IBM opened four new cloud computing centers in emerging markets. They are in Sao Paulo, Brazil; Bangalore, India; Seoul, Korea; and Hanoi, Vietnam, where there is an increasing demand for Internet-based computing models and skills to help companies compete in highly competitive environments. With previously opened centers in both emerging and mature markets, IBM now has 13 cloud computing centers, the world's largest network of expertise on cloud computing.

At a time when organizations of all sizes are facing extreme data overload, skyrocketing energy costs, increasingly complex regulatory requirements and competition from more nimble economies, cloud computing is emerging as a shift across all industries. This computing model allows businesses and consumers alike to remotely access a vast computing resource that can be tapped on-demand to deliver next-generation services that consumers demand, like online medical records or mobile stock portfolio management. It also improves energy efficiency because of its principle as a shared infrastructure, and allows organizations to better track information, pay for what they use and access more computing, storage, services or applications on demand.

For nearly a year, IBM has been building cloud computing infrastructures for clients around the world and establishing cloud projects in IBM cloud computing environments. The centers are available for clients across multiple industries such as banking, telecommunications, government, education, and hosting services.

In Vietnam, universities, government ministries and telecommunication vendors are leaders in adopting new technology such as cloud computing, which helps to create new services. In Korea, the new center will provide architecture skills and pilot projects for industries such as banking, telecommunications, government, education, and information technology hosting services. In India, clients such as mid-market vendors, universities, telecommunications companies and government bodies will be able to access the center for the resources they need to pilot cloud infrastructures and applications, and deliver new services to their customers. Clients in Brazil will use the new center to generate business such as massive scale collaboration programs. As Internet users in Brazil acquire more mobility, cloud computing will make Web-based business operations more efficient.

Among the first customers to use the new centers is the Association for Promotion of Brazilian Software Excellence (SOFTEX).

"An effective innovation solution requires an information technology (IT) environment that can quickly respond to changes in demand. SOFTEX has chosen IBM cloud computing to help us promote collaboration," said Arnaldo Bacha, vice president of SOFTEX. "IBM Idea Factory accommodates innovation among our employees, customers and partners. It is the first step for SOFTEX to adopt this cutting-edge technology."

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