Beyond desktop and mainframe computing, advent of web technologies and



resulting shared applications are creating new ways to meet some or

almost all aspects of information technology (IT) needs. Concept of

application service provision has come a long way since it first came

on the scene in the late 1990s? Originally, the idea of virtual

cooperation and application sharing came from Bill Davidow, a fellow

venture capitalist and entrepreneur. What Bill foresaw as the future

of computing is already in practice; a new IT business model.

Hewlett-Packard and Qwest are among the pioneers for providing

application services. Microsoft also allows some companies to offer

its Back Office products, including SQL Server, Exchange and Windows

NT Server on a rental, pay-as-you-use basis.

Hi-tech developments and changes at a fast rate are moving towards

convergence of the software, information, technology carriers, and

computer engineering. Result: IT structural designs are shifting from

desktop and mainframe environments towards Internet based structures.

Similarly, software applications are altering from made to order and

separately owned solutions towards pre-packaged and Web based

solutions. It is in this context that ASP business model is getting

more interest as a hot trend.

IT business model that offers end users ? small and large businesses,

government organizations, non-profits, and membership organizations

even individuals -- an access to applications and services over the

Internet is known as application service provider (ASP - not to be

mixed with Active Server Pages. It also is an abbreviation of as soon

as possible). It is sometime called software-as-a-service, on-demand

computing, apps-on-tap or utility computing.

Typically, the applications are deployed by a third party that hosts,

manages, updates software based services and solutions and distributes

to clients from a central location. XML and HTML processes allow the

clients to interact with the software. Sometime, ASP also rent out the

server hardware and the network. What is more, many ASPs, particularly

enterprise ASPs, have now started offering on site solutions in which

the relevant hardware, software and function remain on the customer's

site.

Beyond desktop and mainframe computing, advent of web technologies and

resulting shared applications are creating new ways to meet some or

almost all aspects of information technology (IT) needs. Concept of

application service provision has come a long way since it first came

on the scene in the late 1990s? Originally, the idea of virtual

cooperation and application sharing came from Bill Davidow, a fellow

venture capitalist and entrepreneur. What Bill foresaw as the future

of computing is already in practice; a new IT business model.

Hewlett-Packard and Qwest are among the pioneers for providing

application services. Microsoft also allows some companies to offer

its Back Office products, including SQL Server, Exchange and Windows

NT Server on a rental, pay-as-you-use basis.

Hi-tech developments and changes at a fast rate are moving towards

convergence of the software, information, technology carriers, and

computer engineering. Result: IT structural designs are shifting from

desktop and mainframe environments towards Internet based structures.

Similarly, software applications are altering from made to order and

separately owned solutions towards pre-packaged and Web based

solutions. It is in this context that ASP business model is getting

more interest as a hot trend.

IT business model that offers end users ? small and large businesses,

government organizations, non-profits, and membership organizations

even individuals -- an access to applications and services over the

Internet is known as application service provider (ASP - not to be

mixed with Active Server Pages. It also is an abbreviation of as soon

as possible). It is sometime called software-as-a-service, on-demand

computing, apps-on-tap or utility computing.

Typically, the applications are deployed by a third party that hosts,

manages, updates software based services and solutions and distributes

to clients from a central location. XML and HTML processes allow the

clients to interact with the software. Sometime, ASP also rent out the

server hardware and the network. What is more, many ASPs, particularly

enterprise ASPs, have now started offering on site solutions in which

the relevant hardware, software and function remain on the customer's

site.