Dive Brief:

• IBM wants to start providing enterprise partners with access to quantum computing systems as soon as this year, the Big Blue reported Monday.

• Dubbed "IBM Q," the quantum systems and services will be delivered via the IBM Cloud platform and are "designed to tackle problems that are too complex and exponential in nature for classical computing systems to handle," according to the announcement. 

• IBM also announced the release of a new API that will enable developers and programmers to build interfaces between its cloud-based quantum computer and classical computers. Big Blue said it will also release a quantum-related Software Development Kit later this year.

Dive Insight:

A true quantum computer is not yet a reality, so IBM plans to offer the quantum services virtually until there is a breakthrough that will make quantum computers viable onsite and allow companies to fully build quantum computing into their operations.  

Quantum science is still in its infancy, but big tech companies are already placing bets that it will soon drive innovation across industries. Google recently announced that it plans to produce a viable quantum computer in the next five years, and startups Rigetti and D-Wave as well as established players like Microsoft and Intel have been investing in quantum too. Intel recently invested $50 million to help develop the technology.

With the latest announcement, IBM is looking to up the game and maintain its dominance in the emerging field. Already touting Watson's capabilities, Big Blue has positioned itself on the forefront of the advanced computing market.