I’m proud to announce the conclusion of a risky, year-long assessment of Amazon EC2. As a technology professional and early adopter since the late 80s, I’ve always had a penchant for living on the cutting edge of technology. Cloud computing is no exception. Nearing my two year anniversary as an Amazon Web Services customer, I am pleased with Amazon’s cloud experience. It’s solid, reliable, and extremely flexible. I’ve launched and configured dozens of servers for personal and client projects ranging from databases to VoIP applications. I’ve never experienced a single failure.

So, why was this experiment risky? Until a few months ago, Amazon lacked a permanent storage solution to maintain data in the event a server crashes. Sure, I maintained backups, but I still ran the risk of losing important data. It’s a risk I was ready to take and I’m happy to report that my experiment with cloud computing was successful.

I hope my experience will encourage others to adopt cloud computing for their own projects. If you’re considering Amazon Web Services, I’d be happy to assist you. Just contact me.

Now through December 31, 2008, I am offering discounted, personalized Amazon EC2 services for individuals and businesses for only $250. The following is included in this limited offer:

1. Personalized assistance to setup and configure your Amazon EC2 account
2. 3 hours consulting
3. Setup, configuration and training on how to use a Linux or Windows server in the cloud
4. Setup and configuration of base software and modules for Linux or Windows
5. Additional assistance as necessary (within 3 hour consulting limit)

This offer is ideal for any individual or business interested in the following:

1. Evaluating cloud computing for cost and performance analysis
2. Moving services, data and web sites to the cloud
3. Saving money on data distribution costs
4. And more

If credibility or capability is of concern to you, no worries: There plenty of links to my work in the cloud on Google. I’ve been featured by Amazon at Sylantro’s Global Summit and on their AWS blog for my open source telephony and cloud computing work.

Let’s get started, shall we?

On October 31, 2007, I embarked on a new journey in technology: I embraced the cloud computing movement. I did so with the clarity of knowing that I was joining a movement that would transform how we access, interact with and utilize computers. It was a risk I did not hesitate to make, even when my financial position wasn’t at its healthiest for most of 2007.

So, why did I risk increasing my monthly expenditures on web services by 73% ($20 to $75 per month) when I didn’t have much money for such increases? It’s pretty simple: Freedom of restriction. In the world of web services, there are contracts, limitations and obstacles. These all get in the way of truly accomplishing a task or realizing a dream (without losing your shirt in the process). In the world of cloud computing, there are no boundaries. No constraints. No limits. The world is truly yours to discover.

Cloud computing is a wonderful shift in technology as we know it today. Now, with a few keystrokes and clicks, one can power any dream online without concern of outrageous fees or unrealistic commitments. You are free to explore your creativity and wild imagination to your heart’s content. There isn’t a phone number to call to add an additional server, module or hard drive. You can now do all of this yourself within minutes for how ever many units you desire.

Looking back on a year of using the Amazon Web Services platform, I can say with full conviction that I made the right choice. I’ve sent all of my telecommunication and web hosting needs to the cloud. 90% of my digital life now resides in the cloud and I am quickly aiming for 100% in 2009. Thanks to Amazon’s extraordinary work in this space, they’ve torn down the digital barriers which previously prevented many from accessing raw computing power as necessary. Their effort has enabled a new generation of developers, entrepreneurs and small businesses with unparalleled access to modern technology that we haven’t seen in the last 25 years.

I am overjoyed about cloud computing. It is the most critical development in technology that we’ve ever witnessed. It’s more important than the Internet and desktop software. It is the foundation which will empower dreamers with the tools to transform societies and the way they use technology on a daily basis. This is bigger than the personal computer or mainframe. This is about enabling humanity to develop new ideas, possibilities and endless realities without fear of financial burden.

It is my desire to share my enthusiasm for cloud computing with the world. It is my mission to engage as many people as possible in this defining moment in technology. This is an exciting time to witness the evolution of modern technology. We are only at the beginning stages of this incredible movement. Imagine what the next five years will bring the world thanks to cloud computing:

• Open source, enterprise-grade telecommunications for individuals and businesses
• Virtual workstations
• Free, global long distance calling
• Data backups for life
• And a lot more

I look forward to helping developers, entrepreneurs, corporations and the entire world realize the cloud computing dream. Let’s make it happen, together.

I just received word that I was featured during a presentation by Amazon at Sylantro’s recent Global Summit. Because this summit is telephony related, Amazon most likely mentioned my ongoing VoIP work ‘in the cloud’ on their EC2 platform.

This was surprise news to me. It’s always a thrill to learn about the places and events where my projects and work are mentioned.

Special thanks to the Amazon AWS team for including me in their presentation before a global audience.

Follow CloudCrunch on Twitter for the latest updates to this guide, cloud computing tidbits and the upcoming launch!

UPDATE (11/13/08): Thank you to everyone for expressing such a great interest in my upcoming Asterisk guide. I’ve been thinking a lot about how to get this guide out into the world and as it’s my first ever ‘how-to’ guide, I’ve been tracking statistics, gathering feedback and planning for the next step for the official release of the guide.

I am currently working to finally wrap up this guide. I’m a perfectionist, so I want things to be right. It will include many of your suggestions and answers to common questions such as cost, etc. (As a hint, I hardly ever cross the $75/month mark, which falls right in line with running a small-instance server 24 hours a day). I will not be charging for this guide, so I expect the adoption to be huge (there’s been a surprising interest from companies like Nokia, Lucent and others). I’m excited to provide a resource that will teach fellow technologists and enthusiasts the background details to run Asterisk in the cloud on Amazon EC2. This is the future of telephony, folks!

Thanks again for your support!