IBM acquired Cloudant early this year. This acquisition helps the company extend its data management capabilities with a JSON database-as-a-service for web-scale and mobile applications. Delivered as a fully managed cloud service, Cloudant eliminates complexity by enabling developers of fast-growing web and mobile apps to focus on developing their applications without the need to manage database infrastructure or growth.
Cloudant serves as the standard data layer for the next generation of web and mobile applications. They deliver distributed DBaaS coupled with Replication & SYNC, search and web scale under one API. Their cloud services business model is available in 34 data centers around the world today. The rapid growth in Systems of Engagement use cases has led to the emergence of developer-centric technologies supporting continuous iterative creation and deployment of applications. These new capabilities include NoSQL databases based on open source technologies, designed to support flexible data types and often delivered as a fully managed service. Cloudant accelerates and extends IBM’s Big Data and Analytics portfolio, specifically data management capabilities, with a NoSQL, JSON database-as-a-service (DBaaS) for web-scale and mobile applications that has been tuned and optimized for delivery on SoftLayer.
Cloudant also is integral to IBM’s MobileFirst solutions and enables developers who use Worklight to quickly create flexible, reliable and scalable apps that include a variety of structured and unstructured data. Cloudant sits squarely among key IBM growth initiatives including: Big Data and Analytics, Cloud and Mobile.
The acquisition of Cloudant is expected to close in 1Q14. Following the close, Cloudant will join IBM’s newly formed Information and Analytics Group led by Senior Vice President Bob Picciano, a business unit within the IBM Software & Systems Group.
Cloudant’s DBaaS extensively leverages the availability, elasticity and reach of the cloud to create a global data delivery network enabling applications to scale larger and remain available to users wherever they are located. In addition, the Cloudant managed cloud service:
- Stores data of any structure as self-describing JSON documents
- Leverages a multi-master replication system and advanced distributed design principles to achieve elastic database clusters that can span multiple racks, data centers, or cloud providers
- Enables global data distribution and geo-load balancing to provide high availability and enhanced performance for applications that require data to be located close to users
- Provides full-text search, advanced geo-spatial and temporal querying, and flexible, real-time indexing
- Integrates via a RESTful application programming interface (API)
- Enables easy data replication and sync for mobile applications, with open source, device-native software libraries
- Offers 24×7 monitoring and management by its Big Data experts