Amazon Web Services (AWS) launched general availability of its Braket quantum algorithms platform that provides a managed and lower-cost way for developers to work in a quantum computing environment.

Braket allows users to test quantum algorithms on top of simulated quantum computers running on AWS computing resources. The tests are managed through a unified model with customers only paying for the compute resources they use in the test.

Users can tap into already-established tools like Jupyter notebooks to access pre-installed developer tools to design their quantum algorithms or use pre-built algorithms. They can then run, test, and troubleshoot those algorithms on quantum computer simulators that use Amazon EC2 computing resources.

Those algorithms can then be used to run on quantum processors from vendors like D-Wave Systems, IonQ, and Rigetti. They can also run hybrid algorithms that combine quantum and traditional computing systems.

AWS first announced Braket at last year’s re:Invent show. It has since been working with Enel, Fidelity, and Volkswagen on refining the system. As part of the GA launch, Braket is available in AWS’ US East (North Virginia), and US West (Northern California, and Oregon) regions.

The proffered Braket benefit is that it allows developers to test their algorithms in a less expensive and managed environment before taping into a real quantum computing system to run those algorithms.

Quantum computing systems are devised to drive down the heat generated by traditional computing hardware, which allows for higher performance. This is typically done by using superconductor materials in the construction of the physical assets and the use of refrigerated rack equipment that keeps the quantum computing chips operating at just above absolute zero.

By reducing the heat generated by the quantum computing chips they can support quibits, which are a two-dimensional version of traditional computing bits that can simultaneously represent “0” and “1” in a computing model. That low resistance also slashes power consumption.

However, this is an expensive operational model that has so far limited the use of such systems. “Today, there are no examples of a quantum computer providing value for users that could not be achieved with a classical computer,” Lux Research noted in a recent report on quantum computing.

IBM last year launched a 53-qubit quantum computer that it said will be the single largest universal quantum system made available for external access in the industry. It's part of IBM’s Quantum Computation Center in New York that is targeted at providing access to these powerful systems through the cloud.

“IBM’s quantum solutions can provide enterprise customers the levels of service they require, even in still-emerging areas like quantum computing,” Charles King, president and principal analyst at Pund-IT, explained in an email to SDxCentral at that time. “Its determination to deliver quantum computing via the IBM Cloud should allow the company to further differentiate itself from other cloud platforms and competitors.”