PowerCloud Systems Announces World's First OEM Cloud Platform for Network Vendors

PALO ALTO, Calif., Dec. 6, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, PowerCloud™ Systems, Inc. announced the immediate availability of its CloudCommand™ online software platform for network equipment vendors.  With CloudCommand, vendors will bring products to market with enterprise-grade features and consumer usability for a fraction of what traditional enterprise products cost.  CloudCommand is also a way for vendors to expand their business models to include subscription-based service revenue.

CloudCommand Transforms Products into Networking as a Service

"Cloud services empower a profound change in business networks," said Jeff Abramowitz, PowerCloud Systems president and CEO.  "In the same way that software applications are evolving toward web-based services, networking will migrate from an approach based only on equipment to a model that features web-based services.  This model is ideal for businesses that need enterprise-grade networks, simple management tools and affordable, pay-as-you-go pricing. CloudCommand transforms vendors' existing networking products into powerfully simple, cloud-based networking solutions with integrated service capabilities."  

PowerCloud Systems built the CloudCommand online software platform on ten PARC patents, including two exclusive patents in the areas of network virtualization and usable security.  The company's engineering effort resulted in a cloud-based software platform that remotely deploys, configures, connects, secures and manages networking equipment and resources.  The platform supports any network infrastructure, including wireless access points, routers, VPN gateways and network-attached storage.  

Craig Mathias:  A Natural Platform for Managing Network Devices

"Just as the cloud is becoming the center of everything in IT, it is also a natural platform for managing network devices," said Craig Mathias, a principal at Farpoint Group, a wireless advisory firm in Ashland, Mass.  "Integrating smartphones, upgrading WLAN systems and managing the growth of ever-expanding networks are only a few of the challenges businesses will face in the next few years.  System vendors that provide their customers easy-to-use and cost-effective solutions will win in the marketplace – and a cloud-based OEM management platform is the ideal strategy in a huge number of venues."

CloudCommand Technology:  Flexible OEM Platform Empowers System Vendor Success

Vendors can leverage CloudCommand technology to quickly come to market with a cloud-managed product portfolio.  A custom version of the software, combined with low-cost hardware, delivers a solution that meets their customers' needs, increases gross margins and generates a recurring revenue stream.  CloudCommand technology is offered as a hosted platform -- scalable to support high-volume product lines -- or as a leased option for large, private clouds managed by telcos or large managed service providers.  

PowerCloud Systems' initial release of the CloudCommand online software platform enables vendors to securely manage Wi-Fi infrastructure and client devices.  It forms the basis for solutions by vendors and service providers serving both the small business and mid-market customers for Wi-Fi equipment, by public access Wi-Fi vendors and by smart-grid solution vendors.

About PowerCloud Systems, Inc.

PowerCloud Systems delivers cloud-based software that OEMs integrate with their business networking products.  The CloudCommand online platform makes networking equipment and resources dramatically easier to deploy, configure, secure and manage -- all at a very low cost.  Based in Palo Alto, Calif., PowerCloud Systems is a spin-out from PARC that is funded by PARC, Walden Venture Capital and Javelin Venture Partners.  For more information, visit www.powercloudsystems.com.

SOURCE PowerCloud Systems, Inc.