What’s the cloud without the software and applications that ride on it? This is where the true value of cloud computing starts to emerge. From productivity apps and CRM suites to software that manages cloud apps and deployments and enables the creation of hybrid clouds, this category is extremely broad and runs the gamut.

Here we catalog the cloud software and apps vendors that are doing something different, something fresh or something unique. Or, they’re doing something so simple in the cloud that it creates a face-palm moment of "why didn’t I think of that?" From cloud pioneers like Salesforce.com to cloud testers like SOASTA, whatever it is they’re doing, they look cool doing it.

Also, keep an eye out for the top 20 cloud infrastructure, security, storage and platform vendors.