AT&T Makes a Big Bet On Linux and Open Source in the Cloud

While there are a number of open source solutions emerging for cloud computing, OpenStack remains one of the best backed platforms, with vendors ranging from Hewlett-Packard to Dell to Citrix supporting it. OpenStack got its early momentum from Rackspace and NASA, though, and late last year Rackspace announced Rackspace Cloud: Private Edition, which is an OpenStack-powered cloud platform featuring managed services and--most important of all--operational support.

Now, AT&T has announced that it is delivering an open source cloud platform based on OpenStack, dubbed AT&T Cloud Architect. It signals a big bet on open source from a major telco...

What's significant here is that AT&T's combination of an open source cloud platform with hosting services and support for those hosting services could attract many businesses away from smaller players in the cloud. Support, in particular, is going to be a big differentiator for AT&T's open source cloud offering, and for Rackspace's. In fact, I've made the point that support may very well determine the winners and the losers in the cloud race...