Through a new set of APIs, Intuit has found a way to offer up any SaaS application.

Written by Chris Smith

It's interesting that certain software companies like Oracle are trying to get into the hardware business, while companies such as IBM,  already in the hardware and software business, are now introducing a series of "appliances" that allow them to sell both hardware and software. There are companies, however, that are simply focusing on what their customers need, which is a more efficient way to run their businesses.

Cloud computing is becoming wildly popular. But is it right for your company?

Written by Vineet Jain

"Cloud computing" has become the latest new "buzz" in the IT world. Old technology is being positioned as "cloud-enabled," and new solutions are popping up as the vanguards of cloud computing. A cloud has been used as a metaphor for the Internet for as long as anyone can remember. However, when the word "computing" is added to "cloud," it takes on a whole new meaning.

In a very broad sense, cloud computing refers to the complete access of resources or computing outside of the local firewall. In a more narrow interpretation, however, cloud computing is the distribution of specific applications and services from dedicated Internet-based virtual servers.

Applications and other computer services for in-house users consume plenty of resources. Virtualization enables outsourcing many of those expenses, but does it make sense for IBM i?

Written by John Ghrist

Outsourcing application and other computer services is far from an original idea for trimming IT budgets. What holds many enterprises back from taking this step are largely control issues, but it doesn't help that the many terms surrounding this kind of service remain murky. Virtualization, Software as a Service (SaaS), cloud computing, application streaming, and application virtualization all seem to be overlapping terms. Adding to the confusion is that vendors offering such services refer to themselves variously as application service providers, hosted service providers, and service bureaus. Finally, there's the problem that vendors providing such services essentially break down into three main types. It can be perplexing.

Tech companies make cloud computing announcements underneath cloudy economic skies.

By Ron Exler

It's been a tough month for the economy in general and the technology sector in particular. Even Microsoft, which had not previously laid off employees, resorted to job cuts. So did AMD, EMC, Ericsson, IBM, Intel, Lenovo, Philips, Seagate, Sprint Nextel, Sun, Texas Instruments, and Yahoo. Yet the news was not all about poor earnings and job cuts. Several of the big vendors rolled out cloud computing enhancements or new offerings. The pace of these announcements suggests a demand for cloud computing alternatives in this tough economy.

Does the hype around cloud computing hold water?

By Ron Exler

There is a storm of hype around enterprise cloud computing these days; one only need to look at recent news from Amazon, IBM, and Microsoft touting the extensive benefits of moving enterprise computing to "the cloud." But what is this nebulous cloud, anyway, and why should an SMB care?