“Cost or budget issues were the primary factor reported as a barrier to adoption.”

Reviewing Google’s study, readers will quickly learn that those who have moved to the cloud cite value as one of the key benefits, including cost savings:

“Benefits to using cloud apps include value, availability, convenience, consistency across locations, better service, reliability, and simplicity of updates/maintenance.”

This apparent contradiction is a classic example of human nature’s ability to stick with the status quo well beyond its usefulness. And for this reason we consider the 1.4 million mailboxes we host as merely the tip of the iceberg.

Once upon a time factories produced their own electricity. Very few have the need to do so in modern times. Get in the cloud and start the next chapter in your company’s life.

Update Feb 1, 2010: This promotion will end on February 28, 2010

We thought we would generously build some press around the launch of Apple’s new operating system for their popular computers. We know Steve Jobs has a tough time getting attention so we are going to build some excitement for him. And what better way to do that than giving Snow Leopard upgrades away for free?

The new version of Mac Mail that ships today with Snow Leopard natively supports Exchange 2007.  Sign up for Microsoft Exchange as a new Rackspace Email & Apps customer and we’ll pay for each Snow Leopard upgrade used to access one of your Hosted Exchange mailboxes. We’re paying for up to 1,000 Snow Leopard upgrade licenses so don’t miss out! We’ll credit your account $29 on day one for each mailbox accessed by a Mac. How cool is that?  As if you needed another reason to sign up for our world class service!

Now you have an easy way to upgrade your company to the latest and greatest Mac operating system on our nickel! And you’ll get Microsoft Exchange service available for less than it would cost to run an Exchange server in house. You’ll enjoy all the power of Exchange native to your Mac without any of the headaches.

And with any luck our promotion will help Apple get their new OS noticed!

Your Next Steps and the Fine Print

Rackspace Email & Apps will reimburse new customers $29 (regardless of price paid) for each Hosted Exchange mailbox that is accessed by a Mac computer running the Snow Leopard (OS X 10.6) operating system. This promotion ends on February 28, 2010.  Online retail customers must enter the promotional code“777” into the Sales ID located in the signup process. Offline retail customers must mention the promotion code “Snow Leopard” to their sales rep prior to submitting their order. Resellers are not eligible for this promotion.

Customers will be required to fill out a form and fax or scan and email it along with proof of purchase for the Snow Leopard licenses that will result in credits being applied to their Rackspace Email & Apps account. Only Microsoft Exchange mailboxes accessed by Mac computers and purchased in the new customer’s initial order will qualify for this promotion.  Rackspace Email & Apps reserves the right to end this promotion at any time.  If you have additional questions please engage us online.