Cloud Computing: Freedom From the Matrix

This post first appeared on Minyanville.

The cloud cometh.

Cloud computing, the notion that computers will eventually serve as gateways to online storage, software and communications, is gaining mindshare throughout the technology world. Pioneers of remote applications like Salesforce.com (CRM) have seen users flock to their online services, which facilitate communication and the sharing of files without regard for proximity.

As our mobile phones become increasingly powerful, modern computers with beefy hard drives are finding their usefulness begin to dwindle. To that end, handset makers are rapidly expanding the capabilities of their iPhones (AAPL), Blackberrys (RIMM) and Treos (PALM) to accommodate this trend toward computing -- and generally living -- in the cloud.

Nokia (NOK), the world’s largest handset maker, is said to be pursuing a deeper partnership with the leader in social networking, Facebook. The companies hope to capitalize on one other’s access to the end-user. Facebook and rival MySpace have already built popular applications for the iPhone and Blackberry.

One potential snag in the Nokia-Facebook deal centers on access to valuable consumer- behavior data: Nokia is reticent to part with information about the browsing patterns and buying trends of its users.

Even though mobile-phone software makers are, by in large, still trying to come up with the magical formula that will allow them to make money from the use of applications, competition is fierce to create the next dominant cell-phone widget.

As the US catches up with Japan and Europe in terms of dependence on mobile phones (yes, it's possible to be more reliant on cell phones than we already are), devices will continue to tresspass on the turf of the Dells (DELL) and Hewlett Packards (HPQ) of the world.

Future generations will no doubt listen to our stories about things like wires, mice and keyboards and mock us mercilessly.

Exxon's Activist Shareholders Fall Short

This post first appeared on Minyanville.

Sometimes $40 billion just isn't enough.

Yesterday, Exxon Mobil (XOM) shareholders failed to pass a measure that would have created the role of independent chairman at the world's biggest refiner. The influential Rockefeller family led the push -- as it's done for several years -- which it hoped would encourage the company to focus more on environmental concerns.

In responding to the proposal, The Wall Street Journal reports Rex Tillerson, Exxon's chairman and chief executive, said the company has a "corporate responsibility to see that the world has enough fossil fuels for its growing energy demands." He acknowledged, however, that the company needs to do more to reduce its environmental footprint.

Even though the measure garnered the support of less than 40% of shareholders, some analysts still expect Exxon to split the chairman and CEO roles in two. The measure's popularity among activist shareholders may be enough to convince the company that, in order to avoid a more serious fight, decisive action is needed.

At issue is the disconnect between one company's legal responsibility to shareholders and its efforts to be a responsible environmental steward. Oil companies like Exxon and Chevron (CVX) regularly find themselves embroiled in conflicts over the impact of oil extraction. Pointing to fat bottom lines, dividends and consistent returns doesn't appease eco-minded shareholders.

Or, for that matter, all profit-minded shareholders. Some argue their push for change isn't just environmentally driven, its focused on the bottom line as well. Exxon, they argue, isn't doing enough to position itself for the future, when potential carbon legislation and supply constraints will force the company to do more to diversify away from its dependence on oil and gas revenues.

The vote may have failed to produce immediate change, but it should embolden shareholders of other companies to renew similar efforts. As owners of the companies, they do in fact have a say over how they're run.