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IBM prepares rollout for its own 'cloud computing' suite

IBM gets ino the "cloud"

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RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. – Cloud computing, the hottest emerging solution for information technology, will receive a big boost this week as IBM (NYSE: IBM) prepares to launch its own cloud products.

“In the cloud market, IBM plans to take a tailored approach,” the New York Times was reporting Monday. “The hardware and software in its cloud offerings will be meant for specific computing chores. Just as Google runs a computing cloud optimized for Internet search, IBM will make bespoke (tailored) clouds for computing workloads in business.”

Big Blue is not the first player in the cloud space by any means, but its formal entrance into the market certainly gives the nascent service substantial credibility.

IBM defines cloud computing this way:

“Cloud computing is a potentially cost-efficient model for provisioning processes, applications and services while making IT management easier and more responsive to the needs of the business. These services – computation services, storage services, networking services, whatever is needed – are delivered and made available in a simplified way – 'on demand' regardless of where the user is or the type of device they're using.”

ZDNet notes that IBM will offer “three flavors” of cloud offerings:

• A private cloud built by IBM inside a company’s firewall dubbed the IBM Smart Business Test Cloud;
• A preview service that runs on IBM’s cloud infrastructure. Big Blue named this service the rather clunky “IBM Smart Business Application Development & Test featuring Rational ‘Software Delivery Services.’”
• IBM CloudBurst, an integrated system with service management software.

The Times points out that analysts have said cloud computing “has the potential to cut the costs, complexity and headaches of technology for companies and government agencies.”

According to ZDNet, IBM’s developing and testing offerings “may be most interesting. IBM is arguing that software developers are becoming the innovation center of companies, but need a more efficient way to test new applications. The idea: Give developers self-serve cloud options since enterprises devote 30 percent to 50 percent of their infrastructure to development and testing.”

IBM’s commitment to the cloud is a major one. It already operates cloud labs in:

• Silicon Valley
• Dublin, Ireland
• Hanoi, Vietnam
• Beijing, China
• Johannesburg, South Africa
• Tokyo, Japan
• São Paulo, Brazil
• Bangalore, India
• Seoul, Korea

Big Blue also is planning a webcast about the cloud on June 25. You might want to tune in. Should be interesting.

The Skinny

WRAL Local Tech Wire Publisher and Editor Rick Smith dishes out tidbits from the local technology sector. Read more articles…