Cloud computing has been one of the buzzwords on the lips of IT folks for a few years now, but it’s really just been in the past year that the average consumer is aware of the technology. Cloud computing, in the most basic sense, is the running of applications via Internet-based third party providers. The best example of cloud computing is in the area of email, where services like Gmail have been providing service for years.
Over the past year, cloud computing storage providers like Dropbox have popped up, making consumers more aware of the cloud. Apple’s release of iCloud alongside iOS 5 is bringing the cloud to a much wider audience, as well.
So, what does the future hold for cloud computing? There are several likely trends we’ll see in the next few years:
- Cloud solutions beyond email and online storage will reach consumers. While enterprises and larger businesses are already using cloud solutions for many different types of applications, at this point the two areas that have hit the consumer world have been storage and email. Those two areas will doubtlessly grow, but we’ll also see increasing popularity for other applications.
- Smartphones will become consumers’ hubs for cloud applications. The beauty of cloud applications is that they can be run on many different types of devices and from anywhere with an Internet connection. For most users, that means access via smartphones. Users always have smartphones on hand, and smartphones bring Internet capability right along with them.
- Home users will dabble in “thin” clients. The thin client will never take over the home consumer space, largely because the capability to provide intense graphics for gaming and other uses requires beefy hardware. That said, for users who operate primarily in the cloud, low-end “disposable” appliance-type computers will continue to gain ground. The $100 off-the-shelf PC isn’t that far away, and cloud computing will only serve to push the market further in that direction.
- The Freemium model will continue to grow and dominate the cloud. The most widely used cloud application – Gmail – is free to end users. Most consumer cloud applications offer a free basic version, but charge a premium for advanced features or more resources. Freemium and subscription models will continue to duke it out, with most vendors going for a hybrid of the two.
- Cloud computing will add to the Apple/Google feud. Cloud solutions are just fuel on the fire. In some ways, the competition is good for the marketplace. For consumers stuck in the middle, though, it will be frustrating, especially as the major players offer fewer and fewer options for using or connecting to the competitor’s product. Accessing iCloud on an Android, for example, is a non-starter. This may lead to dominance for one or the other, or it may mean opportunity for plenty of third parties who are able to provide truly cross-platform cloud solutions. In the end, that’s probably the best scenario, as cross-platform functionality should be at the heart of any cloud computing solution.
Eric Greenwood is a seasoned writer in technology, specializing in online storage. You can find more of his articles located at OnlineStorage.org.