Those who advocate the benefits of cloud computing should take comfort in knowing the flaw that brought down Google's Web application hosting service on Tuesday has been fixed, the Mountain View, Calif.-based search company said.Google App Engine is a free service that targets developers with up to 500 MB of storage and 5 million monthly page views. The glitch involved returned errors to data-store requests from subscribers' hosted sites. "Specifically, we've instituted a set of controls to ensure 1) that datastore queries no longer trigger this particular bug and 2) that bugs like this in the future don't affect the stability of the system as a whole. All of our systems are currently operating smoothly," wrote a Google product manager named Pete.

Separately, Google has introduced three paid service plans for users who need help with Web Site Optimizer, an online tool that tests the effectiveness of a site's content in reaching visitors. The plans range in price from $250 to $1,200, and specify how many questions can be asked and over what time frame.InformationWeek