Nov. 15 (Bloomberg) -- International Business Machines Corp., the world's second-biggest software maker, will offer customers new computer services that will improve access to remote corporate data centers.

The initiative, dubbed ``Blue Cloud,'' is part of a new approach to sharing infrastructure, called ``cloud'' computing, IBM said today in a statement. Armonk, New York-based IBM said the first ``cloud'' offerings will be available in ``spring'' 2008.

IBM demonstrated the services at an event today in Shanghai and promised the offering is easier and costs less than previous systems. IBM said ``Blue Cloud'' represents the ``next major'' advancement in computing.

``Cloud'' offerings allow corporate data centers to function like the Internet by allowing access from afar rather than on local computers, IBM said.

IBM shares rose 16 cents to $103.60 at 4:02 p.m. in New York Stock Exchange composite trading. They have advanced 6.6 percent this year.

To contact the reporters on this story: Alex Armitage in London at aarmitage@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: November 15, 2007 16:04 EST