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Dart Ahead With Hosted Applications
BY FRAN KIENLE
[Go Right To Services News]
Application Service Providers (ASPs) are rapidly building out the
services infrastructure to provide a wide range of hosted applications to
enterprises. ASPs are positioning these services as a means of alleviating
the IT talent crunch, improving application performance, and presenting
enterprises with the ability to focus on core business initiatives rather
than IT care and feeding tasks. While these are in fact important
benefits, the true value is much more strategic. These services enable the
enterprise to compete on the metrics that really matter: Time,
flexibility, and customer centricity.
We are at the tip of the iceberg in terms of application service
innovation. The industry is just starting to move from first-generation
application services, which often simply moved the application from the
enterprise data center to the service provider's data center. Jeff Sexton,
Chief Operating Officer of Epic Edge
( Austin, Texas), an ASP providing enterprise portal e-business solutions
to the Global 1000 and dot.coms, sees it that way, "It's not just
about outsourcing hosted applications anymore, it's about delivering
customized application services."
One of the powerful benefits of the hosted application model, besides
the usual outsourcing advantages, is providing the enterprise a flexible,
ubiquitous application environment where new employees, partners,
suppliers, and customers as well as mobile workers can be instantly
productive. Epic Edge is a good example of an ASP tackling this issue.
"By creating portals to all mission-critical applications that
employees need to access, we are increasing enterprise productivity. We
are helping enterprises to become virtual organizations by providing all
employees access to all of the information they need -- anytime, anywhere
-- by creating a VPN on demand," explained Sexton.
Another powerful benefit of the hosted application model is the ability
it provides the enterprise to integrate its traditionally disjointed
front-end systems (Web, traditional call center, e-mail, fax, etc.), as
well as connect them to back-office systems -- giving the enterprise a
unified, customer-facing application infrastructure that moves it closer
to its customers. Unified Office
(Houston, Texas) is an ASP enabler that is addressing this issue head-on
by developing a service enablement platform to deliver advanced call
processing, unified messaging, and other communication and call management
solutions to carrier class service providers, including RBOCs, CLECs,
ISPs, and others. CEO Mike Castleman explains, "Our goal is to
deliver business process dial tone -- carrier-grade services that are
sustainable and dependable and present a very low barrier to delivery and
use for both the carrier and user. We see communications services, whether
they be real-time call processing or message management and unified
messaging, as critical business building blocks for users, and a natural
starting point for a uniform ASP enabling system oriented toward telecom
providers and channels."
This low barrier to delivery speaks directly to a reduction in
time-to-market, time-to-transaction and time-to-value -- critical to
competing today. "The ASP's true value is being able to quickly turn
up carrier-class service bureau-style services to thousands of subscribers
at a time," Castleman added. "My customers want to be able to
subscribe to a receivables processing service, not roll out an accounts
receivable application. That's why we developed our platform for
'commerce-tized' applications where the user can say 'I want this
function, this many times, for this many uses.'"
This approach points out another advantage of the hosted application
model. Instead of rolling out new applications -- which can take years --
enterprises can simply switch on services for new users in a matter of
hours. This creates an efficient, nimble enterprise that steamrolls its
old-world competitors. Mike Castleman explains: "We have leapfrogged
past the concept of outsourced legacy applications. Instead, our approach
is a service enablement platform that allows any application to be
delivered quickly as a self-administered, self-subscribed service."
Sexton added of his portal solutions, "We don't just provide content
on the Web. We impact our customers' bottom line by giving them a 'virtual
desktop' where users can access all their critical applications from
calendaring and e-mail to procurement and billing applications. Not only
can we instantly create a virtual desktop, we can just as easily create a
virtual community -- where groups of users can securely share these
workspaces."
