The VAR Guy was intrigued about a tidbit that made rounds during the weekend. Apparently, Apple has scooped up Microsoft data center expert Kevin Timmons. What’s the reason? What is Apple planning? The VAR Guy has a few ideas …

First, some info about Timmons: Kevin Timmons was general manager of data center services at Microsoft, and it has been officially confirmed that he’s left Microsoft. In an interview with DataCenterDynamics.com he noted that scalability and modularity are some key features of data center technologies today, and security is a top concern. But his answer to the last question in the interview was most telling — when asked to describe what the biggest future role of the data center was, he replied…

The ability for applications to move seamlessly in and out of geographic locations has the most impact on how we will design and operate future data centers.

Intriguing, to say the least. So what could this all mean for Apple? Well …

  • Cloud: There’s no doubt Apple is planning something big. If you’re deploying a cloud, you’re going to have huge data center needs. The VAR Guy thinks Kevin Timmons will find himself in charge of — or at least being a major part of — Apple’s new North Carolina data center. For what reason? Streaming music, free digital lockers and maybe even a Netflix competitor are whispers The VAR Guy has heard …
  • Expanding Technology: Apple may have more than just its new data center in the works. The VAR Guy thinks Apple is poised to take on other emerging markets. Data center technology is an integral part of any sort of expansion, whether it’s cloud, virtualization or even managed services …
  • iOS In The Cloud?: The VAR Guy knows this one is a crazy idea, but MobileMe already has a pseudo-Mac-iOS feel to it. Since HP announced plans to launch webOS on computers everywhere by 2012 and Apple has adopted iOS features into Mac OS X Lion, Apple also may be poised to proliferate its technology as far as possible. The VAR Guy thinks Apple could create a whole slew of converts who would be using Apple software on Windows machines, since it all would be in the cloud and accessed through a web browser.

    • Is Apple simply looking for talent, or is this the start of something big? The VAR Guy thinks it’s a bit of both. Stay tuned.

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