Acer revealed its Build Your Own Cloud ecosystem at the launch of its BYOC Experience Center in Aspire Park, Taiwan.
The cloud computing system is Acer's response to a struggling PC market, where it is the fourth largest producer globally. It enters an industry where it will battle against leaders Google and Amazon.
"Acer's BYOC is a world where users can easily create, personalize and enjoy their own connected universe across any device or accessory," Acer said in a press release.
The BYOC ecosystem will work in tandem with the Acer Open Platform for apps and devices that will allow businesses across all industries to create solutions for users to work through the cloud, accessing anything, anytime and anywhere wirelessly.
"Based on the Acer Open Platform, BYOC crosses platforms and industries and allies with partners to build new applications for a better quality of life. We are calling for partners to join the BYOC ecosystem to develop new technologies and apps, and in the spirit of Wangdao, create value for our mutual benefits," said Acer chairman Stan Shih.
The BYOC was announced by the company at the end of last year, after Acer suffered a loss for the third straight year. Sales for personal computers have steadily been declining as tablet computers rise in popularity. Cloud computing has also sidestepped the usage of personal computers, as users can access their files and applications from any location.
Acer is pushing BYOC as the next step of cloud computing, as it focuses on what is known as the Internet of Things, which would allow for connectivity over several kinds of devices. In a video released by the company, Acer showed how BYOC gives users the ability to use appliances and vehicles using their smartphones.
According to KGI Securities analyst James Lin, Acer's strengths in hardware cost management and manufacturing will help the company in their new direction.
"Acer has proven itself good at supply-chain integration, so it may be able to exert better cost control over its data centers than players who have less hardware experience," Lin said.
Personal users can now use a collection of Acer BYOC apps, called abApps, using their PC as their personal cloud storage. The initial abApps available are abPhoto, abDoc, abMusic and abFiles.
The BYOC Experience Center in Taoyuan County is currently demonstrating cloud-based services such as e-ticketing, e-auctions and e-books, which are all being prepared to launch online.
