IBM is launching a token based service for its Rational software that could be the basis for a currency that is used to exchange credits for using cloud-based applications.
The service is being tested first with Rational and then could be rolled out to other IBM software.
The “token,” based service is a type of cloud currency that is defined by the usage and the value of the product that the customer is using on the IBM Cloud.
A customer may buy tokens for any aspect of the product development process. For example, a customer may purchase tokens to use for testing in the cloud or for security.
The software products in the Rational product line get assigned a token value, depending on the cost of the product according to traditional licensing terms.
The tokens may be passed to different users, thus avoiding the cost of licensing the product. The tokens can be purchased and reused for use with different Rational products.
Currency can be traded. It is used to purchase every day items. Cloud computing is increasingly becoming an every day purchase. IBM could eventually assign tokens to any application. The applications could even be broken down by features and assigned a cost based on its value.
You can see where this may be going. IBM is using a cloud-based currency to get more usage for its products. This model could be applied to any number of products that are part of an exchange.
Cloud computing is creating new economic models that are based on usage of the raw computing capabilities from service providers. Applications are shared in the cloud but the terms are as of yet not defined to the extent that they possess a form of currency for exchange.
Will this evolve into a market trend and the development of a new application exchange? What do you think?
