IBM Announces New SmartCloud Services, Java PaaS

IBM announced a host of new cloud offerings as part of its IBM SmartCloud initiative, including a new Java platform as a service.

Big Blue announced new cloud services and software to provide choice, security and portability for enterprises as they shift workloads to the cloud and use it as a platform for business. 

IBM said it plans to support about 200 million users by the end of 2012 as clients shift core applications and processes to the IBM SmartCloud. Specifically, IBM is launching: 

• IBM SmartCloud Application Services: A new platform as a service that will give enterprises the cost and time savings of a cloud environment for a wide range of enterprise applications while maintaining a high level of control and security over deployment and access. 
• IBM SmartCloud Foundation: A new portfolio of breakthrough cloud software and hardware that allow enterprises to quickly deploy and control clouds within their own firewalls.  
• IBM SmartCloud Ecosystem: New services for IBM partners and independent software vendors (ISVs) to help thousands of small and midsize business clients adopt cloud models and manage millions of cloud-based transactions by assisting their customers in areas as diverse as banking, communications, health care and government to build their own clouds or securely tap into the IBM SmartCloud.   

According to a new IBM survey of more than 500 business and IT leaders, only 33 percent have deployed more than a cloud pilot today, but that number is expected to more than double in the next three years. By 2015, 40 percent of the respondents say the cloud will bring "substantial change" and 30 percent say the cloud will drive the invention of business models and revenue streams.   

"Enterprise clients are much more conservative because their revenue, reputation and supply chain are closely related to the performance and security of their infrastructure," said Erich Clementi, senior vice president at IBM, in a statement. "Our focus with SmartCloud will bring the benefits of this model in a way that supports enterprise-level service, leverages existing investments and opens new doors to productivity and innovation."

IBM launched a new version of its public cloud for the enterprise, the IBM SmartCloud, with new services including a platform as a service designed to meet the needs of enterprise application development, deployment and management on the cloud. 

Available in beta in the fourth quarter, IBM SmartCloud Application Services will offer enterprise-grade security, open Java and cross-platform support with no vendor lock-in, and a comprehensive set of application infrastructure and managed services to enable development and deployment of applications to the cloud. 

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