IBM Runs Into Stormy Weather with Cloud Computing

Big Blue has lost some friends in the clouds. This weekend, IBM was in the eye of a storm dealing with companies such as Google, Amazon.com, and Microsoft. The Internet search giant, the online retailer and the software behemoth all withdrew support for IBM's effort to launch a cloud-computing initiative.

Members of the Cloud Computing Interoperability Forum (CCIF) also pulled their support.

The core issue behind the loss of support was IBM's manifesto. Some companies weren't happy about being invited late in the process, while others believe there are some political efforts under way.

Not an Open Process

The CCIF's organizer, Reuven Cohen, said because the group represents members from various industries, it could not endorse just one document.

"I don't think anyone had any issues with the document, that was hard to argue with and I'm an advocate for an open ecosystem for cloud computing," Cohen said. "The issue is a lot of people in the community -- small and big companies and individuals -- believe cloud is an approachable technology."

The CCIF could not endorse the manifesto because some of its members didn't agree that it was an open and fair process. "They feared that it was overly political and may have agendas," Cohen said.

"While Google isn't party to the manifesto, we are a strong advocate of cloud computing, given the substantial benefits for consumers and businesses," said Google's Jon Murchinson. "We value industry dialog that results in more and better delivery of software and services via the Internet, and appreciate IBM's leadership and commitment in this area. We continue to be open to interoperability with all vendors and any data."

Poking Holes in IBM

"Microsoft is behaving the way it behaves and IBM is behaving the way it always behaves," said Kelly Sims, a spokesperson for IBM. "It is not surprising that folks are looking for ways to poke holes in what IBM is doing."

Sims said everyone was approached relatively at the same time and that the effort came together in just weeks.

Thirty-five companies and organizations have signed on to the manifesto, which went live Monday morning. Companies including EMC, Sun Microsystems, and AT&T are on board, as are the Open Cloud Consortium and The Open Group.

"Seventeen new ones have contacted us this morning and clearly they are not scaring off everyone," Sims said of Microsoft, Amazon and Google. "It is pretty impressive when you take away the Microsoft versus the world battle."

Next to Come

IBM said the manifesto was drafted and went live in order to get a conversation started, but the most important steps will come in the next few months.

"It is important to embrace this for what it is, and that is an early step (in the process)," Sims said. "This is going to be a significant effort."

Microsoft to Shut Down Encarta Web Sites

Microsoft is shutting down its Encarta encyclopedia Web sites and will also discontinue its Student and Premium Encarta software products.

"The category of traditional encyclopedias and reference material has changed," reads a note explaining the move on the MSN Encarta Web site. "People today seek and consume information in considerably different ways than in years past."

The Encarta Web sites worldwide will shut down on Oct. 31 and Microsoft will stop selling the software products by June this year. One exception is the Encarta Japan Web site, which will stay live until the last day of this year.

People who have paid for a subscription to MSN Encarta Premium, which offers them access to more information, will get a refund for fees paid beyond April 30, although they'll continue to be able to access the site until it shuts down in October.

Microsoft will continue to offer technical support for the software products for three years.

The software giant has discontinued a couple of other products recently. Late last year it announced it would stop selling OneCare, its consumer antivirus product. It also killed off a mobile browser research product last year.

Its rival Google has discontinued quite a few more offerings recently, presumably in response to pressure from the deteriorating economic conditions. Google has shut down Jaiku, Mashup Editor, Dodgeball, Catalog Search, Google Notebook and Print Ads.