Last time I started to lay the groundwork for my argument that cloud computing has a very bright future. Picking up where I left off, here are several more technical and business trends that, when combined, create the basis for a new generation of computing solutions that solve real-world problems. In no particular order, these trends are:

But the cloud is not limited to silver linings. In fact, there’s a lot of vapor up there. This is an immature market that has just completed its second wave of incubation. There are no clear leaders yet. Literally thousands of startups and established vendors are vying for their piece of the pie. Commonly accepted standards, operating procedures and legal precedents don’t exist. We’re effectively witnessing a virtual land grab, not unlike the Western expansion experienced in the 19th Century.