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"IBM chief executive officer Sam Palmisano spoke [at infoworld.com] Wednesday before a gathering of several hundred top IBM customers and executives, offering a State-of-the-Union-like rundown on IBM's view of the IT industry and vision of its future. On-demand computing was the theme of his talk, as Palmisano outlined the forces and technological advances driving the new wave, to which IBM is committing $10 billion in research & development, acquisition and marketing funds. [...] 'In my point of view, what you are seeing is a fundamental shift that is a long-term shift, that is irreversible,' he said.

The technology industry moves through eras every 20 years or so, and it's now entering a new one: A wave of integration and 'on demand' business capabilities that will allow organizations to respond rapidly to constituent needs and market trends, Palmisano said. IBM's on-demand computing is akin to a model Forrester calls 'organic IT,' its vision of a flexible, automated IT infrastructure of the future. 'It's something those of us who are on the crystal-ball side have been saying for a long time, but IBM actually put a business model behind it,' [Forrester Research analyst Ted] Schadler said.

'It's the right thing for them to focus on,' Gartner's Bittman said. "They have the broadest capabilities. They have the deepest pockets. They can make it happen.'"

InfoWorld story >>

Meanwhile in another reaction to the speak, Der SPIEGEL says Palmisano didn't reveal anything really new as "E-Business on demand" would be just an extension of the existing business model. Just as infoworld, Der SPIEGEL says if someone can turn a such a vision into reality, it is IBM. Again, Palmisano promoted open standards as "good for the customers and good for the industry".

SPIEGEL story >>