At a time when neighbouring states are raising taxes on technology companies, Wyoming and Green House Data are causing more businesses to look across the border. New Wyoming tax incentives make Green House Data’s outsourced data centre services to more attractive to technology companies in neighbouring states. A measure exempting data centre operators from sales tax on the purchase of technology equipment was signed into law in March.

Data centre operator QTS has announced it has acquired a former semiconductor plant near Richmond, Virginia for $12 million with plans to convert it into a massive data centre campus. Acquired in a bankruptcy court sale, the facility previously belonged to memory chip manufacturer Qimonda.

AT&T plans to invest approximately US$1 billion in 2010 to scale its delivery of applications, mobility and cloud services for global companies, to expand small business services within the United States and to continue extending its network globally.

Specific areas of AT&T's planned investment in hosting/Cloud infrastructure services in 2010 include opening an additional internet data centre in London and completing expansions of the Ashburn, Virginia and Piscataway, New Jersey data centres.

Source: PR Newswire

Acquisitive VAR Onyx Group is targeting more buy-outs in the business continuity arena after rolling out its SME-focused disaster recovery offering. In October, Onyx bought London-based Disaster Recovery Solutions in a deal which gave it 80 workplace recovery sites across the UK – 40 of those in the capital. It now has more than 100 in total, each catering for up to 25 employees.

"Do you fear the auditor more or the attacker?" asks Peter Bassill, chief information security officer at gambling giant Gala Coral Group. It is a key question for IT leaders thinking of dabbling in on-demand computing provision through the cloud. For Bassill, there is only one answer, particularly for firms operating in highly regulated sectors: "A lot of companies fear the auditor more. If you hold data internally, you can show the auditor your controls, but the cloud makes such demonstrations more difficult."

IT companies are gearing up for government tenders as the State seeks to streamline its technology platforms to boost service delivery. On offer are projects worth billions which include putting up electronic data centre storage facilities, rolling out tele-presences that will link courts across the country, supplying a case management system for the tracking of court cases and leasing of internet connectivity.

Key departments set to benefit are the ministries of finance, lands and immigration, the judiciary, police, prisons and the Kenya Revenue Authority.

Global Crossing, a global IP solutions provider, has announced fourth quarter and full year 2009 financial results for its subsidiary, Global Crossing (UK) Telecommunications Limited.

GCUK generated £78 million of revenue in the fourth quarter and operating income before depreciation and amortisation of £16 million. The company also reported cash generated from operations of £29 million before interest payments of £15 million..

Source: PR Newswire

Equinix, a provider of global data centre services, has announced it has opened its third International Business Exchange data centre in Paris, France. The PA3 IBX data centre was built in response to the growing demand for premium colocation and interconnection services in the city. Doubling Equinix's capacity at the Saint-Denis campus, also home to its PA2 IBX data centre, PA3 is Equinix's largest IBX data centre in Paris. The recent expansion is part of Equinix's $2.0 billion investment to grow global operations between 2007 and 2010.

Haynes and Boone, attorneys have secured a US$12.5 million jury verdict on behalf of Dallas-based Data Center Systems in a case alleging fraud related to a three-year agreement with Computer Network Technology Corporation concerning data centre connectivity products. CNT is now known as McData Services Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Brocade Communication Systems.

With US spending now expected to grow faster than previously thought, a new report on information technology has provided more evidence that an industry recovery is on its way. Forrester Research expects information-technology spending in the U.S. to grow 8.4% this year, to US$500 billion. That is up from its January forecast of 6.6 %. Higher spending on communications equipment has helped better the outlook, accompanied by ongoing rebound in computer and software purchases.

IT research and advisory company Gartner has forecasted that global IT spending will increase by 5.3% this year and will continue to grow in 2011. Following steady growth from the end of last year, the company has suggested that 2010 will see the industry rise to a spending of US$3.4 trillion up from US$3.2 trillion last year.

Q9 Networks has announced that it secured a new C$210 million Senior Secured Credit Facility from a syndicate of banks led by TD Securities as agent, BMO Capital Markets, RBC Capital Markets and Barclays Structured Principal Investing. The facility substantially increases Q9's borrowing capacity and its ability to accelerate expansion plans.

Infosys Technologies, India's second largest software exporter, reported an 8.7% year-on-year growth in profit following an upturn in demand for services in Europe.But the company, which specialises in IT outsourcing, said the economic climate continues to be difficult. Infosys reported revenues of US$1,296 million for the quarter ended 31 March 2010, equivalent to a quarter-on-quarter growth of 5.2%. Year-on-year growth was 15.6%.

ANZ New Zealand is opening a new NZ$78 million data centre in Auckland this week, touting it as "state of the art" and an "investment in New Zealand. The 4,000 sq m purpose-built data centre is officially being opened by Commerce Minister Simon Power.

French IT services company Atos Origin has reported revenue of €1.23 billion for the first quarter of 2010, down 5.5% compared to €1.3 billion in the same period last year, at constant scope and exchange rates.

