Amazon expands cloud computing offerings

Monday, January 10, 2011

Amazon Web Services recently announced it has lowered the pricing of two of its Premium Support plans and is now offering two additional high- and low-end services in an effort to expand its cloud computing business.

The prices of Amazon's existing plans - Gold and Silver Premium Support - have been reduced by 50 percent. Meanwhile, the company has added Bronze- and Platinum-level support to increase its appeal to a wider range of cloud users.

The Bronze option provides users with a basic cloud computing package for $49 a month. Users of this plan can access technical support with response times ranging from 12 hours to one business day.

With the Platinum plan, Amazon offers broader cloud computing services to users. Customers are provided with direct access to a technical account manager, around-the-clock technical support and 15-minute response times.

Since its launch in 2002, cloud computing has become a huge business for Amazon. According to a recent report by Renumb Research, the global cloud computing market is expected to hit $25 billion by 2014.