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Cloud Computing the end to local Tech Support companies?

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by ecarolinatech

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Cloud Computing seems to be a hot topic right now. If the IT market eventually goes to SaaS and hosting mail, documents, storage, etc... with a cloud provider it seems it would effectively put an end to local technical support companies that currently support residential and business IT needs. What are your thoughts?

17 replies

by deadly ernest

still needs local techs to come around and clean up the system for all the malware they get off the system.

by tony hopkinson

You seem to be intimating that browsers are huge threat vectors and that perhaps some of these cloud solution may not be as secure as their vendors would have us believe....

ROFL. :D

by ecarolinatech

Now Tony, did you see in my initial post where I said cloud computing WILL .... or that Cloud Computing is more secure... I simply posed a question for discussion. I VERY much realize that cloud computing has SIGNIFICANT possible issues etc... but my original question was simply asking IF cloud computing becomes the norm, and SaaS providers are running everything, will it be the end to local tech support companies.

by cg it

will be the kind were a tech can not actually do anything. I believe the cloud computing equipment sold to consumers will be like cells phones. The O/S and applications will be embedded. Well apps will be provided as SaaS for a fee tacked on the monthly fee.

Microsoft is creating their version on an O/S for the ARM processor. Microsoft still has the WinCE as well. Along with Windows Embedded, these will work well in the new equipment that will come out for cloud computing.

That's how I see it.

The IT tech days will be numbered as well as developers selling apps to the general public.

While this might take a decade or so, and is really predicated on general public acceptance but if Joe or Jane consumer can get their cell phone & web browser all on one device they will dump the PC/Mac/Linux desktop or laptop for the cloud computing device.

by deadly ernest

but open a browser to run their cloud computing applications. Such a device would have firmware and RAM with no local hard storage at all. If that is the case, you'd be right, but I do NOT see that happening. For starters a total cloud only environment will only work where you have access to broadband at decent speeds - whoops, sorry about two thirds of the world just got cut from discussion as they are too far from anywhere for anything but slow dial up or expensive satellite access they can't afford.

I also see problems with people who want to do work while sitting in their plane flying about, on their boat, in their car, or at home but not on-line.

While a full blown PC is still needed, we still need local techs to maintain them.

by tony hopkinson

The phone/handheld will be as complex as a PC, and you phone will be wired into your nervous system.
I also suspect there will be a very large grey market for those who don't want their every key press monitored and sanitised.

Now their might be less opportunities for glorified clerks and other cookie cutting types, but I really don't give a crap, they are only there to make me take less money for my skills.

by tony hopkinson

having some fun with DE.

They key point is that as DE states you'll still be needed. Cloud computing doesn't even start to address the issues raised by selling PCs as appliances and giving their generally ignorant owner the ability to bollock about under the lid.

Now if it was consoles, or diskless workstations, or remote admin then it would be a consideration. I fully expect the cloud to die on it's arse anyway. The driver for it in business is cheap. Cheap fails regularly and has a very short lifespan.

As for tech upport companies, they aren't gong to want to have enough people on their books to give full cover, and their ability to attack cost per employee will be limited.
That's no different to now really. How many of your calls are for supporting applications?

by deadly ernest

The current ones with complex computer routines in them are capable of being turned on remotely via a signal through the phone system and being used to trace where you are as well as eaves drop on you without you knowing it. When that information becomes very well known by the general public I expect to see a growth in sites listing those that do and don't have these "features" or the features that allow them (such as remote software upgrades). Then people will start checking those lists and stop buying phones that can do that.

Eventually people will be asking for much cheaper phones that are just phones and not mini computers.

by cg it

but the IT mfgs both hardware and software are looking to move away from cycle sales and move to monthly charges for services. As it stands, the phone companies have a monthly cash flow that is mind boggling. My wife and I have 2 cell phones. Our bill is about $70.00 per month so oh $35.00 per month per phone. Take that as an average and then how many have cell phones? Or broadband internet access. At $30.00 per month

If the mfgs can produce a device that as another poster said, firmware with memory, memory cards for saving with a 10" touch screen and everything you need is provided by the cloud provider for a monthly fee, why buy a laptop or pc?

Cheap netbooks are the first wave. Next is the embedded O/S they provide the applications online. Google provides the apps now.

by deadly ernest

to 60% or more of the world at a reasonable price. These cloud devices are short term wonders good only for the cities. If the companies go that way you'll see more and more demand for people who can keep the current generation of laptops and desktops operational.

by jck

From a business standpoint:

They will be able to move more jobs overseas to increase profits, just as they have done with manufacturing and call support centers.

From an American standpoint:

This will further increase job losses, and reduce the amount of taxes paid by people. However, this becomes an even bigger hit on the white collar sector as DBAs, programming, and systems engineering jobs will now be moved off to places like India, Malaysia and Pakistan.

The middle class is slowly dying, and people are content to watch it happen by making that extra dollar to be able to afford that cup of Starbucks every day.

Congratulations, America. Your drive to make an extra dime is killing your country.

by deadly ernest

has a major operational issue due to trouble accessing the cloud and loses a billion or so dollars of business due to having everyone sitting around twiddling thumbs waiting for the cloud to come back up.

by cg it

There were often times when you couldn't log on which wasn't so bad because everything was still paper.

Still the engineers using the CAD system often had half days because the network was down.

While todays systems are far more reliable, and there are gigabit networks or better, that basically eliminate all the problems terminal services had way back when, there still is that fear what happens if the damn thing goes down.

by jck

failover DBs and communication nets.

They'll put the main center in India...have backup systems in Malaysia, New Guinea and Madagascar.

Then if one goes down, the redundant system fails over.

With employing 50,000 datacenter staffs in India at approximately $7000 per person per year, versus in the USA at $70,000 per person per year average...they save $100Ms... enough to build those extra datacenters and failovers and put in those fibers.

Trust me. If a corp can find a way to make a profit, they will.

However pathetic and unkind and unconsiderate of them it is toward their homeland.

by cg it

is going.

Broadband wouldn't be required. Your phone doesn't need a "broadband" that your implying. And yep satellite will be the "broad band" connection. Documents created using the net device is saved to a flash drive or memory card.

This is where the IT mfgs want to go because of the cash cow the monthly fees will produce.

MS already has software designed for ARM processor support. Many devices already use WinCE. The IPhone is the precurrsor to the net device to replace laptops.

by deadly ernest

most of the world. Also, cell phone net access charges are ridiculously high down here. For five minutes via the phone I can get a month on ADSL on the landline - if I can get ADSL. Large parts of Australia only have slow dial up or sat phone capability - these devices would be way too costly or network not available for many places. The same applies to much of the world.

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