IBM puts India on cloud computing map

Global computing giant IBM launched a "cloud computing" centre in Bangalore, putting the country on the world map in an emerging area that takes IT one step closer to being a utility service, reports Narayanan Madhavan.

Global computing giant IBM on Wednesday launched a "cloud computing" centre in Bangalore, putting the country on the world map in an emerging area that takes information technology one step closer to being a utility service like electricity or water – with users sharing a common set of hardware and software and paying only what they use.

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The Indian centre, which is just getting started, can potentially help small and medium businesses (SMBs) cut down costs and boost innovations. IBM is targeting e-governance, microfinance and telecommunications among industries that could use the Indian centre. In effect, cloud computing would enable small entrepreneurs to increase IT usage without worrying about coughing up large amounts in capital expenditure on data centre or expensive software. They will partly use both hardware and software like rented rooms paid for on the basis of actual usage.

“In Diwali shopping, for instance, if you are managing a store in a peak period which generates high volumes that you need to manage, a cloud centre provides you that ability,” said Ponani Gopalakrishnan, vice-president, IBM's India Software Lab, which employs 1,600 research experts.