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Amazon SimpleDB Expands Web Services

SimpleDB, a new addition to Amazon Web Services, will allow users to store and query databases on servers at Amazon (AMZN)

Amazon (AMZN) generated some buzz in the blogosphere Friday by announcing SimpleDB, a new addition to Amazon Web Services (AWS) that will allow users to store and query databases on Amazon's servers. It will be several weeks before the new service opens its beta test. But that hasn't prevented industry observers from weighing in with their thoughts. Here's an overview of some of the initial discussion:

  • GigaOm provides Amazon SimpleDB 101 and Why IT Matters, predicting it will be "hugely disruptive."
  • Todd Hoff at High Scalability weighs The Current Pros and Cons List for SimpleDB.
  • Phil Windley, writing at ZDNet, says the SimpleDB model is compelling. "When you can build large, distributed systems and avoid pouring precious dollars into fixed capital assets, startups can do things that just weren't possible before."
  • Protoblogger Dave Winer makes similar observations about SimpleDB's value proposition for startups, and expresses surprise that others aren't following Amazon's lead: "It's amazing that Microsoft and Google are sitting by and letting Amazon take all this ground in developer-land without even a hint of a response."