PLDT Group, Microsoft launch cloud-computing solutions

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine businesses will in the near future experience the benefits of more powerful software applications for cloud computing as Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. recently partnered with global software giant Microsoft and Asia’s leading IT solutions company Datacraft, a subsidiary of Dimension Data of the Japan NTT Group.

Cloud computing is network-based computing, where software, data storage and other resources are provided over a shared network. It allows users to access their company’s business applications securely through the "cloud."

Through PLDT, Microsoft business applications are made moreover accessible for local business use. Companies will be given the option to implement the cloud-based versions of the Microsoft applications within their businesses in a full or partially-private managed scheme, or via a fully-hosted cloud-delivered model.

With such a set-up, local businesses are provided with a cost-efficient solution without having to worry about the underlying infrastructure and maintaining costly operations support.

"Our collaboration with these two companies is the then big step into as a matter of fact building up the application portfolio of our existing cloud computing brand, PLDT AppFarn," PLDT vice president and head of corporate business group Jovy Hernandez noted.

The operating platform in corporate business

"With cloud computing emerging as the operating platform in corporate business," Hernandez said, "investments on bulky and costly physical infrastructure to support and access massive amounts of data and applications are now a thing of the past."

Microsoft’s renowned software portfolio expands PLDT AppFarm’s already then-established cloud computing services. It is seen as a huge step in accelerating local cloud computing adoption, beginning a symbiotic endeavor to meet the growing demand from an evolving market.

"We’re as well very optimistic that it will solidify PLDT’s position as the telecommunications leader in this part of the region," he added.