By Jayashree Adkoli

With the growing need for on-demand access to enterprise-class geospatial software, Skygone Inc., a provider of geospatial cloud computing solutions, announced the launch of fully-supported, open source web-mapping software suite, OpenGeo Cloud Edition, which is delivered to users via cloud computing.

OpenGeo is a social enterprise focused on building web-based geospatial technology. It provides enterprises with supported, tested, and integrated open source solutions to build the Geospatial Web.

The OpenGeo Cloud Edition open source web-mapping software suite incorporates open source geospatial technology such as PostGIS, GeoServer, OpenLayers and GeoExt. These open source geospatial technologies are configured, optimized, and deployed to customers on Skygone Cloud as a monthly, pay-as-you-go subscription.

Officials with Skygone said that the latest offering is affordable and includes software, technical support, unlimited bug fixes, and IT infrastructure such as a cloud server instance, data storage, and bandwidth provided by the geo-savvy IT experts at Skygone.  ??

Chris Holmes, president of OpenGeo, said, “OpenGeo Cloud Edition is a natural extension of the extensive work we've performed on installers, and is the next step in making it as easy as possible for people to get started with a supported open source geospatial stack."??

Skygone and OpenGeo together have developed three deployment options for OpenGeo Suite Cloud Edition including Community, Enterprise, and Auto-Scaling, which will enable end-users to choose the level of service they require to manage and deliver their geospatial data.

Holmes added, "Our mission is to make geospatial information more open - publicly available and accessible on compelling platforms that people want.  We are thrilled with the cloud computing power and flexibility Skygone allows us to offer our clients."

Ryan Hughes, CEO of Skygone, said that, "Skygone's cloud computing capabilities combined with OpenGeo's amazing support, dashboards access, and unlimited bug fixes means enterprise GIS users finally have a turnkey, fully-supported, open source solution that can be deployed on-demand to meet their web mapping needs."??