App Inventor and AppScale Enabling Easy, Cloud-Based, Mobile App Development Everywhere

CAMBRIDGE, MA--(Marketwired - Jul 17, 2013) - App Inventor Summit -- AppScale Systems, Inc., makers of the AppScale Cloud Platform, an open source runtime system for web applications and mobile application backends, today announced the release of the App Inventor Cloud Appliance at the App Inventor Summit at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. AppScale provides portability, migration, and failover for public cloud services. With an initial focus on Google App Engine, AppScale mirrors all of the App Engine services in open source. This enables any one of over three million App Engine applications, including App Inventor, to execute on Google's resources or over AppScale everywhere else, with zero code rewrite.

App Inventor is a popular web app that simplifies the process of creating and deploying Android apps for novice and expert developers alike. Instead of writing code, developers combine graphical blocks via a drag-and-drop interface to construct mobile apps that App Inventor automatically deploys to Android devices. App Inventor is a widely used technology targeting developers at all skill levels. It is also heavily used by educators around the world to bring mobile computing technologies and software innovation to a new generation of aspiring developers of all ages.

"App Inventor is designed to make Android app development accessible to everyone," said Hal Abelson, Professor of Computer Science at MIT and creator of the App Inventor Project at the MIT Center for Mobile Learning. "Combined with the AppScale appliance, even those who do not have reliable access to the Internet can become mobile developers using state-of-the-art cloud technology."

The App Inventor Cloud Appliance is a private cloud in a box (PCB) developed by AppScale Systems. The Appliance consists of a server and wireless tower that, on power up, automatically runs a fully self-contained AppScale cloud, deploys App Inventor, and sets up a private wireless network. The AppScale PCB automates deployment, configuration, and collaboration so that students without an Internet connection or behind a firewall can use App Inventor with their laptops and cellular phones to innovate together.

"With the AppScale + App Inventor cloud appliance, we make it even easier for a broad audience to innovate everywhere," said AppScale CEO, Woody Rollins. "We bring App Inventor -- and Google App Engine -- to those who otherwise would not have access to it, such as those in remote areas with limited or no Internet connectivity."

The AppScale PCB is a complete cloud. The PCB leverages Eucalyptus for its infrastructure and production quality open source technologies for its services. The App Inventor Appliance can be purchased fully configured and tested directly from AppScale and "do-it-yourself-ers" can build their own.

"App Inventor makes it easy for anyone to create Android applications. With this cloud appliance, AppScale is removing the complications of deployment," said Marten Mickos, CEO of Eucalyptus Systems. "We are thrilled to participate in this innovative initiative which may revolutionize how mobile applications are developed and deployed."

About AppScale Systems, Inc.

AppScale Systems, Inc. is the company behind the popular open source AppScale Cloud Platform. AppScale provides commercial products that plug into the platform as well as world-class professional services and technical support for the platform. AppScale is used by SMBs and enterprise companies alike to provide automatic failover and migration of cloud applications and data running on popular public cloud platforms. The AppScale Cloud Platform and its plug-in products simplify cloud application development, deployment, scaling, and migration so that developers can focus on their innovation. AppScale Systems is a Google Cloud Technology Partner and based in Santa Barbara, California. For more information, please visit: http://www.appscale.com