Predictive Analytics, Cloud Computing, and IBM

Recently I've mused at the planned acquisition of SPSS by IBM and the possibility of bringing predictive analytics in a completely new and radical way to the business audience similar to what Microsoft did with Farecast in Bing. In a recent article in Forbes.com, Erich Clementi, IBM GM for cloud computing revealed that

"In the next six months, IBM plans to extend its cloud computing offerings to include a range of business analytics tools"

Business analytics tools on top of cloud computing is certainly interesting, but not totally new. A few small and big BI software providers are already hard at work developing their SaaS offerings. Note: See an example of Cloud BI with Good Data - a Marc Andreessen's funded company.

The fact that IBM is serious about cloud-computing and already publicly mentioning business analytics as one of the cloud services is worth taking notice. The interesting part is what could happen in 18-24 months from now, when SPSS integration is essentially completed and new development projects well under way. Could we see Cloud Predictive?

It is certainly a far more creative possibility than just selling SPSS enterprise software licenses using a direct or indirect channel. No doubt IBM has made a number of interesting moves and announcements in the last few months.

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Top 500 Tracks of the 2000s

If you like to explore music, discover new bands, or simply read an opinionated album review of your favorite artist, go to Pitchfork. I recommend their Top 500 Tracks of the 2000s. Check out what you have missed in the past 9 years and let me know if you find something worth sharing. Happy listening.

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