This week in BPOS news is a recurring segment on the Microsoft Online Services Blog that covers news from all sectors of Cloud Computing and the Microsoft Online Services business suite known as Business Productivity Online Suite (BPOS). You can read all past This Week in BPOS News segments here.

1. What Can Cloud Services do For You

Cloud Computing has made a huge impact in the IT tech world and it’s only in its infancy. The cloud is striving to be one of the largest facets of computing, yet many people don’t know what the cloud is. For the first piece of BPOS news I would like to present a well-crafted video that outlines What cloud services can do for you.

You can also see a video on what the cloud is here.

Do you have a question about the cloud? What has the cloud done for you? Leave a comment below.

2. Cloud Computing: Hype Vs. Reality

Forbes writer Margaret Lewis brings a dose of reality into the cloud computing conversation in her article “Cloud Computing: Hype Vs. Reality.” A lot of tech enthusiasts, me included, think that this has been the “Summer of Cloud Computing.” More companies are investing in the cloud and making the switch, while the prospects of what can be done with cloud computing are only touching the tip of the iceberg. Margaret also claims that there are some skeptics out there that believe this may be the “Summer of Cloud Computing Hype.”

Margaret breaks down the Reality vs. Hype in two parts and addresses skepticism directed towards the cloud:

· She first addresses users who claim that “Cloud Computing” is a buzzword to describe a model that has existed in the past, and is not revolutionary.

Margaret argues that the cloud may not be an evolution in computing, but don’t chalk that up to cloud hype, because there is an evolution in data management that deems cloud computing “more relevant than ever.”

· Customers aren’t willing to dive into cloud computing because it just isn’t mature enough yet.

Margaret critiques this statement by stating that “cloud computing is maturing, but I’d agree that it’s not quite mainstream yet.” She believes the solution is for IT ecosystems to adapt.

You can read more from this interesting perspective about the future of cloud computing here.

Is Cloud Computing here to stay or is it just a buzzword and hype? What side are you on? Leave a comment below.

3. Microsoft on cloud nine as it ropes in 3 biggies for its cloud solu...

Microsoft announced last week the three newest members to join the Microsoft Online Services family. Dow Chemical, Hyatt Hotels and the University of Georgia are in the cloud with Microsoft. This article from the International Business Times outlines how many users each company brought to the cloud:

· Hyatt – 17,000 information workers and 40,000 non-desk associates.

· Dow Chemicals – Moved its entire workforce to Microsoft Business Productivity Online Suite (BPOS)

· University of Georgia – 85,000 students, faculty and staff will access Live@Edu with the Microsoft Cloud.

It’s an exciting time to be a part of Microsoft’s cloud solution as more businesses and institutions are “all in.”

http://blogs.technet.com/b/msonline/archive/2010/08/06/this-week-in...