AWS Responds with Price Cuts: Google vs AWS Pricing Round 2

I'm surprised this is being cast as Amazon responding to Google's price cuts- the AWS conference was scheduled months in advance so if anything Google heard about the price cuts and announced their own just ahead of the conference as a (successful; apparently) attempt to take the wind out of Amazon's announcement.

Interesting that they dropped by the same amount; either it was a lucky guess, Amazon adjusted their adjustment at the last minute, or AWS has a mole.

Re: AWS Responds with Price Cuts: Google vs AWS Pricing Round 2

#6

Post by bowlofpetunias » Mon, Mar 31, 2014, 2:42 PM UTC

I keep expecting Amazon to change their reserved instance policy. Who's going to commit to reserved instances during an ongoing price-war?

Amazon themselves proudly announce it as their 42nd price drop. That's not really a strong selling point for long term contracts.

Re: AWS Responds with Price Cuts: Google vs AWS Pricing Round 2

#7

Post by bdicasa » Mon, Mar 31, 2014, 3:09 PM UTC

bowlofpetunias wrote: post #6

I keep expecting Amazon to change their reserved instance policy. Who's going to commit to reserved instances during an ongoing price-war? Amazon themselves proudly announce it as their 42nd price drop. That's not really a strong selling point for long term contracts.

Kind of frustrating, really. I just bought 2 reserved instances about 6 weeks ago. Would have saved a nice penny if I waited.

It's definitely nice to see the pricing become more affordable over time though. Before this cut I really struggled going with AWS, but wouldn't even need to think about choosing them after this reduction.

Re: AWS Responds with Price Cuts: Google vs AWS Pricing Round 2

#8

Post by avalaunch » Mon, Mar 31, 2014, 3:11 PM UTC

bdicasa wrote: post #7

bowlofpetunias wrote: post #6

I keep expecting Amazon to change their reserved instance policy. Who's going to commit to reserved instances during an ongoing price-war? Amazon themselves proudly announce it as their 42nd price drop. That's not really a strong selling point for long term contracts.

Kind of frustrating, really. I just bought 2 reserved instances about 6 weeks ago. Would have saved a nice penny if I waited. It's definitely nice to see the pricing become more affordable over time though. Before this cut I really struggled going with AWS, but wouldn't even need to think about choosing them after this reduction.

You should contact support. I hear aws is really nice about offering price reductions in situations like yours.

Re: AWS Responds with Price Cuts: Google vs AWS Pricing Round 2

#9

Post by pdq » Mon, Mar 31, 2014, 3:13 PM UTC

evan_ wrote: post #5

I'm surprised this is being cast as Amazon responding to Google's price cuts- the AWS conference was scheduled months in advance so if anything Google heard about the price cuts and announced their own just ahead of the conference as a (successful; apparently) attempt to take the wind out of Amazon's announcement. Interesting that they dropped by the same amount; either it was a lucky guess, Amazon adjusted their adj…

I'll go with Occam's Razor: Amazon just responded to Google's newly announced pricing. To believe they guessed correctly or they have a "mole" is pretty far fetched.

Re: AWS Responds with Price Cuts: Google vs AWS Pricing Round 2

#10

Post by outside1234 » Mon, Mar 31, 2014, 3:24 PM UTC

evan_ wrote: post #5

I'm surprised this is being cast as Amazon responding to Google's price cuts- the AWS conference was scheduled months in advance so if anything Google heard about the price cuts and announced their own just ahead of the conference as a (successful; apparently) attempt to take the wind out of Amazon's announcement. Interesting that they dropped by the same amount; either it was a lucky guess, Amazon adjusted their adj…

At the Amazon, Microsoft, and Google level, I'd suspect that everyone is looking at the same costs in a spreadsheet and saying, "Well, I guess its time to drop to X since it costs Y -- and we might as well do that before the other guys".