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

John Harney (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0201726599 | ISBN-13: 978-0201726596 | Publication Date: November 29, 2001 | Edition: 1

The benefits of working with Application Service Providers (ASPs) can be compelling -- faster rollouts, lower costs, less time spent on implementation and maintenance, and a greater opportunity to focus on your organization's core competencies. Unfortunately, the risks of ASP relationships are far from insignificant. In this book, the President of ASPWatch shows IT managers exactly how to navigate the risks, and use ASPs for maximum competitive advantage. John Harney presents a complete roadmap for any IT decision-maker considering outsourcing to ASPs. He offers expert guidance for answering questions like: What costs are involved? How secure and viable is your ASP? How do you choose the right ASP? You'll learn practical criteria for identifying possible ASP partners; choosing amongst ostensibly similar ASPs; evaluating services, performance, and ROI; and negotiating service level agreements that meet your business requirements. For everyone considering or using Application Service Providers, including IT executives and managers, line-of-business managers, Web and e-business professionals, and consultants.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

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.

0201726599B10182001

About the Author

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.

0201726599AB10182001

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Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Addison-Wesley Professional; 1 edition (November 29, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0201726599
• ISBN-13: 978-0201726596
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 9.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,576,741 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great introduction to subject for any professional, May 30, 2004

By 

Ken Stratton "kas409" (Kirkland, WA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Application Service Providers (ASPs): A Manager's Guide (Paperback)

To come up to speed in a new position within an ASP, I bought three books on the subject. This one is the most clearly written of the three, and would be useful to anyone newly employed by an ASP, or a professional responsible for making decisions on using an ASP. The book clearly navigates the reader between the two extremes of most technology books - which are books that seem to be written for people who have never bought a computer, or books that are heavily laden with computer science/techy jargon. I was truly amazed at the content of the first chapter, which has given me a new perspective on the recent past and possible future of commerce - a real eye-opener.