IBM's latest announcement of computing cloud services shows how broad the cloud rubric has become -- and why it's not such a bad name after all.

Here's how Big Blue describes its cloud strategy:

IBM has a four-pronged strategy to capture the cloud computing opportunity by: 1) delivering its own cloud services portfolio; 2) helping ISVs design, build, deliver and market cloud services; 3) helping clients integrate cloud services into their business; and 4) providing cloud computing environments to businesses.

Today's news begins with "Bluehouse," which the company describes as "the first Web-delivered social networking and collaboration cloud service designed to connect people from different businesses." Lots more on the list, which you can read at the link above.

So, yeah, the cloud metaphor is amorphous and sometimes so broadly-encompassing as to be a bit foggy. Kind of like a...cloud. But since we can't say "the wide range of services, including hardware and software, made available via the net to users on a variety of devices from purpose-built data centers or other locations on- or off-site," calling it cloud computing works for me.