Here's a nice Instructable I thought was worth posting.

The big software companies (Amazon, Google, Microsoft) are all working hard and providing Cloud  Robotic Services for the new world.  In this tutorial he does a complete build out with a very interesting omni-microphone & raspi.

For Backend services Amazon has free developer use cloud services. I like Moz4r's idea of a distributed MRL cloud services.

The nice thing about cloud services is typically the provider is trying to make your life simple with interfacing.  It allows easy contrast and compare senarios too.  For example Kwatters Borg'd in Natural Speaking in less than a day.  (Good easy to use, well documented APIs are key ;)