Technology Used by Amazon, Companies Offering Utility Computing - Case Study Example

Case Study Insert Name Insert Institution Number of Words Question 1 Technology used by Amazon Amazon uses Simple Storage Service (S3) and Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) storage technology for internet data services making web scaling easier for computing by developers. It offers web service with simple website interface that enables storage and retrieving of data at anytime anywhere on the web. Each developer and user can access highly reliable, secure, fast, inexpensive, and scalable infrastructure of Amazon that runs in the World Wide Web. Business advantages to Amazon and Subscribers Amazon has become a virtual superstore with products in 36 categories including jewellery, furniture, clothing, books, and grocery. It has become a leading online retailer with massive profits. The company has had growth in profits continuously and has invested in high quality infrastructure. Developers and customers have affordable computing services with no start up fees and regulations. The users do not need to set up any form of hardware so to be able to use the services. Subscribers and customers pay for exactly for what they use (Dell, 2005). Disadvantages to Amazon and subscribers To some extent, Amazon has not put itself in a position to offer infrastructure support to its users.A9.com has not offered the search engine properties that were expected at its launch. Due to technicalities in the use of search engine, the customers could drop the use of Amazon and this could lead to business losses to the company.S3 in 2003 experienced outages that lasted up to 8 hours creating significant inconvenience to subscribers of Amazon services. Reports state the cause of the inconveniences from faulty hardware and failure of components to interact effectively. Businesses to benefit from Amazon Services Amazon offers its services to a range of businesses e.g. .jewelers, furniture, bookstores, groceries, and clothing. The major business benefactors of Amazon services are the computing sectors and information technology as a whole. Companies requiring data storage and handling are also great partners of Amazon. Generally businesses that deal with handling of goods and products at all the levels all over the world are in a position to benefit from the products offered by Amazon (Brian, 2005). Question 2 Capacity planning, Scalability and TCO Scalability will help the company to be able to have a wide range of products within a specified small range of web space. The scalability of the systems allow for reliability of the services offered in a comprehensive and efficient way and means. The scalability will be applied in a way that the offered services by Amazon can be delivered effectively despite the amount of data involved without delays and inconveniences. With effective scalability the management and operational managers will have more convenient way for running their business. The subscribers equally get an ease in accessing and using the products offered by the company with minimal search and download durations. Capacity Planning are the infrastructure developed to deliver services. The technologies in use also play a major part in the capacity building of the Amazon services. The planning include the development and operating of S3 and EC2 servers with the attempt to effectively offer services at effective pace without compromising speed and quality of products to their customers. Proper capacity planning by the company enhances the viability of the company to be profitable and enables ease of management and operating costs. Subscribers and developers also get ease in accessing information and products hence reduction in waste of costs and time.TCO of the company and its policies allow the owner of the data provided to have advantage since they gain financial advantages in relation to their products in circulation (Huth & Ryan, 2004). Question 3 Companies offering utility computing Intra Meta is a broadband utility computing service provider integrating OSS and BSS .The Broadband Operation System (BOSS) design is a platform that operates as a pay per use in the office set-ups. Its design is usage in enterprise system and is to grow with your business as it develops with time .It puts business at the fingertips of the users with a friendly user interface. BOSS is friendly and users can purchase only the aspect that they need to use in their daily operations with possibility of upgrading to higher specifications with time and need of the enterprise. It has minimal upfront cost and the costs of running are equally low (Amazon, 2007). HP Utility computing services offers IT resources and services wherever and whenever you are located globally. The company employs emerging solutions like grid computing and service oriented architecture (SOA).With the application of these processes it is able to allocate resources dynamically in a reliable and efficient way. HP Utility computing services offers flexibility with a capacity of delivery wherever you need the resources at any time depending on the nature and compatibility of your infrastructure. The portfolio of this service is divided into three stages; first, it can help one develop a private utility computing service on individual basis or for use in public domains. This it develops through instant capacity or metered capacity. The second approach is through the proven end-to-end approach where you plug into HP utility servers. This is advantageous to individuals since there is no need for developing and acquiring infrastructure that may be expensive or demanding to establish. This approach is flexible, agile, collaborative, efficient, and safe due to security measures in the mainstream HP servers. The two companies offer services and resources in the utility sector similar to those offered by Amazon. However, in relation to services offered by Amazon this companies are limited to services and with low amount of subscribers and clients. They offer data handling and software management in different sectors of the global computing market. Broadband properties offers internet services and telephony services to co operations and organizations of international presence at affordable and efficient pace .HP offers capacity on demand, pay per use services and utility engineering services (HP, 2007). The companies make promises for availability due to their global presence and effectiveness. However, they marketing have not hit the international market in relation to the marketing of Amazon to global developers and subscribers. Payment model for both companies is pay as you use or pay before utilizing the resources and services. The target markets are phone industry, banking sector, internet services, telecommunication, and general computing world. In case of starting a business, I would prefer the use of services offered by Amazon since they are established, with good infrastructure and are reliably. Equally, they are having a large customer base with many subscribers hence possibility of many clients to my business. Their prices for using services are also friendly and cheap. The answer would not change since Amazon is a market leader in this sector and associating with it is advantageous for the operations of my company (Amazon, 2007). Question 4 The company would be of provide eBooks to students internationally at affordable prices. The EC2 infrastructure is for efficient storage of the books and S3 will operate for effective distribution of the products and services to subscribers. References Amazon. (2007). Amazon New Store Utility :Case Study. Brian, M. (2005). Infrastructure Securing Modelling for Utility Computing. Bristol: HP Laboratories Bristol. Dell. (2005). Utility Computing:A Practical Way to Maximize Resources. Dell Press. HP. (2007). HP Utility Computing Services ;Providing IT resources and Services Wherever they are Neede. New York: HP Invent. Huth, M., & Ryan, M. (2004). Logic IN Computer Science and. Oxford : Oxford University Press. Read More