Application Service Providers (ASPs): A Manager's Guide

Application Service Providers (ASPs) lease hosted software applications over broadband networks to companies of all sizes as a faster, less expensive, and simpler alternative to installed applications. ASPs especially benefit small-to-mid-size businesses (SMBs) because, until these services existed, most of these organizations could not afford enterprise applications. While the ASP industry is still young, experts predict that it will soon become amulti-billion dollar industry fueled largely by the explosion of SMBs looking to cash in on the Internet-driven global “e-conomy.”

ASPs free your company’s IT, training, technical support, and customer service staff from the onerous chore of installing, upgrading, and managing traditional in-house applications. As an executive or manager responsible forgetting the most competitive bang for your technology buck, you’ll find this ground-breaking guidebook invaluable for short-listing, evaluating, and selecting the best ASP match for your company’s business and IT requirements.

Application Service Providers (ASPs): A Manager’s Guide defines the ASP business model, explains the components of the “virtual” ASP technology platform, and differentiates between the various types of ASPs. This book also covers important topics such as:

• Ensuring your data is secure with an ASP
• Defining a service level agreement with an ASP
• Choosing an ASP with the best pricing model for your business
• Comparing ASP customer service and technical support programs
• Selecting value-added technologies, such as wireless access, from an ASP
• Evaluating ASP supporting players known as xSPs

This book also discusses future key developments that could affect your company:ASPs’ impact on the traditional reseller channel, emerging technologies and trends that will further improve how ASPs deliver hosted applications, and winning ASP survival strategies.

Finally, Application Service Providers features informative appendices listing selected ASPs by type, vertical markets served, and applications hosted. The author, leading you through the ASP evaluation process, includes comprehensive checklists of questions that you should ask ASP candidates before signing a contract.

This guide to leasing hosted software services from an application service provider (ASP) explains the ASP business model, and defines what technology, security, service level agreements, pricing models and technical support to expect from an ASP. The different types of ASPs are identified along with their strengths and weaknesses. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

John Harney is President of ASPWatch, Inc., a consultancy that delivers market, partner, and technology strategy for ASPs and companies launching ASP services. He specializes in evaluating ASP services, as well as developing marketing campaigns and feature articles for ASPs in major IT magazines. As the editor of four computer publications, he has reported on the IT industry since 1986.

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