The computing services company announced it will build 15 data centers around the world this year to add to the 12 it already operates and the 13 it recently acquired through its $2 billion purchase of cloud computing company SoftLayer last year.
Some of the newest data centres to launch are located in China, Hong Kong, London, Japan, India, Canada, Mexico City, Washington, D.C., and Texas. IBM said it plans to have data centres in all major geographic regions and financial centres with plans to expand in the Middle East and Africa next year.
IBM said the new investments will give its business clients the ability to place and control their data globally.
Software stored and accessed on clouds is increasingly popular with businesses because it lets workers in from any Internet-connected device. IBM Corp. started its cloud business in 2007 and has spent billions on cloud-related acquisitions in recent years.
In a statement, IBM said: ""This investment includes a network of data centres designed to bring clients greater flexibility, transparency and control over how they manage their data, run their businesses and deploy their IT operations in the cloud. With this announcement, IBM plans to have data centres in all major geographies and financial centres with plans to expand in the Middle East and Africa in 2015."
Recently, IBM also created a new Watson business group, with hopes to get more revenue from the supercomputer system that beat humans on the television quiz show "Jeopardy". The company said the IBM Watson Group will be headed by Michael Rhodin, who was previously senior vice president of IBM's software solutions group.
Under the Watson Group, IBM will offer the technology, which is delivered over the cloud and can power new consumer and enterprise apps, to businesses and industries as well as to consumers. IBM said it decided to establish the unit because of strong demand for cognitive computing. Watson will be deployed on Softlayer.
(Written with agency inputs)
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