Thinking Digital Conference: The region's future could be in the clouds

May 14 2009 By Andrew Mernin, The Journal

A NEW generation of businesses could be created in the region on the back of an emerging technology which is fast becoming the darling of the IT world.
 
A hot topic at today’s Thinking Digital conference was cloud computing – a rapidly developing technology which gives businesses instant, on-demand access to vast IT infrastructure via the web.
 
According to Amazon, which is operating at the forefront of cloud computing technology, it could prove a major catalyst for new businesses and entrepreneurs.
 
Amazon’s web services division offers businesses a range of services that allow them access to computer networks ‘in the cloud’.
 
According to the company’s Simone Brunozzi, cloud computing could be one the most significant boosts to entrepreneurialism for over a hundred years.
 
He likens the dawn of the technology – which can help small businesses expand quickly without heavy investment in IT infrastructure – to the invention of electricity.
 
Speaking at the Thinking Digital conference he said: “If you think of electricity, 150 years ago it enabled everyone, small businesses and innovators to do more things.
 
“Those guys were able to start new businesses and thrive, and it’s the same for cloud computing.
 
“When you have something that’s very easy to set up, a new idea, the time to market is much shorter than is used to be.
 
Mr Brunozzi also said cloud computing challenges the misconception that young start-ups have to spend huge proportions of their budgets on IT systems.