US Federal Government to Offer Cloud Computing Services
The US Federal Government has plans to offer both Software as a Service for government agencies and a cloud-based platform for agencies to develop, test and deploy new applications. Those programs could be announced at the Gov 2.0 Summit in September, according to a report this morning from Federal News Radio.
SaaS offerings made available will be government-approved services like email, productivity apps, document management and business process management software. Those services are intended for use by other government agencies. Even more exciting may be the application platform that's part of the plan.
The initiative is reportedly based at the Office of Management and Budget.
The prospect of government agencies using a government cloud platform to build and deploy web based applications like the private sector has used services like Amazon's cloud computing is exciting. By lowering overhead and easing application management, a government cloud could yield a wave of application innovation across agencies. That's the theory at least.
If government is to become the next hot application development sector, it will have to compete with a private tech sector that's already deep into this paradigm and offers developers the possibility of turning cheap web apps into huge riches through acquisition by larger firms.
Also worth watching will be any integration between the government's new cloud platform, data created by the apps deployed on it and the federal site data.gov, where an ostensible cross-section of public data is cataloged for subsequent use as development fodder. Creation of a mutually beneficial development ecosystem seems ambitious and promising, but could be far-fetched. Apps on a cloud, contributing data to the data storehouse, so that other developers could pull that data back onto the platform to create new apps and feed new data back into data.gov listings? Sounds too good to be true.
For a more in-depth look at the government's cloud agenda, see today's write-up by Jason Miller at Federal News Radio.
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While a dose of skepticism might be healthy, too much skepticism can be perceived as negative. Many of us think of the government as typified by the experiences of our visit to the DMV or DOL. What might not be as apparent though to people who aren't actively participating in what's going on within the "Government 2.0" community is that the status quo is changing. This administration is genuine, sincere and authentic about saving taxpayer money. They're genuine about using technology to improve governance. For example, watch White House New Media Director Macon Phillips explain via this YouTube video how Obama Administration is using social media: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPBqEdjYw-E
It will take time to make broad changes, but these changes are more likely to happen with our support, encouragement and even participation.
And how does this affect the decision shared awhile back that the White House is using an ASP.NET platform? http://tech.slashdot.org/article...
Posted by: Melanie Reed
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July 29, 2009 10:44 AM
"The most dangerous words in the English language: 'I'm from the government, and I'm here to help you'."
- Ronald Reagan
I wish it would be open source, because it will be improved at every world gov and at every big company, and will lwt MS WOS only for pre installed machines - and OSs would be refunded by law at retail prices if you want to choose other one -
I think that it will rather be a private or closed cloud-plattform. Therefore it might not be that easy to save costs. It would be interesting however, if this plattform would be opened to other countries governemnts. This way usage peaks could be better distributed (The Australian government could be working and use more ressources while the U.S. is still asleep).
US Federal Government to Offer Cloud Computing Services http://bit.ly/lwpPv SaaS and an app dev platform! [from http://twitter.com/marshallk/statuses/2912866241]
Posted by: Marshall Kirkpatrick
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August 11, 2009 10:27 AM
I will remember your blog place. Because I love you more ideas.
After this I will read all your posts thankful.
Cloud based approach are amazing and not so novel have been used by very large companies to develop cutting edge software for over 5 years. Especially in Aerospace and Defence Sector