Curaçao Technology Exchange (www.ctexpartners.com), in collaboration with VCE and Zuora, have established a strategic alliance. Targeted for September 2012, CTEX which is building the region’s most advanced Tier-IV designed data centers will shortly launch a unique portfolio of ‘infrastructure as a service’ (IAAS), ‘backup as a service’ (BAAS) and ‘software as a service’ (SAAS) offerings to the Caribbean and Latin America markets. HyperCloud_Express(sm) and HyperCloud_Enterprise(sm) will be the first advanced cloud computing offerings in the intended market. VCE Vblock™ platform, leverages best-in-class technology and integrates compute, network, storage, virtualization, and management components from trusted, industry-leading vendors (Cisco, EMC, and VMware) to deliver a world-class unified computing infrastructure. CTEX’s HyperCloud(sm) services will be further powered by Zuora’s subscription commerce platform to manage real-time billing and global settlement of transactions.

CTEX’s Cloud services will be offered through the company’s unique Tier-IV designed data centers located in Curaçao. The data centers will be interconnected to the world through 7 major submarine cable systems providing extensive redundant access for international customers. The service will enable companies to rapidly configure custom server instances in a secured cloud environment. Too, CTEX will offer customers the ability to subscribe to software services through an advanced multi-lingual Appstore. These services will be offered on an on-demand and subscription basis. Customers benefit by reducing upfront technology capital expenditures, while paying only for used capacity. Too, they benefit from advanced security management, cloud-based backup and desktop virtualization services.

“Our cloud services benefit from the combined industry experience of CISCO, VMWARE and EMC. The unified platform provides us with the flexibility to rapidly support small and medium enterprise companies, as well as provide private cloud solutions for large corporations and governments. We want to provide customers with the most secure, scalable and manageable cloud solutions in the region in either a private, public or hybrid model. We also want to bring to market a unified computing infrastructure that removes the guess work associated with configuring a private customer data center. Customers will have the ability to build their private data center infrastructure within our highly secured facility by leveraging a pre-configured, tested and supported computing, networking and storage infrastructure so they can focus on running their core business. VCE provides CTEX with the necessary technology building blocks to accomplish this. Too, the VCE infrastructure enables us to support ‘Big Data’ analytics by enabling large enterprises to dramatically scale up storage capacity to discover repeatable business patterns and gain a strategic advantage. Our solutions, which will be formally launched this September, will be a first in the region and will enable companies and institutions to rethink how they leverage technology to meet their business demands,” says Anthony de Lima, CTEX’s Chairman and CEO.

“With CTEX’s HyperCloud(sm) services based on VCE technology, customers in the region will be able to leverage the same high level of cloud computing services available in North America and Europe,” said Leon Taiman, VCE’s Regional Vice President – Caribbean and Latin American Markets.  He continued, “CTEX with the help of VCE Professional Services are working together to enable the rapid adoption of cloud computing by companies and government institutions and are helping them deploy advanced data center technologies and realize the maximum return on their technology investments.”

CTEX’s ‘CU-1’ is the first of four 5,200 square meter (52,000 square feet) super high-density data centers being built on Curaçao on top of a mountain terrace 60 meters above sea level. Through local and international partners, such as Schneider Electric and CISCO, the company is constructing the only Tier-IV designed, LEED data centers in the region. Curaçao offers excellent fiscal benefits, including zero import duties on equipment, a 2% profit tax regime for international companies seeking to establish an operating entity on the island, and is safely located outside the hurricane belt. Too, Curaçao is part of the Dutch Kingdom, boasting a multi-lingual workforce (English, Dutch, Spanish, Papiamentu) making it the perfect gateway to Europe, the Caribbean, Latin America and the world. Curaçao is home to a multicultural society consisting of people from over 32 cultures.

About CTEX

CTEX is building four Tier-IV designed green certified data center and internet exchange point from which co-location, interconnection and managed services will be delivered to enterprise, government, and institutional clients in the Caribbean and Latin America. The company is deploying the latest datacenter technologies to support high-density cloud computing infrastructures. CTEX offers six core solutions; HyperCloud_Services, Security Management, Managed Services, Network & Colocation, Archival and Storage solutions, and Disaster Recovery Services. CTEX’s Tier-IV datacenters are being built on the island of Curaçao which is located safely outside the hurricane belt in a politically neutral jurisdiction and part of the Dutch Kingdom. For more information visit www.ctexpartners.com

About VCE

VCE, the Virtual Computing Environment Company formed by Cisco and EMC with investments from VMware and Intel, accelerates the adoption of converged infrastructure and cloud-based computing models that dramatically reduce the cost of IT while improving time to market for our customers. VCE, through the Vblock platform, delivers the industry’s first completely integrated IT offering with end-to-end vendor accountability. VCE’s prepackaged solutions are available through an extensive partner network, and cover horizontal applications, vertical industry offerings, and application development environments, allowing customers to focus on business innovation instead of integrating, validating and managing IT infrastructure. For additional information visit www.vce.com

About Cisco

Cisco is the worldwide leader in networking that transforms how people connect, communicate and collaborate. Information about Cisco can be found at www.cisco.com. For ongoing news, please go to http://newsroom.cisco.com. Cisco equipment in emerging markets is provided by Cisco Systems International B.V. and Cisco International Limited, wholly owned subsidiaries of Cisco Systems, Inc.

About EMC

EMC Corporation is a global leader in enabling businesses and service providers to transform their operations and deliver IT as a service. Fundamental to this transformation is cloud computing. Through innovative products and services, EMC accelerates the journey to cloud computing, helping IT departments to store, manage, protect and analyze their most valuable asset — information — in a more agile, trusted and cost-efficient way. For additional information visit www.emc.com

About VMWARE

VMware, the global leader in virtualization and cloud infrastructure, delivers customer-proven solutions that accelerate IT by reducing complexity and enabling more flexible, agile service delivery. VMware enables enterprises to adopt a cloud model that addresses their unique business challenges. VMware’s approach accelerates the transition to cloud computing while preserving existing investments and improving security and control. With more than 350,000 customers and 50,000 partners, VMware solutions help organizations of all sizes lower costs, increase business agility and ensure freedom of choice. For more information visit www.vmware.com

About Zuora, Inc.

Zuora is the global leader in subscription commerce and billing, helping companies in every industry transition to the Subscription Economy. Enterprise leaders and high-growth companies alike use Zuora’s multi-tenant cloud platform to launch, scale, and monetize their subscription services. Zuora’s applications help subscription businesses with pricing, quoting, orders, billing, payments, and renewals. Built from the ground up by SaaS industry veterans from Salesforce.com, PayPal, and WebEx, Zuora services innovative customers. To learn more about Zuora, please visit www.zuora.com.

About Schneider Electric

As a global specialist in energy management, with operations in more than 100 countries, Schneider Electric offers integrated solutions across multiple market segments. They maintain leadership positions in Utilities & Infrastructures, Industries & Machine Manufacturers, Non-residential Buildings, Data Centers & Networks and other groups. Focused on making energy safe, reliable, efficient, productive and green, the group’s 130,000 plus employees achieved sales of 22.4 billion Euros in 2011, through an active commitment to help individuals and organizations make the most of their energy. For more information, visit www.schneider-electric.com