Microsoft, Parallels select Ipeer to test Windows Azure pack

KARLSTAD, SWEDEN: Swedish Cloud provider Ipeer has been selected as one of five service providers in the world to beta test Microsoft Corp.'s recently released Windows Azure Pack technology and deliver it through the Parallels Automation cloud platform.

With this solution, Ipeer will be able to offer hosted public and hybrid clouds with enterprise functionality and flexibility consistent with that provided by Windows Azure.

The new Windows Azure Pack is built on Microsoft's latest datacenter software, Windows Server 2012 R2 and System Center 2012 R2, allowing Ipeer to deliver Windows Azure-consistent services from the Ipeer datacenter.

Eugene Saburi, GM, Product Marketing, Microsoft, said: "We are pleased that Ipeer is taking advantage of Windows Azure Pack to deliver a flexible and familiar self-service provisioning and infrastructure management experience to its customers."

Johan Hedlund, CEO of Ipeer said: "The future of cloud hosting is not one-size fits-all but rather one where corporate clients will want to choose between optimized software and hardware, vendor sizes, location, SLA and pricing, and move between providers."

"Experience, trust and local presence will remain important when placing critical infrastructure and we welcome Microsoft's and Parallels' clear visions here," added Hedlund.

"Customers are looking for local, in-country service providers to deliver the full portfolio of cloud services," said John Zanni, chief marketing officer, Service Provider, Parallels. "Parallels helps service providers, like Ipeer, speed their time to revenue and differentiate as the first in country service provide to offer the latest Windows Azure Pack from Microsoft, enabled for distribution utilizing the APS standard supported by Parallels Automation (APS standard.org)."