Microsoft vs Google

The article in Business Week is about the battle going on between Microsoft and Google. These giant companies are able to build the systems to manage the data of many companies. Google has recently been hyping its ability to through software being run over the internet. This is what has become known as “cloud computing”. In response to this Microsoft is starting a project to build 20 supersize data centers. Each of these centers can cost up to 1 billion dollars. They are also creating a new operating system that will allow users to run it over the internet. They are also upgrading their corporate email software and Microsoft Office applications so that they can also be run over the internet. This change is due to the popularity that cloud computing is gaining. With companies such as Google already so far ahead Microsoft has some catching up to do.
Microsoft’s plan for building the giant data centers is long in the works. Prior to this Microsoft depended on other companies to manage their data. But when they acquired Debra Chraptay, a former chief technology officer, they decided to start the start doing it themselves. In order to accomplish this they started to bring in people from companies such as Intel and Hewlett-Packard. One of the major problems that can arise from managing data like this is the cost of energy. That is why when Microsoft opened a plant in rural Washington to use the cheap energy created from a dam nearby, Google followed and soon also opened a plant nearby. Most of Microsoft’s new data centers are juge, open buildings that are filled with serves. The data center is 700,000 square feet. The first floor of the center can hold 224 containers and each container can hold 2,500 servers. Therefore the first floor can hold 560,000 servers. The reason Microsoft set the data center up in this way is because they believed it would save time and money. This is due to the time it takes to open server boxes and connect the servers. This way they can just bring it each container with 2,500 servers and set it up in a few days. It is also easier to cool these servers because they can cool each container individually rather than have to cool the entire building. The goals of these changes are to be able to run the data center with half as many employees as would previously be needed and to cut heating costs by one third.
Microsoft is taking a different approach at data centers. Google generally remains secretive about its data centers while Microsoft is being open and collaborating with other companies in trying to drive innovation and technology forward. They are openly sharing details about their plans with other companies. Overall, the battle over data centers has driven both Microsoft and Google to innovate and drive the field of technology forward.
Business Week. “Microsoft to Google: Get Off my Cloud.” Peter Burrows.