IBM Launches New Cloud Services for MSPs

As more companies aim to compete with the likes of Amazon and Salesforce.com (News - Alert), IBM announced new cloud services and initiatives designed for managed service providers (MSPs).

As more clients embrace cloud computing, they are looking to local MSPs to help them quickly develop cloud-based services in a more “simplistic, secure and economical way,” IBM (News - Alert) officials said.

As such, IBM will offer MSPs and customers the ability to build services on IBM’s SmartCloud, PureSystems and analytics. IBM will also provide MSPs access to IBM experts with technical skills needed for cloud implementations.

“Because clients today have changed the way they purchase IT, a MSP or cloud provider must demonstrate a level of trust before the managed services relationship starts,” Charles Weaver (News - Alert), CEO of MSP Alliance, said in a company statement. “How they market  themselves often will be the difference between success and failure. This new set of initiatives IBM is launching today reinforces the company’s commitment to ensure this community has the right marketing support and technologies to effectively succeed in this segment.”

To date, IBM has relationships with more than 1,400 MSPs, such as Perimeter, Symmetry, Velocity, CenterBeam, Oxford Networks, PEER 1 Hosting, Connectria, among others.

In related news, the Wall Street Journal reported this week that IBM would ramp up efforts to sell cloud computing services to midsize businesses.

“The move by IBM, a bellwether for the IT industry because of its global span and breadth of businesses, is aimed at grabbing market share from companies like Amazon.com Inc and Salesforce.com Inc, which have been successful in the mid-market,” Reuters (News - Alert) said.

IBM recently announced its sponsorship of the new OpenStack Foundation, an independent entity, to promote the project and open source cloud computing.  OpenStack Foundation’s ranking membership comprises some fairly major names – the organization is run by a board of 24, including eight Platinum sponsors, eight Gold sponsors and eight individuals – such as HP, IBM, and AT&T (News - Alert), who are among the Platinum Members who each get a seat on the board.

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