Why Cloud Computing is like your Smartphone

Back in 2005, I got my first "smart" phone- a Palm Treo 650. Wow, was it ever cool to be able to surf the web and read email on my phone. Unfortunately, the Treo as an actual phone was pretty poor- I had traded in the ability to have a good phone conversation in exchange for a revolutionary (for its time) data device.

About 2 years later, I replaced the aging Treo with a Samsung Blackjack. The Blackjack improved upon my awful mobile phone experience (I could actually make and receive calls!) and improved upon my data experience with 3G network speeds.

Following the Blackjack, I got a Blackberry Bold. The screen was the real improvement, which led to a richer browser experience, but I still had some frustrations around audio calls.

I finally joined the iPhone community in the last year as my Bold got long in the tooth. Typing on the touch screen for me is still a mixed experience, although I am used to it now, and the display, applications, data speed and audio phone experience all come together in a strong consumer device.

So why will cloud computing be like your smartphone experience? You'll start out in the "Treo" phase: there will be some initial joy as you first experience cloud- new ways of solving problems based on new capabilities(Wow! I can surf the web on my phone!). But, there will be some tradeoffs (...I like to surf but the phone experience is terrible...) and a learning curve.

As you sort out what cloud means to your business, you'll look to take the next step into the "BlackJack" phase: Do you optimise for cost? performance? resiliency? Some areas of your business may be able to immediately realise the benefits of cloud computing, and other areas may take some real work.

After giving cloud a try (the "Treo" phase) and experimenting with what works (the "Blackjack phase"), you'll have an idea of how cloud truly impacts your business- the "Blackberry phase". Your cloud implementations, be they public, private, or hybrid, will have reached a level of functional maturity.

Just when you think you've mastered the game, there will be opportunity for both optimization and disruption- the "iPhone" phase. This is the revolution not evolution phase, from plateau to hockey stick, where your cloud implementation offers more business advantage than you had planned for, or perhaps even thought possible.

Ultimately cloud computing is changing at an ever accelerating pace, and could be a two steps forward, one step back experience. However, five years from now, cloud computing will be like a smartphone. Ubiquitious.