A feature chart from CloudFlare, comparing its free and paid plans
(WEB HOST INDUSTRY REVIEW) — Web hosting provider Host Color announced over the weekend that it is planning to start supporting its shared hosting plans with content delivery network services, via three different CDN providers – two of which will be activated in the first two quarters of 2012, and a third, CloudFlare, that is already deployed and available to the company’s customers.
CloudFlare, launched in 2010, provides a set of cloud-based security functions, which has its own performance benefits. It also provides content caching from its 14 locations around the world. CloudFlare offers a free version of its service, which might have something to do with how HostColor is able to offer the service for free.
CloudFlare has several for-pay flavors of its services, which provide a more extensive set of security and performance features. There is no mention in the press release of whether the premium plans will be available to HostColor’s shared customers, but the pricing might be a little prohibitive (the “Pro” plan starts at $20 per month) for a basic shared hosting customer.
The “hosting partners” page on CloudFlare’s website shows an extremely long list of hosting partners making use of the company’s services in some way. There appears to be ample partnership opportunity for hosting providers of all sizes.
According to HostColor, the benefits of the service to its shared hosting customers include faster site loading times, lower CPU usage and general website performance improvement, along with protection from bots, comment spam and other threats.
HostColor says the CDN service can be activated by customers from within the “software/services” section of their account’s cPanel interface. The company says anecdotal evidence from the first group of customers to deploy the service indicates faster loading of websites, and lower ping times from 60 major IT regions.
The company did not reveal the brands of the two other CDN services it plans to extend to its customers in 2012, presumably because the deals are not yet complete.
About Liam Eagle
Liam Eagle has worked as a contributor to the Web Host Industry Review since its inception in 2000, and as editor since 2003. He has been editor of the WHIR's print magazine since its launch. His daily involvement in the gathering and reporting of Web hosting news and his regular interaction with Web hosting leaders gives him an uncommonly broad appreciation of the issues and tends facing the business. Through his WHIR blog, Liam spots Web hosting trends and offers opinions on the industry-wide impacts of major developments and the motivation behind big announcements. Follow him on Twitter @liameagle
No related posts.
