Social:Application service provider
From HandWiki
Short description: Business providing software via the web
An application service provider (ASP) is a business providing application software generally through the Web.[1] ASPs that specialize in a particular application (such as a medical billing program) may be referred to as providing software as a service.
The ASP model
The application software resides on the vendor's system and is accessed by users through a communication protocol. Alternatively, the vendor may provide special purpose client software. Client software may interface with these systems through an application programming interface.
ASP characteristics include:
- ASP hosts the application[2]
- ASP owns, operates and maintains the servers that support the application[2]
- ASP delivers the application to customers via the Internet[2] or a thin client
- ASP may bill on a per-use basis (on-demand outsourcing), a monthly/annual fee, or a per-labor hour basis
The advantages to this approach include:
- Application costs are scaled over multiple customers[2]
- ASP may provide more application experience than the customer's staff[2]
- ASP may provide application customization for the customer[2]
- Application's version is likely to be kept up to date
- Experts manage the application for performance[2]
- Experts research the application for new features[2]
The disadvantages include:
- The customer must rely on the ASP for a critical business function, including security and performance[2]
- The customer may have to accept the application as provided
- The customer may have to adapt to possible application changes
- Integration with other applications may be problematic
See also
- Application server
- Business service provider
- Communication as a service
- Hosted service provider
- Multitenancy
- Outsourcing
- Service level agreement
- Utility computing
- Web application
References
- ↑ "Upstarts: ASPs, ASPs Article". Inc.com. 2000-04-01. http://www.inc.com/magazine/20000401/18093.html. "An ASP hosts software applications, which its customers access over the Web instead of running them on their own computers."
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 Stair, Ralph M. (2003). Principles of Information Systems, Sixth Edition. Thomson. p. 149. ISBN 0-619-06489-7.
External links
 |  |
