News Release

SAN JOSE, Calif., Oct. 15, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sphere 3D Corp. (NASDAQ:ANY), a "next cloud" containerization, virtualization and data management solution provider, today announced the availability of the Glassware 2.0™ containerization technology on the Microsoft Azure cloud platform. Azure customers will have access to the full breadth and scope of Sphere 3D's enterprise Glassware 2.0 offering, which includes core containerization technology to simplify Windows and non-Windows application migration to the cloud.

"To understand the scale of the market opportunity for Sphere 3D's solutions, consider that businesses must migrate their legacy applications to the cloud or latest operating systems in order to have maximum efficiency, and many want to migrate to SaaS business models. Also consider that Windows 10 has been installed on 75 million machines in its first few weeks of availability and this OS is expected to run on nearly one billion devices globally within the next three years," said Eric Kelly, CEO of Sphere 3D.

He continued, "Organizations of all sizes are going to require a migration plan for the millions of users currently utilizing legacy applications. Designed from the ground up to specifically address the need for on-demand application delivery, Glassware 2.0 technology on Microsoft Azure solves the challenges associated with transitioning applications to the cloud, be it web-scalability, mobility, infrastructure management or cloud compatibility."

Requiring no code re-writes or translation, Glassware 2.0 eliminates the complex task of designing, implementing, and maintaining application hosting environments, while providing industry leading application session density and scale. Glassware 2.0 can virtualize 16-, 32- and 64-bit Microsoft Windows applications, and is uniquely capable of running non-Windows software as well. Non-Windows workloads can be ported to the cloud by deploying Sphere 3D's proprietary Microvisor technology within containers. The Sphere 3D Microvisor has the intelligence to utilize only the essential elements of the operating system needed to successfully migrate non-windows software applications to the modern data center.

Sphere 3D's containerization technology delivers applications with their native functionality to most end-user devices including Chromebooks, Windows 10 devices, iPads, thin clients, and tablets.  And unlike other hypervisor-based approaches, with Glassware 2.0 containers, the application's host OS is never installed on the appliance (server). Instead, Glassware 2.0 provides only the necessary elements of the OS (kernel) needed for applications to run, allowing organizations with legacy applications to migrate to more robust and current hardware platforms, free from end-of-life support concerns and security vulnerabilities. Whether it is an enterprise looking to modernize their current or older line of business applications, or a software vendor considering seeking a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) business model, the "write once run anywhere" approach afforded by Glassware 2.0 removes the risk and costs of application mobility and migration.

"The next cloud will be primarily a hybrid cloud, meaning today's globally-distributed businesses with mobile workforces need IT solutions that deliver flexible, scalable and secure environments while maintaining productivity," said Mark Bowker, senior analyst, Enterprise Strategy Group, Inc. "Sphere 3D's Glassware 2.0 Windows containerization technology allows the modernization and mobilization of applications without the need to invest in new application development and infrastructure, which is commonly required when implementing traditional hypervisor-based virtualization solutions. The simplicity of its application containerization methodology, along with the ease it provides for mobilizing legacy applications, makes this a game changer."

Sphere 3D's Glassware 2.0 architecture is available on Azure through two delivery models:

• For delivering applications from 100s to 100,000s of Users—Sphere 3D Exosphere™ on Microsoft Azure Cloud
  • Powered by Sphere 3D's Glassware 2.0 technology
  • Network aware applications delivery
  • Globally distributed and a hybrid-cloud supported
  • Pure consumption model for Windows applications
  • Most secure cloud application delivery in the industry
  • Available now: through direct solution delivery engagement
  • For more information on Exosphere, visit: www.sphere3d.com/exosphere
• For delivering applications with 10s to 100s of Users—Glassware G-Series in Microsoft Azure Marketplace
  • Powered by Sphere 3D's Glassware 2.0 technology
  • Virtual appliance for application containerization
  • Applications available for less than a penny per user/ hour and 1/10^th the cost compared to traditional cloud computing alternatives
  • General availability slated  for November 2015
  • For more information on G-Series in the Microsoft Azure Marketplace visit: http://sphere3d.com/glassware-gseries/  

About Sphere 3D

Sphere 3D Corp. (NASDAQ:ANY) delivers containerization and virtualization technologies along with data management products that enable workload-optimized solutions. We achieve this through a combination of containerized applications, virtual desktops, virtual storage and physical hyper-converged platforms. Sphere 3D's value proposition is simple and direct—we allow organizations to deploy a combination of public, private or hybrid cloud strategies while backing them up with state of the art storage solutions.  Sphere 3D, along with its wholly-owned subsidiaries Overland Storage and Tandberg Data, has a strong portfolio of brands including Glassware 2.0™, SnapCLOUD™, SnapScale®, SnapServer®, V3, RDX®, and NEO®. For more information, visit www.sphere3d.com. 

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements including statements regarding the functionality of our containerization technology. . Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of risks and uncertainties including, without limitation, the; market adoption and performance of our products; the level of success of our collaborations and business partnerships; possible actions by customers, partners, suppliers, competitors or regulatory authorities; and other risks detailed from time to time in Sphere 3D's periodic reports contained in our Annual Information Form and other filings with Canadian securities regulators (www.sedar.com) and in the periodic reports file with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (www.sec.gov). Sphere 3D undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

CONTACT: Media Contact:
         Jennifer Guerra, Mindshare PR for Sphere 3D
         Jennifer@mindsharepr.com
         1-831-443-0489