IBM unveils new cloud specialties

IBM is planning to launch new skills development, marketing, technical and sales programmes to help its business partners cash in on cloud and analytics trends.

The company says that 95% of analytics conversations with mid-sized organisations are driven by a network of analytics-focused IBM business partners that has grown to nearly 1000 companies today.

A recent IBM developerWorks survey of more than 2000 IT professionals worldwide showed that 91% believe cloud computing will overtake on-premise computing as the primary way organisations acquire IT by 2015.

"Many IT companies are looking to grow their businesses via the cloud and analytics opportunities, and customers are looking to work with those who can demonstrate credibility and proven experience," said Jim Corgel, GM ISV and Developer Relations, IBM.

"The initiatives announced today will help clients identify the top cloud and analytics providers, and help our partners engage more closely with each other and with IBM in these key growth areas."

IBM says it currently provides its 120,000 business partners with the resources they need to help them grow their businesses. But the new initiatives will focus more on cloud computing and business analytics as two substantial opportunities.

An IBM Cloud Computing Specialty has also been revealed that will support five types of business partner:

• Cloud Application Providers -- deliver business applications via a subscription model through the cloud such as Software as a Service
• Cloud Builders -- design, build and manage clients' cloud needs, typically integrating with existing infrastructure and public, private and hybrid clouds.
• Cloud Infrastructure Providers -- provide a public cloud infrastructure or Platform as a Service on which application providers and companies can host their offerings
• Cloud Services Solution Providers -- resell multiple public cloud services and offer complementary services such as training and integration
• Cloud Technology Providers -- provide the tools, services and technologies -- such as cloud management, billing metering and monitoring -- that help clients use the cloud more effectively