The entrance of Microsoft into the cloud space offers "validation" to the cloud concept, Benioff said.
Cloud computing, said Sun cloud computing CTO Lew Tucker, has been the subject of queries from enterprise customers lately. "The downturn in the economy is forcing everybody to take a serious look at what is cloud computing," Tucker said.
Cloud computing will run on everything from micro-applications on Facebook to the Apple iPhone to whatever the next new application is that reaches Google-level proportions, Tucker said. "Sun recognizes that as a systems company, we have to be there," he said.
Meanwhile, the event also featured brief presentations from several startup companies pitching wares for the cloud. These included:
- FathomDB, providing database services.
- Veodia, offering enterprise video development and sharing capabilities.
- Diomede Storage, for storage services.
- BrowserMob, an on-demand service for Web application load-testing.
- Appirio, for services management and viral marketing
