Harnessing the power of 'clouds'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/click_online/7465386.stm

It is not unusual to find the computer you bought only a couple of years ago cannot handle the very latest software, but there could be an answer to the problem so long as you are connected to the internet.

In essence it is a simple idea. It refers to data and processing power living online rather than in a beige box under a desk.

As we move towards a world where we are all storing more and more media in digital form - documents, photos, music or videos - moving it into the cloud offers unparalleled flexibility.

It is actually not a new idea, just a new name. But many companies are getting very excited about the prospect of offering storage and processing power that can be accessed anywhere, any time.

For example, the image of a cloud has been adopted by Apple as the logo for its recently launched MobileMe service on the 3G iPhone. Users of MobileMe can synchronise all their e-mail, contacts and photos from anywhere the device can pick an internet connection.

Bless IT.