Cloud computing is slowly becoming a mainstream technology. However, even before the hype cycle has died down, cloud providers are already starting to see downward price pressures. Every hosting provider under the sun is now repackaging itself as a cloud provider, and basic capacity and services are quickly becoming commodities.

Liaison Technologies, a provider of cloud-based integration and data-management services, has acquired Hubspan, the business-integration software vendor.

Cheetah Software Systems Inc. has teamed up with Efreightsolutions to offer customers an integrated logistics intelligence application.

In today's global business environment, smart companies are learning to collaborate more efficiently, connecting and interacting with ever-expanding communities of customers, suppliers and peers. And they are, in the process, unleashing a new model for operating that is helping to improve their productivity, profits and ultimately, their advantage in an ultra-competitive marketplace. According to Collaborate to Win, a report produced by CFO Research in collaboration with Ariba, Inc., they are capitalizing on the convergence of recent technology trends, including cloud computing, mobility, social and business networks.

Inttra, a global electronic-commerce network for the ocean shipping industry, has formed an alliance with CargoSphere, a cloud-based confidential rate network.

PrimeRevenue, provider of a platform for supply-chain finance delivered under a software-as-a-service (SaaS) model, has expanded operations in two locations, in addition to releasing version 5.4.3. of its OpenSci SCF platform.

LeanLogistics, a provider of transportation-management systems, has developed a mechanism for delivering TMS applications to the mid-market.

Now that software as a service and the broader cloud computing concept have gained widespread recognition and acceptance, it will be interesting to see whether online marketplaces will become a preferred method for acquiring these on-demand resources.