Amazon.com offers a number of low-cost, high-availability services, including S3, EC2 and Flexible Payments. It looks like Amazon has plans to provide some form of database as well, called SimpleDB.
SimpleDB allows you to create a domain, which is similar to a table in traditional relational terms. You place items (rows) into the domain and assign attributes (columns). SimpleDB supports multiple values per attribute, which can be somewhat confusing.
One huge potential issue is you’re not guaranteed that your data will be consistent immediately. Amazon calls it ‘eventual consistency’. Data is written to multiple locations and the propagation takes time, so your data might not be consistent as soon as you complete the operation.
From the available documentation, it’s also not clear if referential integrity is supported and how, or if any form of transactions are available.
I’ve used S3 with Eventful and it’s an excellent service. I’m not sure where Amazon is going with SimpleDB.
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Suppose you wanted to get internet access to your new house or apartment. You’ve already got a new computer with a shiny Dell/Apple/etc logo. After doing the research and choosing an internet service provider, you’re told your new computer won’t work on the ISP’s network. Instead, you have to buy a new computer from the ISP, complete with a two-year agreement.
If it doesn’t make sense for internet access, why should consumers tolerate it from cellular providers? At least one company is starting to get it.
Business Week is reporting that Verizon is adopting Google’s Android platform for mobile phones, in addition to allowing a broader range of devices on their network. Why would Verizon want to sell the razors if it’s not going to sell the blades? Simple - carriers subsidize the cost of phones and don’t make money until the customer is in the 10th month of the contract. By moving to a cellular service provider (CSP), Verizon can potentially save money on phones and support costs.
Other cell carriers haven’t responded to Verizon’s move, and most will probably take a wait-and-see approach. Given Verizon’s position as the most profitable carrier, any success will likely spur competitors to open network access.
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