Fujitsu has announced its Group Environmental Protection Program, Stage VI, which sets new goals for fiscal 2010 through fiscal 2012. As a stepping-stone towards achieving Green Policy 2020, the Group's medium-term environmental vision that extends through 2020, the new program sets forth specific goals in 18 areas from the vision's standpoints of benefiting customers and society, pursuing internal reforms, and preserving biodiversity.

Iceland says its cool climate and abundant supply of geothermal and hydroelectric energy makes it a prime spot for IT data centres. But in the wake of a major volcanic eruption earlier this week, companies may be thinking twice about hosting core IT assets in a place where Mother Nature is known for being a bit unstable.

Austin's newest data centre, CyrusOne, is ringed by an 8-foot-high security fence. Regular visitors have to present an ID and have their fingerprint scanned to gain access to the computer rooms. Security cameras monitor both the outside and the inside. Computers operate inside locked cabinets or larger areas that are caged in and locked. Tight security is part of what data centres sell.

Cube Optics, a vendor of passive WDM solutions, in collaboration with Neo Telecoms, a French wholesale network operator, have completed commissioning of Neo Telecoms' new WDM (Wavelength Division Multiplexing) optical fibre backbones in Paris and Amsterdam.

Scattered through Vienna are six huge anti-aircraft towers, a grim reminder of the city's Nazi past. The flak towers were put up during the Second World War between 1942 and 1945. They were built in pairs in parks in the heart of the city. Today one of the flak towers houses an aquarium and another is used by the Austrian army.

FREENET has obtained a Network Services Provider (NSP) license from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) paving the way for local and international IP interconnect, transit and switching services.

IntercontinentalExchange (ICE), an operators of regulated global futures exchanges, clearing houses and over-the-counter (OTC) markets, has signed a new agreement with AT&T for the provisioning of hosting services delivered through AT&T's internet data centres located around the world. The new agreement extends and expands ICE's eight-year relationship with AT&T.

India's largest IT services provider, Tata Consultancy Services, posted a 50.1% jump in its net profit at Rs 2,001 crore for the quarter ended March 31, 2010 as compared to the same period a year ago. Its revenue, too, jumped 7.9%to touch Rs 7,738 crore year on year.

For the full year (FY2009-10), the company's net profit at Rs 7,001 crore was up 33 % while its revenues at Rs 30,029 crore was up 8 % year on year.

Source: Business Standard

ViaWest, a data centre and services company based in Denver but with operations in Utah, has said that Oak Hill Capital Partners will acquire the company from Trinity Equity Investors, Goldman Sachs & Co. and Quilvest. Terms were not disclosed. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter.

ViaWest was founded in 1999 and is privately held. It has 16 data centres in five states. It has two centres in Salt Lake City and one in the Lindon/Provo area with a total of about 25 employees.

Source: Deseret News

VMware's revenue jumped 35% in the first quarter, the company said, another sign that businesses are opening their wallets again for enterprise IT purchases. Profits climbed more modestly, but the virtualisation software vendor still managed to report better numbers than expected. The results were driven by "pent-up customer demand" and strong sales in Europe, China and Japan, Chief Financial Officer Mark Peek said in a statement.

Plans for a 315,000 sq ft data centre facility on Chicago’s Near South Side are moving forward, with city approval clearing the way for design and construction. The facility, to be located at 111 E. Cermak Road, is being developed by Chicago-based JRM Technology. James McHugh Construction has been selected as the design-build contractor, with ESD as lead architect/engineer, Archideas the consulting architect and CS Associates, as structural engineer.

The development team has set a goal of fall 2010 to begin construction, with a potential completion date of late 2011.

Equinix, a provider of global data centre services, today reported quarterly results for the quarter ended March 31, 2010.

Revenues were US$248.6 million for the first quarter, a 3% increase over the previous quarter and a 25% increase over the same quarter last year. Recurring revenues, consisting primarily of colocation, interconnection and managed services were US$237.2 million for the first quarter, a 2% increase over the previous quarter and a 25% increase over the same quarter last year. Non-recurring revenues were US$11.4 million in the quarter.

HeiTech Padu , an integrated ICT solutions provider, is guaranteed a minimum of 9% energy savings at its data centre in the first year and between 18% and 25% for the second to fifth year through a five-year collaboration with UER Energy Saving Sdn Bhd . Its data centre in Bukit Jelutong will install UES energy conservation device called ULTRA and also replace existing T8 lighting to a more efficient T5 lighting.

Chi-X Global Technlogy, Chi-X Global’s technology services unit that offers high performance trading technology and services for exchanges and market participants, said that to support UBS Investment Bank’s Direct Execution ultra-low latency market access and colocation services in the area, the investment bank will connect to Chi-Tech’s MarketPrizm pan-Europe trading infrastructure.

SunGard Financial Systems plans to consolidate its technology infrastructure into five data centres from 25 through a series of virtualisation initiatives. The vendor says its financial systems business is on track to achieve more than US$5 million in savings over the next five years as a result of the project, which kicked off in 2009.

