Clouds on the horizon

Cloud computing is poised to alter the skyline in the tech industry.

Over the years, growth in processor speed has moved on at a fairly decent pace, but as time goes by, many users are turning to the internet for their computing needs - and as such, cloud computing seems to be the logical progression of the internet's triumphant growth. A very simple definition of cloud , at this stage, would be "access to software and hardware capabilities remotely over the internet." Now, rather than just processing power limitations, internet bandwidth has become the new parameter for interesting applications on the computer.The foremost defining feature of cloud computing is its service model. The Cloud Substitutes software and hardware capabilities or 'products', and offers them as 'services'. Products and services fundamentally differ in the type of solution they offer - products can provide high value, given that they are used repeatedly over time, covering the cost of purchase. Services offer better value to experimental buyers or those who do not have such extensive usage requirements. It is the difference between renting a car and buying it. Another basic difference is that products are only valuable if the buying party has the capability to efficiently use it. Services are generally offered by professionals who are experts in the field of offering and ensuring better quality of service - especially to those who may not be able to efficiently use a similar product themselves. The Cloud is able to generate service models that are generally cost-effective and of good quality, carving a wide base of customers who previously had to live with buying software and hardware in spite of unfavorable economic conditions.

The second important aspect is virtualization of resources. among the technology's various benefits for cloud computing, it also allows service providers to offer users the flexibility to access and transport data from an internet-enabled computer, mobile phone, or any other computing platform.

Third, cloud-based services can prove to he economically sound. By providing reliable service, like server hosting, to thousands of clients, a cloud-based service provider can cut costs with virtualization and improve service quality while still turning a reasonable profit.

Fourth, cloud computing can help create a competitive mini-ecosystem within the tech industry. Intense competition can fuel research and lower costs. This encourages newer, more innovative products and solutions.