Mobile users have it a little easier with a myriad of Apple, Google and Microsoft cloud services, although there's third-party options in that space, too.
Also, aggressive pricing cuts from Google and Microsoft for their cloud services has resulted in the company following suit.
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Thinking that users will now be forced into their cloud services, Microsoft lined up some cloud offerings, including video service and music.
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Exciting news today as several new customers announced their move to the cloud with Microsoft Online Services.
Besides Amazon, the strategy takes HP into new areas of competition with Microsoft, which has its own cloud services, and Oracle, where Hurd now works.
With an explicit commitment to simplicity and agility, Microsoft designs software and cloud-based services that can help businesses be truly dynamic and inspire people to a higher level of commitment, innovation, and leadership and, in turn, help businesses and people realize their full potential.
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Microsoft has the intent of generating revenue via cloud services, but rather than let the market dynamics play out, they are trying to force it.
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How some of Nokia's attached cloud services complement or compete with Microsoft's own serious cloud-based initiatives has surely been the subject of many meetings between the two companies, but the apps round out and enhance Nokia's offerings.
Microsoft could offer some of this via Skype, cloud services, and its renewed push into mobile operating systems.
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The provision of cloud-based computing services will have Microsoft duking it out with Apple, Google, Amazon and many others.
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Based in Maiden, North Carolina, the data center will help Apple compete with increasingly sophisticated cloud-based services being developed by Microsoft, Google, and Amazon.com.
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For the cloud, device and services strategy to succeed Microsoft must also succeed in convincing enterprise accounts to migrate their applications to Windows Azure.
It is also a recognition that Microsoft contends in a world where companies like Amazon and Google offer a lot of Microsoft-type server and operational software, through cloud-based services.
In a comparison piece, The Verge noted that the terms of service from four major cloud storage services -- Dropbox, iCloud, Microsoft SkyDrive, and Google Drive -- all claim no ownership of the files you give them.
GigaOm asserted that the deal would be intended to build a cloud computing services company that could complete with Google, Microsoft and Amazon.com.
Microsoft also announced it will now deliver many new features and services to the cloud first, transforming the company's traditional three-year release cycle.
Cloud storage services with two-factor include Dropbox, Google Drive and Microsoft's Sky Drive.
Microsoft itself has launched Office 365, a cloud version of the Office suite, as well as hosted services like Exchange Online, Sharepoint Online and Lync Online.
Amazon offers web services like cloud computing and cloud storage competing with bigger players like Google, Microsoft and Salesforce.com in addition to being a major online retailer of books, DVDs, music, games, apparel and other merchandise.
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