CLOUD APP DEVELOPMENT
American Virtual Cloud Technologies, Inc. | March 01, 2022
American Virtual Cloud Technologies, Inc. announced that it has entered into a securities purchase agreement for a sale of equity securities to an institutional investor. The net proceeds, after original issue discount, will total $15 million initially, plus an additional $5 million subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, including receipt of stockholder approval pursuant to Nasdaq listing rules. AVCT will issue shares of a new series of convertible preferred stock, together with warrants, pursuant to the terms of the securities purchase agreement.
AVCT previously announced a definitive agreement to sell its Computex business to Calian Group Ltd. a move that will transition AVCT to a pure-play cloud communications and collaboration company, centered on its premium Kandy cloud-based, real-time communications platform.
The Company expects that this security sale and the expected net proceeds from its planned divestiture of its Computex business will be used to retire all of its existing debt.
“Any additional capital received from the sale of these securities and the Computex sale will be used to support the growth of our Kandy business unit.”
Darrell J. Mays, AVCT CEO
Northland Capital Markets served as sole placement agent in the transaction.
About American Virtual Cloud Technologies, Inc.
American Virtual Cloud Technologies, Inc. is a premier global cloud communications offering proprietary UCaaS, CPaaS, and CCaaS capabilities. Our mission is to provide global technology solutions with a superior customer experience.
About Kandy
Kandy is a cloud-based, real-time communications platform offering proprietary UCaaS, CPaaS, CCaaS, Microsoft Teams Direct Routing as a Service, and SIP Trunking as a Service capabilities. Kandy enables service providers, enterprises, software vendors, systems integrators, partners, and developers to enrich their applications and services with real-time contextual communications, providing a more engaging user experience. With Kandy, companies of all sizes and types can quickly embed real-time communications capabilities into their existing applications and business processes.
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CLOUD APP DEVELOPMENT
OVHcloud | March 04, 2022
OVHcloud is combining its expertise in Infrastructure-as-a-Service with Platform-as-a-Service solutions to support the digital transformation of organizations by providing them with a ready-to-use toolkit. This accelerated integration of software technology is reflected in the launch of the Enterprise File Storage service, engineered in partnership with NetApp, which combines OVHcloud’s know-how with NetApp’s cloud storage management expertise.
OVHcloud is expanding its portfolio of cloud file storage solutions with an offering developed in collaboration with NetApp, a world leader in this field. Enterprise File Storage is designed to help organizations transition to the cloud by meeting their requirements for sovereignty, high performance and resilience, while ensuring seamless integration with the OVHcloud universe at a predictable price.
Enterprise File Storage is aimed at organizations with applications that have high operational requirements and need a highly available file storage service. The service is suitable for a variety of use cases, including organizations that are already cloud-based and want to facilitate sharing of enterprise data from different applications hosted on OVHcloud services, or organizations that are already running their own NetApp on-premise infrastructure and are looking to offload their workloads or begin their migration to the cloud.
Based on NetApp’s ONTAP file system technology and fully managed by OVHcloud, this all-in-one platform offers great ease of implementation while optimizing cloud storage costs, increasing application performance, and ensuring data protection and compliance. With Enterprise File Storage, customers get easy access to stored data and benefit from a flexible, scalable, and high-performance platform — with storage capacity from 1 to 58TB per service. The Enterprise File Storage service is appropriate for a wide range of enterprise environments and applications due to the use of the industry proven NFS protocol. It provides high performance — both in terms of IOPS and throughput — thanks to the combination of SSD technologies with NVMe caches.
“As Hybrid Cloud is a high priority for over 77% of NetApp customers, first party cloud services based on NetApp ONTAP are instrumental to make these projects become reality. We are glad to see OVHCloud making the choice of NetApp as a trusted technology partner for their Enterprise File Storage service”.
Peter Wüst, VP CTO WW Enterprise & Commercial Business, NetApp
“We are pleased to work with a recognized expert partner like NetApp to help our customers maximize and get the most out of their data by providing a unified experience across our various cloud storage solutions,” said Thierry Souche, Chief Technology Officer at OVHcloud. “Our customers can now access highly efficient and available storage resources, leveraging key features of ONTAP software and fully managed by OVHcloud.”
