Dodson outlines various reasons why the cloud is essential for health care providers. He makes the argument that, “by utlizing cloud based platforms… health care IT departments can shake-off the burden of supporting on-premise applications that don’t directly affect patient care.” Some of his reasons for moving health care to the cloud includes cutting down their budgets, the need to get more information, faster, and the need for security. Doctors are already starting to use iPads to take down patient information and transfer prescriptions to pharmacies, so we are already starting to see the benefit of the cloud and cloud resources at work in this industry.

• Five Reasons Why Cloud Computing is Essential For Health Care

Quickbooks announced Intuit Anywhere, a PaaS with pre-built integration to other cloud-based services. “With one-click, [customers] can “Connect to QuickBooks” from an Intuit Anywhere enabled app, sign-in with their Intuit Account, and instantly have QuickBooks data available to them.” A few well known Quickbooks partners are already signed up to use this application, including eBay and Concur. The idea of PaaS with pre-built integrations to other cloud based services is new in PaaS technology, and we cannot help but ask whether this was what PaaS was meant to do from the beginning, or is Quickbooks breaking new ground?

• Announcing Intuit Anywhere

This week, VMware announced that they intend to acquire Digital Fuel, an IT Financial Management SaaS solutions. Digital Fuel provides solutions to optimize IT cost and value, by enabling companies “to plan, manage and optimize cost and value in the emerging world of cloud based dynamic IT.” Digital Fuels’ mission corresponds with VMware’s, in the sense that VMware is constantly coming out on top as the global leader in virtualization and cloud infrastructure solutions in IT. Details of the acquisition were not announced, and is schedule to close this July.

• VMware to Acquire Digital Fuel, IT Financial and Business Management SaaS Company

GMO, Japan’s most sought after name in cloud hosting, announced their intention to move into the US with GMO Cloud America Inc. GMO decided to move to the US because of “the growing demand created by businesses that are embracing the scalability and portability of cloud hosting and computing.” At it’s launch, GMO will provide three different packages: GMO10, GMO20, and GMO30 at low introductory prices for the next six months. GMO10 will be free during this period. With more companies moving to the cloud every day, it isn’t a bad idea to open up more options for cloud hosting.

• GMO Launches Cloud Computing Solution in U.S. Market

Contendo raised $17million from partners Citrix and Juniper Networks to support the company’s growth. Contedo specializes in cloud-based acceleration technoligies, including site and mobile acceleration. Contedo expands to grow overseas with their funding, moving into Asia-Pacific and Latin America. Citrix stated their investment in the company was driven by, “the synergy between the services and technologies of Citrix Systems and Contedo blend on-premise physical and virtual appliances… thereby improving end user experience from any location to any device.”

• Cloud Technology Startup Contendo Raises $17 Million From Citrix, Juniper, VCs