Apple fuels cloud computing hype all over again

Apple iCloud is not cloud computing.

You know what iCloud is? Streaming media. In other words, it's a Web service. Not relevant to cloud; not even in the ballpark.

Big IT providers are feeling their way into true cloud infrastructure services. Fujitsu has opened the doors on its U.S. cloud service, and HP is slated to -- shocker -- make a cloud announcement at HP Discover next week that will likely fill in the gaps between HP's converged infrastructure line and the fact that enterprises want cloud computing services, which HP hasn't got, period.

As for IBM, it recently brushed up the SmartCloud service and re-launched it, Kitchen Nightmares-style, with a slightly more coherent look. It's up to 850 concurrent cloud users, too, which many of you will point and laugh at, but SmartCloud turned over $30 million in revenue last year essentially while still in beta, so laugh that off. IBM's customers are big.

Fujitsu's cloud service is also clearly a first dip in the water; the login asked for the preferred spelling of my name in furigana and, instead of billing me and letting me launch servers, asked about an application for credit with Fujitsu. It then let me build an elaborate simulated networking and server architecture for fun. No, really, it was a little strange for those who've used Infrastructure as a Service before.

AT&T recently let it be known they're spending $1 billion dollars on cloud, which is absolute horse apples because they're lumping mobile, network investment, IT services and some healthcare IT thing in with "cloud-based and emerging services." Besides, they've already got a cloud with Synaptic, but I think I might be the only one who's signed up and tried it out.

Clearly, all of these big vendors and telcos are onboard; they're all fumbling into cloud computing, finally. It's been a strange year so far for the cloud market. An overinflated hype balloon burst sometime near the end of last year, showering technologists with rotting marketing juices, and a new wave of cloud startups are beginning to either bow out or get acquired. Warning: Bring up the Gartner Hype Cycle and you will be deservedly beaten with a Gantt chart.

cloud computing apple ibm fujitsu at&t icloud security cloud computing 

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