4 ms·

There is a very strong chance that this PR was "strongly encouraged" by Google in exchange for huge credits on the actual service. They've been hunting for larg

There is a very strong chance that this PR was "strongly encouraged" by Google in exchange for huge credits on the actual service. They've been hunting for larger customers they can use to advertise like they did with Spotify.

vgt 10y ago
While I've heard this narrative discussed before, I'd like to offer some thoughts: - Companies do not (or should not) make cloud purchasing decisions be based entirely on some kind of preferential pricing. Cloud is far from a commodity, especially in ML/Big Data space. In both Evernote and Spotify cases, they highlight strategic technological advantages of Google Cloud. In fact, customers tend to be fairly specific in outlining their findings[0], cost rarely being the main factor. - I urge you to share evidence that Spotify received "huge credits" in exchange for PR. - It's not unusual for companies to make such announcements. It's very much standard practice for AWS customers. It's good PR for both parties, imho. - There are many other "big" names disclosed in 2016. And it's no secret that what Snapchat has achieved on Google's PaaS is nothing short of extraordinary. [0] https://medium.com/@thetinot/i-think-google-cloud-is-the-best-best-tech-best-pricing-best-support-best-roadmap-and-best-4b4e17856505 https://medium.com/@thetinot/i-think-google-cloud-is-the-bes... (disc: Work on Google Cloud and put together [0] )
- pbarnes_1 10y ago
  I don't doubt you, but how would the average HNer have any evidence of what goes on between companies behind closed doors? :) I am surprised to see Evernote moving to GCP to be honest. The cost increase in using GCP vs self-hosted hardly ever make sense for storage providers (which is kind of what Evernote boils down to). And it's not like Evernote is doing well financially. It's why Dropbox went the opposite direction.
  - vgt 10y ago
    I agree, of course. However, insinuating that such an announcement, and choice of cloud partnership, is dictated heavily by preferential pricing diminishes both customer's decision making and provider's intrinsic abilities. It's the not so subtle cloud "ad hominem" these days. On your second point, per [0], Evernote is interested in Google's ML capabilities. [0] fortune.com/2016/09/13/evernote-google-cloud/
- godzillabrennus 10y ago
  If it exists you can find it on the Internet. Have a gander at a company trying to comodotize the cloud. https://www.ucxchange.com https://www.ucxchange.com
- cddotdotslash 10y ago
  Well, I didn't say that Spotify made the move in exchange for credits. However, since you brought it up: > Some critics, surprised by such a high-profile company going with what is seen as the distant Number 3 in the hyper-scale public cloud market, have suggested that Google extended a sweetheart deal as part of the move. Details of the agreement haven't been disclosed, but Nicholas Harteau, Spotify's vice president of engineering and infrastructure, told The Wall Street Journal that the company "negotiated hard on price."[1] > Of course, for such a high profile customer and for the priviledge of a case study, we can assume Spotify has some heavy discounts. [2] Not "proof," but it's pretty well-mentioned across the industry that Google benefited from this deal probably more than Spotify did. [1] http://searchcloudcomputing.techtarget.com/news/4500276342/Spotify-moves-to-Google-cloud-with-eyes-on-big-data http://searchcloudcomputing.techtarget.com/news/4500276342/S... [2] https://medium.com/@davidmytton/how-much-is-spotify-paying-google-cloud-ebb3bf180f15#.ets0p214i https://medium.com/@davidmytton/how-much-is-spotify-paying-g...
  - vgt 10y ago
    I understand your points - it's narrative that's floating on the internet, and it's one that's very easy to believe. Unfortunately [2] is 100% opinion. As far as [1], every single "large" deal is negotiated. That is standard practice for deals of this size, including your employer and AWS. It's also very different from "Google is the one benefitted" and "Spotify chose Google because of sweetheart pricing" and "Spotify got paid to do PR for Google". As I've said before, these narratives diminish both parties. It's Trump's "many people say that..."

vgt 10y ago

While I've heard this narrative discussed before, I'd like to offer some thoughts: - Companies do not (or should not) make cloud purchasing decisions be based entirely on some kind of preferential pricing. Cloud is far from a commodity, especially in ML/Big Data space. In both Evernote and Spotify cases, they highlight strategic technological advantages of Google Cloud. In fact, customers tend to be fairly specific in outlining their findings[0], cost rarely being the main factor. - I urge you to share evidence that Spotify received "huge credits" in exchange for PR. - It's not unusual for companies to make such announcements. It's very much standard practice for AWS customers. It's good PR for both parties, imho. - There are many other "big" names disclosed in 2016. And it's no secret that what Snapchat has achieved on Google's PaaS is nothing short of extraordinary. [0] https://medium.com/@thetinot/i-think-google-cloud-is-the-best-best-tech-best-pricing-best-support-best-roadmap-and-best-4b4e17856505 https://medium.com/@thetinot/i-think-google-cloud-is-the-bes... (disc: Work on Google Cloud and put together [0] )

pbarnes_1 10y ago
I don't doubt you, but how would the average HNer have any evidence of what goes on between companies behind closed doors? :) I am surprised to see Evernote moving to GCP to be honest. The cost increase in using GCP vs self-hosted hardly ever make sense for storage providers (which is kind of what Evernote boils down to). And it's not like Evernote is doing well financially. It's why Dropbox went the opposite direction.
- vgt 10y ago
  I agree, of course. However, insinuating that such an announcement, and choice of cloud partnership, is dictated heavily by preferential pricing diminishes both customer's decision making and provider's intrinsic abilities. It's the not so subtle cloud "ad hominem" these days. On your second point, per [0], Evernote is interested in Google's ML capabilities. [0] fortune.com/2016/09/13/evernote-google-cloud/
godzillabrennus 10y ago
If it exists you can find it on the Internet. Have a gander at a company trying to comodotize the cloud. https://www.ucxchange.com https://www.ucxchange.com
cddotdotslash 10y ago
Well, I didn't say that Spotify made the move in exchange for credits. However, since you brought it up: > Some critics, surprised by such a high-profile company going with what is seen as the distant Number 3 in the hyper-scale public cloud market, have suggested that Google extended a sweetheart deal as part of the move. Details of the agreement haven't been disclosed, but Nicholas Harteau, Spotify's vice president of engineering and infrastructure, told The Wall Street Journal that the company "negotiated hard on price."[1] > Of course, for such a high profile customer and for the priviledge of a case study, we can assume Spotify has some heavy discounts. [2] Not "proof," but it's pretty well-mentioned across the industry that Google benefited from this deal probably more than Spotify did. [1] http://searchcloudcomputing.techtarget.com/news/4500276342/Spotify-moves-to-Google-cloud-with-eyes-on-big-data http://searchcloudcomputing.techtarget.com/news/4500276342/S... [2] https://medium.com/@davidmytton/how-much-is-spotify-paying-google-cloud-ebb3bf180f15#.ets0p214i https://medium.com/@davidmytton/how-much-is-spotify-paying-g...
- vgt 10y ago
  I understand your points - it's narrative that's floating on the internet, and it's one that's very easy to believe. Unfortunately [2] is 100% opinion. As far as [1], every single "large" deal is negotiated. That is standard practice for deals of this size, including your employer and AWS. It's also very different from "Google is the one benefitted" and "Spotify chose Google because of sweetheart pricing" and "Spotify got paid to do PR for Google". As I've said before, these narratives diminish both parties. It's Trump's "many people say that..."