What's cloud computing? Trying to throw some light on it...

Ever wondered what the heck is Cloud Computing? Cloud computing refers to the use of Internet ("cloud") based computer technology for a variety of services. It is a style of computing in which dynamically scalable and often virtualised resources are provided as a service over the Internet. Users need not have knowledge of, expertise in, or control over the technology infrastructure "in the cloud" that supports them.

The concept incorporates software as a service (SaaS), Web 2.0 and other recent, well-known technology trends, in which the common theme is reliance on the Internet for satisfying the computing needs of the users. Often-quoted examples are Salesforce.com and Google Apps which provide common business applications online that are accessed from a web browser, while the software and data are stored on the servers.

The cloud is a metaphor for the Internet, based on how it is depicted in computer network diagrams, and is an abstraction for the complex infrastructure it conceals. Right now not many regular users of internet are aware about this cloud computing but as early as the second half of 2010 will see tremendous growth of public involvement in cloud computing.

Google and Microsoft are right now involved in an head-on collision based on cloud computing but the clear leader in this market as of now is surprisingly Amazon with its heavy user base and innovative strategies. Should wait and see what's cooking between these guys and how we are gonna benefit by these cloud wars.

Pic labnol

Source :: WIKIPEDIA