American multinational tech company IBM has announced the launch of their new IBM Blockchain Starter Plan (in Beta) as a way facilitate more Blockchain use in businesses of any scale, according to an IBM blog post from March 16 and the 72 hour live stream from conference Think 2018 today, March 21.
The IBM Blockchain Starter Plan will be free for the duration of its Beta version, but then will have a 30 day free trial once the plan becomes fully implemented. As CNBC reported today, the starter plan is a “cheaper alternative to Big Blue's current enterprise plan for firms looking to develop blockchain applications.”
Marie Wieck, the general manager of IBM Blockchain, told CNBC that the new plan is “perfect for pilot projects and early stage development work for those who want to build solutions on the IBM blockchain platform, which currently has over 250 active blockchain networks”:
"Our expertise in building and scaling networks is invaluable and will be shared across a wide ecosystem."
According to their live stream, IBM has been working with Blockchain technology since 2015 as a way “to bring it mainstream.” In 2016, the company began testing Blockchain technology “on themselves”, using Blockchain in their financial services business to “optimize reconciliations from vendors to suppliers.” IBM also entered a partnership with Walmart in 2016 for a test Blockchain program on food products’ supply chains, specifically mangoes.
IBM answers CT correspondent Molly Zuckerman’s question live during Think 2018
Earlier this week on March 19, IBM announced that the world’s smallest computer – smaller than a grain of salt – will use Blockchain technology and will eventually be embedded in everyday objects and devices.