SMEs to benefit from cloud-computing move

An initiative, called the Sing- Tel Innovation Exchange (SiX), by Sing- Tel, together with the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA), International Enterprise Singapore (IES) and industry partners like Microsoft, was recently launched.

The initiative benefits small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by enabling them to cut down on information-technology costs as they can now use computer services over the Internet. SiX is made possible by cloud computing. Google Docs is an example of cloud computing, which delivers computer services and applications over networks like the Internet.

Through an online store called the SingTel Marketplace, firms can select cloud-computing applications to subscribe to on a monthly basis. According to executive vice-president of SingTel’s business group, Bill Chang, SiX will work as a platform for software developers to market cloud-computing applications, given SingTel the much needed regional reach of 249 million customers.