Fujitsu makes cloud bid with public and private offerings

Fujitsu has extended its cloud computing business with two new services and a set of hardware modules designed to serve as the basis for enterprise private cloud computing deployments.

The Fujitsu Business Solutions Store allows companies to browse various cloud offerings through a single portal covering a number of platforms and markets, and includes its own offerings and those of business partners and independent software vendors (ISVs).

Among the first services to be offered on the platform is Fujitsu CRM Cloud Services.

Charles King, principal analyst at research firm Pund-IT, noted that, while the Business Solutions Store and CRM suite bear a resemblance to the approach of Salesforce, Fujitsu's cloud approach is unique in the market.

"It is interesting that [Fujitsu] has been pitching this as an ISV service, and a way to get cloud up and running without a bunch of up-front expenses. I have not seen any vendor that has done anything quite like this," King told V3.

Fujitsu is also looking to extend its reach in the private cloud space, offering enterprises and service providers a set of hardware configurations designed for use in private cloud datacentres.

The Dynamic Infrastructure Blocks (DI Blocks) platform comprises a set of modules that can be configured for various cloud deployments.

"For enterprises, it is impossible to predict future resource requirements from IT systems, but with DI Blocks it is possible to create future-proof systems that are flexible and agile enough to meet ever-changing needs," said Fujitsu technology solutions product development senior vice president Jens-Peter Seick.

"This represents a major shift in how forward-looking companies are making the move to IT that supports their needs, rather than being restricted by rigid, outdated systems."