't trust it then, and that was using Novell servers rather than the (still) more vulnerable Windows-based networks.
Would I like such a network? I would. I'm just uncertain if Cloud 2 is mature yet to provide the data security needed.
I recall all the magazine articles from the '70's that heralded things like cell phones (1973) LCD displays, flying cars, etc. I still have not been able to find a flying car and am quite disappointed. ;-)
Tom
Posted by Tom Norris, 09 Sep 2010