IBM has announced new solutions for developers to create and deliver software in both public and private cloud environments.

IBM Rational Software Delivery Services for cloud computing include a set of ready-to-use application lifecycle management tools for developing and testing in the IBM Cloud, and use infrastructure management capabilities, to help organizations build software applications in the cloud. With these new services, clients can lower costs and respond quicker to organizational demands. For example, organizations can reduce the time it takes to provision a test environment from weeks to hours, and in some cases even minutes.

IBM Smart Business Development and Test on the IBM Cloud is a free public cloud beta for software development that provides compute and storage as a service, as well as Rational Software Delivery Services to help application developers and testers speed the development and delivery of software applications. IBM is inviting free and open participation at www.ibm.com/cloud/developer.

Organizations must be able to quickly and cost-effectively manage development, testing and deployment of software in often disparate development environments. IBM is providing a framework to help customers centrally manage projects from the cloud, even if they are using third-party or open-source tooling. This brings significant value to customers in terms of cost savings, flexibility, speed, agility and improved governance.

Betas Now Available for Development and Test in the Cloud

IBM Smart Business Development and Test on the IBM Cloud is designed to augment and enhance software development and delivery capabilities, particularly in large enterprises where IT departments handle hundreds of development projects every year. Unlike traditional development environments, developers can log on to IBM Smart Business Development and Test on the IBM Cloud and get access to customizable virtual machines in minutes.

This new environment provides compute and storage as a service, IBM Rational Software Delivery Services, WebSphere and Information Management software to help application developers and testers speed the development and delivery of software applications. To help customers leverage existing investments, these new services support development across heterogeneous environments, including Java, Open Source, and .NET. In addition, pre-configured integrations of some of these IBM Rational services are available based on the Jazz framework, which dynamically integrates and synchronizes people, processes and assets associated with software development projects.

IBM is also extending its IBM Rational Software Delivery Services for cloud computing to a private cloud infrastructure for enterprise customers who prefer governance and control of their own cloud environment. Behind a client's own firewall, these services can provide users with additional development options and customization needed to deploy applications in a private cloud. IBM Rational Software Delivery Services for private cloud environments can be experienced by a limited number of participants.

"Enterprises are looking for optimal business models to lower the cost of developing and deploying software while maximizing existing investments,” said Daniel Sabbah, general manager of IBM Rational Software. “Cloud-based models offer flexible, instant sourcing options based on teams' needs while enhancing control of their delivery models. With more and more customers treating software as a strategic business asset, the combined value of the new offerings can help them gain the utmost value from their investments in IT across the application lifecycle."

The IBM Rational Software Delivery platform can help organizations optimize software investments and lower costs through improved collaboration and governance in a more flexible and agile software environment. IBM Rational Software Delivery Services for cloud computing feature a select set of services optimized and ready for delivering software throughout the enterprise, including:

• Agile development services to enable collaborative development and test a set of best practices to achieve desired agility in an enterprise.
• An integrated set of services for Test Management, Test Planning and Test Lab Management. These services increase productivity by automating processes that traditionally required long wait times, and even longer time for setup, procurement and installation.
• Tools to help develop for the cloud. For example, IBM Rational Asset Manager eliminates rework and improves collaboration of extended teams.

IBM Rational Software Delivery Services for cloud computing bring the best practices of IBM's Global Technology Services, Global Business Services and Rational Lab Services with a full suite of capabilities to adopt and deploy cloud delivery options and identify areas for return on investment in cloud adoption. IBM's new Global Technology Test Cloud Services and IBM Global Business Cloud consulting services offerings are also available with the new IBM Rational Software Delivery Services for cloud computing.

IBM is also making it easier for software developers to gain cloud computing skills with no-charge access to online workshops, skills tutorials, and social networking tools through My developerWorks, which enables users to build online relationships, share content and grow a worldwide network of peers to drive innovation. For more information, visit www.ibm.com/developerworks/spaces/cloud.

To access the open beta for the IBM Smart Business Development and Test on the IBM Cloud, visit www.ibm.com/cloud/developer. For more information on the beta of IBM Software Delivery Services for private cloud environments, please contact an IBM sales representative. Additional information can be found at www.ibm.com/rational/announce.