Computer giant Dell has announced a deal to buy cloud-computing company Boomi for an undisclosed price.

Dell has been looking to acquire cloud computing technology and recently lost a bidding war with Hewlett-Packard for cloud firm 3Par, despite being the preferred bidder.

Steve Felice, president of Dell's consumer and small and medium-sized businesses division, said: “This deal will help businesses reap the full benefits of cloud computing. Twenty-six years ago we helped accelerate the move to client-server computing. Today we'll help drive a similar transformation with customers turning to the cloud to drive costs down and innovation up."

Cloud computing can allow businesses to cut data storage costs by delivering software, data storage and other services to customers via the internet and many large computer makers are looking to buy into the technology.