Cloud Claim Kicks Up Debate
Techies and web hosting industry experts are at odds over the definition of ‘cloud computing’.
Earlier this month, Orcon announced the launch of a cloud computing service for small to medium businesses, claiming it was the first locally developed service in the New Zealand.
Cloud computing or hosting refers to scalable and virtual web hosting options, where servers, including virtual servers, were created and used ‘on demand’. This allowed customers the freedom to pay only for what they used, with added data storage capable of being added without needing new computer infrastructure.
Iconz chief executive Sean McDonald disputed Orcon’s claims and said his company entered the market in October 2008. Iconz did not specifically offer ‘cloud’ computing, but Mr McDonald said the service it provided was essentially the same thing.
He said ‘cloud’ computing or hosting was one of the buzz phrases currently receiving industry hype, but could be misinterpreted. He believed that one of the problems was that anyone with a reasonable size server could state they were a cloud provider.
Xero founder Rod Drury said local cloud services had been available in New Zealand since around 2000 from companies including Datacom and Abacom. He believed the trend would become more mainstream as broadband continued to develop and improve, but conceded the use of the term was also “probably a bit of cheeky marketing”.
Orcon spokesman Duncan Blair said the company was standing by claims and the definition of cloud computing as ‘dynamically scalable and virtual servers’.

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