16th Entry: Up in the cloud

What caught my attention during last week’s talk was the concept of cloud computing and how it can be a device to increase efficiency and IT capabilities while at the same time lower business expenses.

Being the not-so-techie kind of person that I am, I have to consult my favorite website for more information on cloud computing. According to Wikipedia, cloud computing “is a way of computing, via the Internet, that broadly shares computer resources instead of using software or storage on a local PC.” Cloud computing does not only lessen capital expenditures on hardware, software and services, but also further decreases operating expenses by distributing resources and costs to a large pool of users, such that in the end, users only pay for what they use (usually on a per-use or subscription basis). Aside from savings, cloud computing has other benefits such as greater accessibility (users can access systems regardless of location or device), increased efficiency (for systems that are underutilized) and easier maintenance (as applications need not be installed on each user’s computer).

Apple, in fact, has been increasingly involved in cloud computing with its recent acquisition of Lala (a website which sells songs and allows users to stream and store songs, akin to an “online music locker”). Although Apple has its own iTunes, this media player does not allow users to stream full song. However, with the acquisition of Lala, techies speculate that iTunes will soon offer storage and streaming of music over the internet. Pushing music and movies to the cloud will certainly make available the much-needed space in your storage-constrained iPhone, iPod or iPad.

Now is cloud computing feasible in the Philippines? For urban Metro Manila, perhaps yes as internet is readily available here. However, there is much question whether cloud computing will work in the provinces. Consider, for instance, that back in the province, access to an adequate and workable internet connection is still hard to come by. The benefits of cloud computing can be fully reaped once basic infrastructure is set in place. Unfortunately, in this country, basic infrastructure has to wait, as our leaders are still preoccupied with other “important” matters, such as getting elected.

(http://www.macworld.com/article/146851/2010/03/apple_cloud_video.html; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloud_computing Photo: http://lonewolflibrarian.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/cloud-computing-kitchen-sink.jpg)