Internet Initiative Japan Inc. ("IIJ") (Nasdaq:IIJI) (TSE1:3774)
and ACCESS Co., Ltd., ("ACCESS"), today announced the establishment
of Stratosphere Inc., a joint-venture company whose goal is to
create a platform for the next-generation cloud computing
environment. In order to achieve this goal, the company will first
research and develop a suite of software to implement the software
defined network (SDN) (*1) concept.
SDN is a much talked about new technology concept that enables
network virtualization and automatic operation in a cloud
environment. A core technology of SDN called OpenFlow (*2), and
software development have been advancing primarily in the U.S.
Stratosphere was founded to capitalize on the advanced software
development capabilities of ACCESS in the network and mobile
technology fields, including SDN, and on IIJ's cloud and network
operating technology expertise, with both companies bringing
committing top technologists to quickly develop innovative new
products and capture a leading position in the network
virtualization market.
Background
The SDN concept came to the foreground when it was discovered
that information systems cannot be flexibly built in a cloud
environment without a flexible networking environment, because
networking is vital to uniting a variety of virtualized computing
resources (CPU, memory, storage, etc.) into operational information
systems. However, particularly for operators who provide
multi-tenant (*3) cloud services with virtualized computing
resources deployed on physical computers in multiple data centers
in widely separated regions, restrictions due to physical
networking and complexities in network configuration management are
a bottleneck for flexible and scalable service provision and
infrastructure expansion.
The SDN concept resolves these issues by using software to
control the configuration of virtual networks which connect
multiple virtualized computing resources. With the SDN environment,
an arbitrary number of virtual machines can be quickly created and
deployed to any location with arbitrary network topologies. This
allows us to construct cloud environments that are more flexible
than those we have today.
Development plans and schedule
Stratosphere will develop a suite of software for integrated
control of the entire cloud environment, from virtual networks
built on SDN to IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS. Through IIJ and ACCESS's
sales channels, these software products will be sold to data center
operators, communications operators, large EC operators, and other
similar clients.
This spring, Stratosphere will release its first product, a beta
version of SDN IaaS that can automatically configure a virtual
network through a controller that utilizes OpenFlow protocol. In
the fall, the company plans to release commercial products with
advanced functionalities and performance optimizations which
reflect market demand. In addition, a PaaS that interfaces with the
SDN IaaS will be developed in parallel. The company expects to have
a full line-up of platform products that control each strata of the
cloud environment within this fiscal year.
*1 Software defined network (SDN): A next-generation network
concept in which the entire network is controlled (defined) by
software in order to dynamically configure the network
structure.
*2 OpenFlow: Next-generation network control technology that
enables the virtualization of the network. The OpenFlow Switch
Consortium advocates for the technology and the Open Networking
Foundation promotes standards for OpenFlow.
*3 Multi-tenant: A business model that provides a secure,
exclusive virtualized computing environment in which servers,
databases, and other resources are shared by multiple user
companies in a cloud environment.
Stratosphere Inc. Corporate Outline
Name: |
Stratosphere Inc. |
Established: |
April 5, 2012 |
Capital: |
JPY 100 million |
Shareholders: |
IIJ 50.0%, ACCESS 50.0% |
Business: |
Research and development of
infrastructure software that centrally controls a cloud computing
environment |
Employees: |
About 10 (provided by IIJ and
ACCESS) |
Executives: |
Representative Director and President |
Toshiya Asaba |
(Representative Director of IIJ Innovation
Institute Inc.) |
|
Vice President |
Kunihiro Ishiguro |
(ACCESS Senior Executive Officer and
CTO) |
|
Director (part time) |
Koichi Suzuki |
(President and CEO of IIJ) |
|
Director (part time) |
Nobuya Murofushi |
(President and CEO of ACCESS) |
|
Statutory Auditor |
Naoshi Yoneyama |
(Executive Officer of IIJ) |
|
Statutory Auditor |
Shoji Ando |
(ACCESS Manager of the Office of the
President) |
Address: |
Kanda Jimbocho 1-105, Chiyoda-ku,
Tokyo |
Why "Stratosphere"?
The stratosphere is a part of the Earth's atmosphere that is
above the clouds, representing our goal of going beyond the cloud.
The stratosphere is also very stable and covers the more turbulent
troposphere, which reflects our mission to provide technology to
engulf the entire cloud computing environment and stabilize and
develop it.
About IIJ
Founded in 1992, Internet Initiative Japan Inc. (IIJ)
(Nasdaq:IIJI) (Tokyo Stock Exchange TSE1:3774) is one of Japan's
leading Internet-access and comprehensive network solutions
providers. IIJ and its group of companies provide total network
solutions that mainly cater to high-end corporate customers. The
company's services include high-quality systems integration and
cloud computing/data center services, security services, Internet
access, and content distribution. Moreover, the company has built
one of the largest Internet backbone networks in Japan, and between
Japan and the United States. IIJ was listed on NASDAQ in 1999 and
on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange in 2006. For more
information about IIJ, visit the IIJ Web site at
http://www.iij.ad.jp/en/.
The Internet Initiative Japan Inc. logo is available at
http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=4613
The statements within this release contain forward-looking
statements about our future plans that involve risk and
uncertainty. These statements may differ materially from actual
future events or results. Readers are referred to the documents
furnished by Internet Initiative Japan Inc. with the SEC,
specifically the most recent reports on Forms 20-F and 6-K, which
identify important risk factors that could cause actual results to
differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements.
About ACCESS
ACCESS CO., LTD. is a global company providing leading
technology, software products and platforms for web browsing, smart
phones and tablets, digital TVs, and other networked devices as
well as networks. ACCESS' product portfolio include its NetFront™
series and ZebOS® network platform, which provide customers
with solutions that enable faster time to market, flexibility and
customizability. ACCESS is delivering high value-added services for
multiple mobile devices with its ACCESS™ Digital Publishing
Ecosystem for cloud-based, cross-platform digital publishing and
NetAd for mobile advertising. The company, headquartered in Tokyo,
Japan, operates subsidiaries and affiliates in Asia, Europe and the
United States. ACCESS is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange
Mothers' Index under the number 4813. For more information about
ACCESS, please visit www.access-company.com.
* "ACCESS," the ACCESS logo, and "NetFront" are the registered
trademarks and service marks of ACCESS Inc., in Japan, the U.S.,
and other countries.
* ZebOS is the registered trademark and services
mark of IP Infusion Inc., in the U.S. and other countries.
CONTACT: IIJ Corporate Communications
Tel: +81-3-5259-6310
E-mail: press@iij.ad.jp
URL: http://www.iij.ad.jp/en/
ACCESS Co., Ltd. Corporate Communications
Tel: +81-43-212-2230
E-mail: prinfo-gr@access-company.com
URL: http://www.access-company.com/
Internet Initiative Japan (PK) (USOTC:IIJIY)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jun 2024 to Jul 2024
Internet Initiative Japan (PK) (USOTC:IIJIY)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jul 2023 to Jul 2024