CenturyLink savvisdirect unveils AppGrid cloud utility service

As more traditional telecom service providers are moving to offer cloud utility services, CenturyLink (NYSE: CTL) has announced its move into that segment with its new AppGrid private cloud service from its savvisdirect unit, launched last year.

The new service is built on CA Technologies' (Nasdaq: CA) CA AppLogic platform and is designed to appeal to business customers sometimes vexed by the complexities of application lifecycle management through changes in software and hardware platforms.

The monthly service, which does not require a long-term contract, is a further demonstration of how CenturyLink, a company once more easily identified as a consumer-oriented rural telco, has broadened its appeal to business customers. The telco acquired Savvis in 2011 amid several acquisitions designed to build up the company with a business and enterprise service portfolio--particularly cloud services--to leverage its network assets.

AppGrid currently can be used to create private cloud environments throughout CenturyLink data centers in North America, enabling businesses to move from the sign-up stage to a live service in less than two business days. New York City merchant bank The Liati Group already uses AppGrid, having switched from an in-house server solution to savvisdirect AppGrid as a beta customer after Hurricane Sandy hit the East Coast in 2012 and the company faced a five-week power outage. Such disasters have prompted many businesses to begin looking at cloud option as part of their disaster recovery strategies.

Among other features, AppGrid offers a choice between three preconfigured grids to power compute needs; a graphical dashboard interface to manage and track CPU, RAM, storage space, role-based account management and reporting tools; scalable infrastructure for instant access to additional capacity and preconfigured resources such as firewalls, load balancers, switches and databases; Xen-based open source hypervisor for universal compatibility with Linux and with Microsoft server software and bring your own license models; and other support features.

For more:
- see this press release

Commentary: CenturyLink goes from local to global player with proposed Savvis acquisition

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