Quantum computing will undoubtedly change the way in which many business sectors will use technology. But for now there are not many quantum equipment for sale that we say. In most cases, they only have this type of system available in large technology companies, companies dedicated specifically to quantum computing, and specialized research centers. Their price is still prohibitive, so access to them is very complicated, if not impossible, for the vast majority of companies and organizations. However, its computing power can be accessed by following a model known as “quantum computing as a service” (QaaS).
With this system, organizations that have quantum computers offer developers, researchers and companies that need it a platform to develop and test quantum algorithms on real quantum computers. They do it through the cloud. Access to these quantum computing machines can be very expensive even for businesses, but in some cases they are offered free to developers and academic research institutions.
Currently, accessing quantum computing resources can cost between $1,000 and $2,000 an hour access through the cloud. But although it seems a lot, we must bear in mind that buy a quantum computing hardware system to install it locally can mean an investment of between 20 and 40 million of dollars. An amount within the reach of very few. Therefore, if you need access to a quantum computing system, it is better to opt for a QaaS model. At least for the moment. Here are a dozen services and companies that offer this possibility globally.
Alibaba Cloud
China’s Alibaba cloud division offers access to an 11-qubit quantum computer through its cloud services. Of course, the platform is open only to scientific researchers. The general public can learn the basics of quantum computing, view basic data about it on the cloud platform, and interact online with scientists.
Amazon Braket
Amazon Braket users can test their algorithms in a local quantum simulator. In addition, they can use the service’s SDK to develop quantum applications and test them on Braket. They can also develop and test their quantum algorithms.
Azure Quantum
Microsoft’s cloud division, Azure, also offers its own QaaS service, Azure Quantum. Through it, it offers cloud-based access to algorithms created by both Microsoft and 1QBit. Redmond’s Microsoft Quantum Computing kit includes chemistry, numerical, and machine learning libraries.
D-Wave Leap
It is a quantum computing service in the cloud with which developers can get access to a cloud-based quantum processor, with which they can test and assess the performance of applications in test phase. And do it, moreover, in real time. On the other hand, developers can use its hybrid solving service, which combines classical and quantum resources, and which aims to facilitate the solution of computational problems.
Google Quantum AI
This service gives researchers access to their quantum computing hardware, allowing them to run their quantum programs on Google’s quantum processors. Inside it is Google Cirq, an open source quantum computing platform that allows users to develop and test different algorithms.
IBM Quantum
IBM’s quantum computing system offers a 127-qubit processor, and the Qiskit quantum development kit. With the. it is possible to develop and deploy quantum computing applications. Its users can, with both systems, develop and even run quantum computing circuits.
IonQ Quantum Cloud
The IonQ Quantum Cloud service offers access to your quantum systems through the Quantum Cloud API. Those responsible point out that their system is compatible with all the main quantum software development kits, such as Qiskit.
QC Ware Forge
This company provides quantum computing engineers with circuit building blocks, with which they can create and run algorithms for data scientists, financial analysts, and engineers. It focuses on tasks related to binary optimization, linear algebra, Monte Carlo methods, and machine learning.
Quantinium AI
Quantinuum’s AI platform integrates quantum natural language processing, cloud-based quantum machine learning services, and quantum deep learning. In addition, the company offers a quantum computing software development kit. It is called TKET and it is used to generate and execute programs for gate-based quantum computers.
QuTech Inspire
This company claims that it is the first in Europe to offer public access to a quantum computing platform. It features a 2-qubit semiconductor electron spin processor, a 5-qubit superconducting Transmon processor, and three simulators. The platform integrates with IBM’s QisKit.
Terra Quantum
This Germany-based company offers its users access to a library of algorithms with uses ranging from hybrid quantum optimization to quantum neural networks. In addition, it has high-performance simulated quantum processing units, and solutions for establishing secure quantum and post-quantum communications.
Xanadu Cloud
This entity offers its users free access to photonic quantum computers, as well as software and support. It has a free plan, which offers its users free credits for running small workloads on its Borealis quantum hardware. In addition, it offers a full stack Python library to develop, simulate and run programs on quantum photonic computers.