With over two decades of expertise in digital infrastructure services, OVHcloud has developed an industrial model that preserves the technological and operational sovereignty of customers, while deploying environmentally friendly and resource-efficient technologies. Designed and engineered in the Group’s own data centers, all OVHcloud solutions guarantee total data reversibility and immunity to extraterritorial laws. The infrastructure operated by OVHcloud meets the highest security and data protection standards, in line with ISO27001 certification, as well as GDPR compliance. Like all of the European leading cloud provider’s solutions, Enterprise File Storage features an outstanding price/performance ratio in the industry and allows organizations to maintain control of their cloud strategy with predictable pricing and the choice of data location. In addition, because NetApp is an industry standard, Enterprise File Storage frees organizations from any technical lock-in and provides business continuity outside an OVHcloud environment.
Enterprise File Storage is already available in data centers in Roubaix (France) and Frankfurt (Germany). The solution will be deployed in a very short term in Beauharnois (Canada), then will be rolled out in further geographies.
About NetApp
NetApp is a global, cloud-led, data-centric software company that empowers organizations to lead with data in the age of accelerated digital transformation. The company provides systems, software and cloud services that enable them to run their applications optimally from data center to cloud, whether they are developing in the cloud, moving to the cloud, or creating their own cloudlike experiences on premises. With solutions that perform across diverse environments, NetApp helps organizations build their own data fabric and securely deliver the right data, services and applications to the right people—anytime, anywhere.
About OVHcloud
OVHcloud is a global player and Europe’s leading cloud provider operating over 400,000 servers within 33 data centers across four continents. For 20 years, the Group has relied on an integrated model that provides complete control of its value chain – from the design of its servers, to the construction and management of its data centers, including the orchestration of its fiber-optic network. This unique approach allows it to independently cover all the uses of its 1.6 million customers in more than 140 countries. OVHcloud now offers its customers latest-generation solutions combining performance, price predictability and total sovereignty over their data to support their growth in complete freedom.
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CLOUD APP DEVELOPMENT
AST | January 25, 2022
AST Corporation, a leading cloud and digital transformation solutions provider, announced it has received a strategic growth investment from Recognize, a technology services-focused investment platform. AST is an award-winning cloud services provider that has served clients in the public and commercial sectors for more than two decades. The partnership with Recognize enables AST to accelerate investment in innovation, enhance its global delivery footprint and expand its solution offering to clients.
"AST has built a strong foundation with an award-winning culture focused on leveraging cloud technology in our core Oracle and Salesforce ecosystems to deliver value-based outcomes for our customers. As we look at the next chapter, we are excited about the partnership with Recognize, which will accelerate our efforts in building a differentiated, purposeful digital transformation solutions provider.”
Justin Winter, CEO of AST
With over 750 team members globally, AST is a leading, trusted services partner to Oracle, Salesforce and other notable technology vendors, managing large-scale digital transformation efforts. As organizations accelerate their shift to leveraging next-generation technologies, AST is uniquely positioned to manage clients’ digital transformation initiatives, including securely and efficiently shifting on-premise systems to cloud-based applications.
“We are excited to work alongside Justin and his team to help AST continue to build on its already strong track record,” said Charles Phillips, Recognize co-founder and former president of Oracle. “AST is well positioned to capitalize on Oracle’s maturing cloud service and customers now have a clear path toward meaningful digital transformation.”
“We are deeply impressed by the company that Justin and his team have built,” said David Wasserman, co-founder and managing partner of Recognize. "AST’s leadership position across its core end markets, differentiated focus on best-in-class service capabilities and industry-leading culture made us excited to partner with the team as they continue scaling the business.”
Charles Phillips will join the company’s Board of Directors as Chairman alongside fellow Recognize co-founder David Wasserman and Recognize partner Mike Grady. This is the fourth platform investment for Recognize as it continues to deploy capital from its flagship fund.
Willkie Farr & Gallagher acted as legal advisor to Recognize. Guggenheim Securities, LLC and Harris Williams acted as financial advisors to AST and Davis Polk & Wardwell acted as legal advisor.