Iron Mountain, an information management services company, has announced that one of its underground data centres has been named to IDG's InfoWorld Green 15, an annual ranking of the most innovative green IT projects. The Green 15 recognizes organizations from around the world that have embraced green technology to drive projects and develop products aimed at boosting energy efficiency, trimming waste, and reducing or eliminating the use or the production of harmful substances.

The Xinhua News Agency has laid foundation for construction of the National Financial Information Building in the Lize business area of Fengtai District, southwestern Beijing. The building will serve as the information collecting, research and development as well as data centre for the China Finance Corporation (CFC), a financial service of Xinhua.

Li Congjun, President of Xinhua, said the latest move would support the fast development of the financial economy in Beijing and also Xinhua's own financial service.

Source: MSP Alliance

Omnitech InfoSolutions, a small-sized IT company, is on an expansion spree. It is in the process of doubling its capacity in IT-managed services by opening more service centres in India and abroad. The Mumbai-based company is eyeing overseas acquisition to increase its reach in Europe. Given this, the company is expected to grow its revenue and profits in double digits in future.

UKSolutions, one of the UK’s independent hosted data centre providers has reported a 33% revenue increase for the year ending 31 March 2010. Despite substantial IT budget cuts in 2009, UKSolutions has achieved significant top-line growth. Throughout the year, the data centre leader continued its expansion programme through achieving efficiency excellence and increased equipped space within its data centre facility. UKSolutions extended its workforce by 25% to support the expansion and increased its data centre space in Studley, Warwickshire by 35%.

Morse and 2 have finally announced that they have reached a £70 million agreement for Morse to be acquired. After weeks of channel speculation and rumours, the pair made a London Stock Exchange announcement this morning. The Morse Board have unanimously recommended the deal to its shareholders, which values the company at a little less than £70 million. According to the statement, 2 views the acquisition as an "important strategic opportunity to create an experienced UK and European IT services provider".

Tieto Corporation has reported its first quarter results. First-quarter net sales declined by 3% and amounted to €422.9 million. In most industries, outsourcing activity was at a good level and the sales pipeline is strong, but that did not translate to growth yet. Outsourcing-related sales grew during the first quarter, but that did not compensate for the decline in project-based business.

Switch & Data has announced that it will not release financial results for the first quarter of 2010 due to its pending merger with Equinix. Switch and Data had previously announced that the financial results would be made public after the market close on Tuesday, April 27, 2010.

Equinix and Switch and Data expect the Merger to close on April 30, 2010, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the other closing conditions set forth in the merger agreement.

Source: Market Watch

Data centre VAR Kavanagh has stressed its fortunes have lifted dramatically since last April after posting a double-digit revenue drop and swinging into the red for its fiscal 2009. According to a Companies House filing, turnover for the year to 30 April 2009 fell by 15% to £24.9 million. Losses hit £1.6 million, compared with a profit of £51,000 a year earlier, and Bracknell-based Kavanagh admitted 2009 had been “a very challenging year”.

Suffolk Construction has been awarded a US$9,498,000 firm-fixed-price contract for design and construction of a data centre at Naval Weapons Station Charleston by the US Department of Defense.

Work will be performed in Charleston, South Carolina, and is expected to be completed by June 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online Web site, with 28 proposals received.

Source: Veterans Today

Before the recession, corporate green IT agendas were on target. When times got harder, green turned to red as cost cuts were made. Organisations shelved their green strategies, but were missing a trick. They treated greenIT too much as an environmental gesture rather than an opportunity to do more with less. Most abolished or delayed their green strategy but are now further behind in a world that is increasingly regulatory around carbon reduction. The data centre is mission critical in delivering the massive computing power required to make organisations function effectively.

The Missouri Legislature has a number of incentives to consider before its session ends May 15 that could attract new data centres to the state. That was the message of a briefing in Jefferson City by the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry and representatives of the data centre industry and related developers. Industry investment in data centres will be an estimated US$10 billion to US$12 billion within the next three years, according to the Missouri Chamber.

Digital Realty Trust has announced financial results for the first quarter of 2010. Funds from operations on a diluted basis was US$84.4 million in the first quarter of 2010, up 2.5% from US$0.79 per diluted share and unit in the previous quarter,

Net income for the first quarter of 2010 was US$25.6 million, up 2.8% from US$24.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2009 and up 20.8% from US$21.2 million in the first quarter of 2009. Net income available to common stockholders in the first quarter was US$14.7 million compared to US$14.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2009.

NYSE Euronext, the largest stock- market operator, said US regulators should boost oversight of the data centres providing services to brokers and high- frequency traders to ensure that the companies operate fairly. NYSE, which is building two data centres outside New York and London, said in a letter published on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website that rival offerings from Savvis, Equinix and Telx Group should be forced to operate as facilities of regulated exchanges to prevent a “tilted playing field.”

Linxtelecom has announced the finalised expansion of its data centre in Moscow. This expansion increases the data centre capacity with an additional 100 racks and five new disaster recovery offices. The data centre was built according to a unique modular concept. Its 5-th Module was constructed according to the highest international standards, allowing for maximum reliability and safety. The new module was built according to TIER 3b standards.