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IBM causes confusion over cloud computing

March 31, 2009

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IBM says it plans to launch an industry-wide open cloud computing strategy, but the idea has seemingly backfired amid accusations of Big Blue's self-interests among the IT community, especially in the U.S. Some are furious and most of the big players are already pulling out fast.

Microsoft vehemently criticised the idea, saying it was given just two days to sign up to a secret manifesto with no input. For its part, Google outright cancelled its participation after signing up. Amazon also said it would not get involved in any way, shape or form!

Cloud computing is the generic, unofficial term given to the shift of computing power, storage and usage of IT resources from the physical computer on people's desks, in homes and in offices and unto the Internet. Cloud computing has received a lot of buzz lately and is likely to get ven more, especially after IBM's plans are now out in the open...

Microsoft's Steve Martin said "we had some concerns about process and governance that led us to question IBM's real intentions. That is why we backed off, and we don't have any plans to change our mind anytime soon."

The CCIF (Cloud Computing Interoperability Forum) had also added its name to the list of more than thirty companies in the plan. It fully withdrew its support over the weekend.

Companies such as Microsoft, Amazon and Google offer rival cloud computing solutions, including database management, storage and running various processes and software on remote servers. To that end, IBM's move can be understood to a certain degree, but what has the IT community up in arms is the way it did it.

However, there are a few companies left that are still backing IBM's plan and they include Cisco, Sun, AT&T, Red Hat, SAP and AMD.

IBM would not comment over the Google change of heart or that of the CCIF but said it hoped Microsoft would reconsider and get involved in the Open Cloud Manifesto at some stage. Now many observers strongly believe that simply won't happen.

Karla Norsworthy, IBM's v.p. of software standards said "the aim for the Manifesto was simply to serve as a rallying signal to the IT community to get focused around the importance of the cloud environment being open source, nothing more."

News of the manifesto was leaked on March 25 with reports of its formal launch on Mar. 30.

Microsoft came out with a blog post Mar. 26 written by its senior director of developer platform product management Steve Martin: "we are pleased about the number of vendors who have signed up. As to Microsoft, we are still hopeful about working together on giving customers the flexibility they have come to expect from technology that is open source."

In his blog post, Martin said "it appears to us that just one single company would prefer to control the evolution of cloud computing, as opposed to reaching a consensus across key stakeholders through an open process. This goes directly against every grain of the open source concept and that is specifically what has angered us."

When Martin looked at the Manifesto, he added that "parts of it were impossible to object to and other parts were just so vague that we felt additional conversations were needed to understand the intent of IBM's goals, to talk about governance and the lack of visibility of the other players in the IT industry."

Less than an hour later, Google issued a statement saying: "we value industry dialogue that results in more and better delivery of software and services via the Internet and appreciate IBM's leadership and commitment in this area. However, we don't agree with the Manifesto in any way."

"The CCIF has issued a mandate of openness and fair process, loudly and clearly, so we cannot in good faith endorse this Manifesto," said a CCIF spokesperson.

The six-page document calls for the entire IT industry to keep cloud services as open as possible and make it easy for them to interoperate and for customers to switch from one to the other with ease and with no concerns.

Many observers in the industry had been complimentary about the manifesto as a first step towards openness in the early stages of cloud computing, but they have since changed their minds.

"In order for customers to fully appreciate the most benefit, it is critical to truly unite the community together in order to keep the cloud open," said IBM's Norsworthy.

In the next few months, it will be interesting to see how this issue develops itself and how it will impact the rest of the IT community. In the mean time, there's no mistake that cloud computing is here to stay and that other players will capitalize on the opportunity.

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Source: The CCIF.