Crosby then compared the SLA discussion to Apple’s App Store for the iPhone, in which applications are stored and run in the cloud and consumer satisfaction seems to be high. But then he said that environment is very different from cloud-based IT for enterprises.

“Again, what’s the FAA” for enforcing cloud SLAs? Crosby asked.

The cloud panel was followed by a keynote from Intel’s Kirk Skaugen, vice president and general manager of the company’s Data Center Group. Skaugen said cloud computing in 2015 could save $25 billion in IT spending, save 45 gigawatts of energy and “accelerate” $100 billion of industry services.

This will be necessary, he said, to support the 15 billion connected devices, 1 billion more users and 1,000 exabytes of data crossing the Internet by that time.

Following Skaugen was Avaya Vice President and General Manager Steve Bandrowczak, who asked if users were driving IT anarchy or progress. Citing data from various research firms, Bandrowczak said tablet computing revenue will be $45 billion by 2014; smartphone application revenue will triple by then; and that 50% of enterprise users will be interested in using consumer applications.