Dell has also made a string of software acquisitions in the past year that might be causing it to rethink its software-as-a-service strategy. It updated press and analysts on Thursday.

When it does arrive, the analytics service will offer "cross-app" analytics, meaning customers will be able to import data from one or more applications to a data warehouse that Dell will host for them online, and then perform analysis on that data.

The apps will be linked using Dell's Boomi integration software, which can tie together cloud, on-premise and custom-built apps. The data warehouse will use a mix of open-source software and technology built in-house by Dell, Altmaier said.

Dell does offer some cloud services today, including an offering. It also offers hosted Salesforce.com services, and hosted e-document and e-signature services.

Eventually, Dell will offer more applications, mostly through partners. But it's going to start by offering those other applications in developing markets, rather than the U.S. and Europe, Altmaier said.