IBM, is forming a new Cloud Services division, this announcement comes along with the announcement of IBMs acquisition of Softlayer, a leading cloud infrastructure provider. This new division will combine SoftLayer with IBM SmartCloud into a global platform. The new division would address the service requirements of both IBM and SoftLater clients, ISVs, channel partners and technology partners. SoftLayer’s services will complement the existing portfolio with its focus, simplicity and speed. The division will report to Erich Clementi, Senior Vice President, IBM Global Technology Services.
With the SoftLayer Technologies, Inc. acquisition, the world’s largest privately held cloud computing infrastructure provider, IBM’s expects to strengthen its leadership position in cloud computing. This acquisition is expected to help speed business adoption of public and private cloud solutions. Financial terms of the deal has not been disclosed.
IBM is acquiring SoftLayer to make it easier and faster for clients around the world to incorporate cloud computing by marrying the speed and simplicity of SoftLayer’s public cloud services with the enterprise grade reliability, security and openness of the IBM SmartCloud portfolio. SoftLayer accelerates IBM’s ability to integrate public and private clouds for its clients, with flexibility that provides deployment options that enable a faster, broader transformation for small, medium and large businesses with a range of performance and security models.
Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, SoftLayer serves approximately 21,000 customers with a global cloud infrastructure platform spanning 13 data centers in the U.S., Asia and Europe. Among its many innovative cloud infrastructure services, SoftLayer allows clients to buy enterprise-class cloud services on dedicated or shared servers, offering clients a choice of where to deploy their applications. These clients will benefit greatly as new enterprise grade functionality from IBM emerges for SoftLayer customers, who will then have a unique opportunity to incorporate it as their business grows.