Speaking with a co-worker the other day prompted some reflection around the cloud computing market. There’s been a significant shift in the coverage of cloud related news. The story lines used to lead with confusion – what is this thing? How do we define it? Or as I’ve heard MR Rangawami say, ‘Is it SaaS with lipstick?’
SaaS With Lipstick
No one can agree. And no one interview or conference will ever resolve this burning question. It might not be tidy, but it’s fact.
Instead of attempting to define cloud computing we should instead focus on the value proposition, which almost everyone can agree on. The common demoninator in all cloud solutions / platforms / applications is two fold.
1. You use someone else’s gear.
2. You use someone else’s people.
Voila! Just to get some perspective on how much has changed, I want to post this hilarious Larry Ellison quote from September 2008.
“The interesting thing about cloud computing is that we’ve redefined cloud computing to include everything that we already do. I can’t think of anything that isn’t cloud computing with all of these announcements. The computer industry is the only industry that is more fashion-driven than women’s fashion. Maybe I’m an idiot, but I have no idea what anyone is talking about. What is it? It’s complete gibberish. It’s insane. When is this idiocy going to stop?
Tee hee.
