Cloud Computing: CNBC Explains     Text Size   Published:
Tuesday, 11 Jun 2013 | 12:49 PM ET By: | Senior Editor, CNBC
John Block | Botanica | Getty Images  Cloud computing may be the
most innovative technology development in decades—or regarded as
just a mass marketing tool for know-how that's as old as
computers themselves.  The issue may never be settled, but there
are some areas of agreement—mainly, how it works and who uses
it.  What Is Cloud Computing?    So when the technical jargon is
stripped away, cloud computing can be grasped on its basic
leve—anytime, anywhere computing on your Mac or PC—without the
user's ever having to know much about the technology.  Who
Provides Cloud Computing Services?  Dozens of firms are
providing "clouds" in the U.S. and other countries. They
generally fall into three categories of service: software,
storage and computing power, or platform providers that give
site developers tools to build and host applications. Some do
all three. Big or small, all see this as a natural