CIF rains on Cloud Alliance parade
War of words breaks out between start-up cloud body and longer-standing rival
The Cloud Industry Forum (CIF) has hit out at the newly launched UK Cloud Alliance by questioning the intentions and independence of its members.
The UK Cloud Alliance was launched yesterday to provide SMEs and mid-market firms with a sourcing pool of cloud suppliers.
The group, led by hosting provider Star, has 14 members so far: Nexus, Glasshouse, Total-UK, Itica, Plan B, Modern Networks, Pythagoras, Ubertas, Concentra, Digirati, Maindec, newvoicemedia, LinuxIT and Redstor.
Talking to ChannelWeb ahead of the group's launch, Grant Tanner, business development director at Star, praised the work of other cloud bodies such as CIF, but also likened them to "talking shops".
This comment has incurred the wrath of CIF chairman Andy Burton, causing him to question the UK Cloud Alliance's claims that its activities are in end users' best interests.
"Apparently a rigorous process was implemented to whittle down ‘thousands' of would-be cloud providers into a list of just 15 to 17 businesses that can meet the needs of the UK SMB market," raged Burton.
"Unsurprisingly, the only firms making the cut were ones that do not compete with Star, many of which they have worked with.
"I would love to hear from some [that were turned down], but somehow I doubt that even one of these claimed ‘thousands' will ever come forward," he continued.
Burton said he would advise end users to view the Alliance as little more than "a collaborative commercial working agreement between a private group of companies".
He added: "The fact its basis of operation is quoted as ‘Members of the UK Cloud Alliance do not compete outwardly with Star or any other member' basically means there is absolutely no independence or transparency whatsoever, unless transparency is limited to a set of integrated proposals from a preconceived supply chain not open to competition."
The UK Cloud Alliance was unavailable for comment as ChannelWeb went to press.