<p>IBM announced today that its entire array of cloud software and services will be based on the open cloud architecture, allowing end-users and customers to buy various equipment from contributing members of the OpenStack software group without having to face tie-in with one particular vendor.</p><p>OpenStack is open-source software and services designed for cloud computing services.</p><p>The cloud and server company said that the move was to "ensure innovation in cloud computing is not hampered by locking businesses into proprietary islands of unsecured and difficult-to-manage offerings," which are the very foundation principles of using the OpenStack standards.</p><p>With Dell, HP, Seagate and Rackspace, among others, on the list of about 150 members supporting the OpenStack standards, the hope is that this community of companies will help create a range of products and services that reduce lock-in and prevent the need for customers to deal with only one supplier.</p><p><a href="http://www.zdnet.com/ibm-takes-cloud-software-services-to-openstack-7000012108/">Keep reading...</a></p><p>Read also:</p><p><a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/robenderle/2013/03/04/ibms-powerful-open-strategy-to-assure-immortality/">IBM&#039;s Powerful Open Strategy to Assure Immortality</a> (Forbes)</p><p><a href="http://venturebeat.com/2013/03/04/ibm-throws-its-considerable-weight-behind-openstack/">IBM throws its &#039;considerable weight&#039; behind OpenStack</a> (VentureBeat)</p><p><a href="http://gigaom.com/2013/03/04/finally-ibm-drops-the-other-openstack-shoe/">Finally: IBM drops the other OpenStack shoe</a> (GigaOM)</p><p>Explore: <a href="http://news.google.com/news/more?ncl=dk448APFxTiQQWMTEjDCE84_i4-1M&ned=us">10 additional articles.</a></p>