Bluemix, IBM's open cloud development platform, is now generally available with new services, clients and systems integrators using it to develop applications in the cloud. Bluemix, available on the IBM Cloud Marketplace, now includes more than 50 services for building cloud-based business applications.
Bluemix runs on the SoftLayer infrastructure and combines IBM’s middleware software with other open services and tools from IBM partners and its developer ecosystem to offer DevOps in the cloud – an open, agile development model scalable from one-person startups to large enterprises. The growing catalog includes tools in categories such as big data, social, mobile, security, and the Internet of Things, and for industries ranging from mobile commerce, academia, advertising, and emerging spaces such as wearables.
IBM continues to deploy more of its own technology onto Bluemix. For example, IBM's MQ Light messaging service is now available on Bluemix and IBM’s Cloud Marketplace to help developers quickly and easily connect different components of an application together in the cloud – regardless of programming language. IBM also deployed Gamification services to Bluemix to help create new systems of engagement for cloud applications across a range of industries, which offer game-like incentives.
New business partner services being added to Bluemix and the IBM Cloud Marketplace include Redis Cloud to help developers use the cloud to rapidly access huge volumes of data and run their Redis data sets. Bluemix users will now be able to connect to Redis using the powerful and global IBM SoftLayer cloud – helping to improve both the scalability and availability of the data they need to build cloud applications.
Other new business partner services include those from Sonian, adding to an array of solutions to help developers organize and mine Big Data. Sonian’s flagship service, Email Archive, helps users better capitalize on the vast amounts of data generated from email, attachments and other intellectual property. Another new Bluemix service from ClearChat enables users to develop and test for multiple mobile platforms such as iOS and Android. ClearChat’s mobile services provide common channels for users of an application to communicate – regardless of platform or device.
IBM also announced that in addition to its Global Business Services organization, which has trained more than 80,000 consultants on Bluemix to help clients rapidly deliver mobile and web applications, other leading systems integrators, including Computer Sciences Corporation, are also using Bluemix to help their clients design and deploy cloud strategies.
Announced as part of IBM’s $1 billion investment in cloud computing, Bluemix is built on Cloud Foundry’s open technology, and was created to enable business to rapidly adjust to customer needs by allowing developers to mix and match different interoperable app services and tools. For more information on IBM Bluemix, visit www.bluemix.net.