About AST
AST is an award-winning full-service enterprise systems integrator, serving clients in the public and commercial sectors for more than two decades. Clients look to AST for leadership and assistance in systems integration, business process redesign, project management, systems administration, and training. From on-premise applications to modern cloud technology, AST’s services encompass all aspects of Enterprise Resource Planning, Business Intelligence, Enterprise Performance Management, Customer Experience, and Middleware. AST also offers flexible Managed Services, supporting the needs of over 200 Public Sector and Commercial customers around the globe.
About Recognize
Recognize is a technology investment platform exclusively focused on the technology services industry. Tech services firms envision, build, configure, manage, and operate software and business processes to deliver digital outcomes for enterprises. The firm provides operational expertise, industry insights, and strategic capital to innovative companies in this sector. Recognize is led by industry veterans Frank D’Souza, Raj Mehta, Charles Phillips, and David Wasserman, along with partners Mike Grady, Josh Miller, Deborah Munfa, and Shawn Pride.
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CLOUD INFRASTRUCTURE MANAGEMENT
Volocopter | May 17, 2022
Today, Volocopter, the pioneer of urban air mobility (UAM), announced a strategic collaboration with Microsoft to develop an aerospace cloud system in Microsoft Azure that will address the nascent cloud computing requirements for eVTOLs, UAM, and autonomous aviation. Once primed for commercial use, Azure will support the digital platform VoloIQ, the operating system for Volocopter's UAM services, and its subsequent transition to autonomous operations.
Volocopter plans to make the VoloIQ its standard UAM operating system for all electric passenger and drone flight operations. Its modular structure will be vast, covering aspects like booking and e-commerce, commercial scheduling, operational network planning, flight planning, flight monitoring, supplying airspace digital twins, and vehicle data logging and analysis. Volocopter has chosen Microsoft Cloud / Azure to securely interconnect all these UAM ecosystem elements into one integrated set of services.
"Having Microsoft on board as a project partner and investor is proof that the solutions Volocopter creates – like the VoloIQ – are pioneering and hold remarkable market potential. We're proud that Microsoft Azure is the one to provide a secure cloud and thus to ensure safety remains at the forefront of our operations."
Alexander Oelling, Volocopter's Chief Digital Officer.
Volocopter and Microsoft will begin collaborating by ensuring Microsoft Azure meets the VoloIQ's needs for commercial operations. Azure will then enable the VoloIQ's flight and service support for Volocopter's electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft (VoloCity, VoloDrone, and VoloConnect), alongside ground infrastructure (VoloPort) support in real time.
"From the newest technologies to regulation, creating solutions to seamlessly address the cloud computing requirements for supporting continued advancements in aviation is a complex endeavor. We certainly see the potential a secure, robust, and efficient cloud platform could offer aerospace and urban air mobility operators," said Uli Homann, CVP of Cloud and AI at Microsoft. "Working in collaboration with Volocopter, we will start to build the foundation for a commercial model for aerospace cloud."
The collaboration between Volocopter and Microsoft was first publicized in 2020, when Volocopter and Lufthansa Industry Solutions announced plans to develop the VoloIQ for autonomous aircraft operations using Microsoft Azure.
The VoloIQ's aim is a straightforward one: to provide complete digital transparency and greater ecosystem efficiency in real time. By utilizing this digital resource, Volocopter's services – and all the relevant process elements needed to realize this service – will be user-friendly and digitally accessible for customers, pilots, operators, and stakeholders alike. Furthermore, the VoloIQ's solid scope will streamline Volocopter's transition into an autonomous air taxi services provider when the time comes and bolster its efficient maintenance and infrastructure as soon as it becomes operational.
About Volocopter
Volocopter is building the world's first sustainable and scalable urban air mobility business to bring affordable air taxi services for goods and people to megacities worldwide. Volocopter leads and cooperates with partners in infrastructure, operations, and air traffic management to build the ecosystem necessary to 'Bring Urban Air Mobility to Life'. Volocopter has over 500 employees in offices in Bruchsal, Munich, and Singapore. The company has raised $579 million in equity from investors including Geely, WP Investment, Mercedes-Benz Group, Intel Capital, and BlackRock..
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