It is easy to see how innovative hosted application services will soon
be part of the fabric of every business operation. It is equally clear
that it will be critical to provide these services with the kinds of
quality and service levels enterprises expect and need. According to
Sexton, enterprises are already demanding this: "Enterprises want a
secure, scalable, heavy-lifting e-business solution. So we need a
consistent, secure, scalable, fast Internet architecture that is best of
breed for the industry." Mark Castleman, Senior VP of Development and
Technology at Unified Office, requires the same, "Dependable
collocation services are very important to our business because we count
on reliability of the infrastructure, stability in the environment, and
availability on our servers 24x7. The services we are offering have to be
available to customers all the time."
So what kind of industrial-strength infrastructure must a service
provider -- or more specifically, an application infrastructure provider (AIP)
-- roll out to support hosted application services? The first critical
component to get right is the high-performance, high-capacity IP network.
This IP network must not only use state-of-the-art optical technology; it
must also employ intelligent QoS (quality of service) mechanisms and offer
strict, standards-based security. The next critical component that makes
or breaks hosted apps is a set of world-class data center collocation
facilities. Again, not only must these have state-of-the-art space, power,
and environmental capabilities, these must be located directly on this IP
backbone. Data centers operating decoupled from the IP net not only lose
QoS, load balancing, backup, and disaster recovery synergies, but also
lose the ability to take advantage of emerging end-to-end
application-aware monitoring and reporting, which extend from the desktop
through the WAN to the servers.
While the application infrastructure components of a highly
intelligent, high-capacity IP net coupled with world-class collocation
facilities are crucial -- it's not all about packets -- it's also about
process and professional management. This is often the most difficult
challenge for the AIP, yet arguably the most important to get right. At
minimum, the AIP must provide tight operational control, including strong
redundancy and disaster recovery. However, a progressive AIP will not stop
there. The AIP must back up its capabilities with strong service level
agreements; specifically on those metrics that really count for the ASP
and for the ASP's end customers. The AIP should also provide comprehensive
Web-based customer network management (CNM) tools and reliable, flexible
billing to provide customers visibility and accountability.
In short, the AIP must deliver on its promises. "Our customers
want and expect a consistent, secure, scalable, and fast Internet
architecture that is best-of-breed for the industry. We have to assure our
clients a level of service, it's a commitment we have to make -- and a
strong partner helps us fulfill that commitment," noted Sexton.
Fran Kienle, director of Application Infrastructure, leads
development of next-generation application services and application
services infrastructure at Broadwing Communications. Broadwing, Inc., is
an integrated communications provider (ICP) delivering voice, data, and
Internet solutions to a variety of customers nationwide. Headquartered in
Cincinnati, Ohio, with 6,000 employees in 38 cities, Broadwing can be
found on the Web at www.broadwing.com.
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Services News
Quallaby Intros PROVISO
Quallaby has introduced a major new release of its flagship product,
PROVISO 2.0, a network monitoring and service assurance solution
architected to enable network service providers to build powerful,
scalable, network performance data marts supporting both network-centric
and customer-centric reporting that is dynamic, on-demand, and Web
enabled. Based on the Sun Solaris platform, PROVISO 2.0 supports Oracle
8I, the proven, scalable database of choice of service providers'
mission-critical environments. This carrier-class combination of Sun,
Oracle, and Proviso 2.0 enables NSPs to build and maintain
high-performance, centralized network data marts that maintain all of the
network data that is crucial to optimizing network performance and
managing service delivery.
No. 420, itmag.com/freeinfo
Visitalk.com Teams Up With Freeinternet.com
Free long-distance calls are now possible with the announcement of an
agreement between visitalk.com and freeinternet.com. visitalk has offered
free PC-to-PC calling for more than a year, and with the freeinternet.com
agreement, visitalk.com members can now make long-distance calls free.
visitalk.com will be a core provider of VoIP communications services for
freeinternet.com users. The comprehensive partnership will add visitalk.com's free PC-to-PC long-distance voice and video calling, PC-to-phone
calling in the United States and to some regions of the world, multi-point
video conferencing, data sharing, instant voice messaging, chat services,
and directory services to freeinternet.com's free, unlimited Internet
access service.
No. 421, itmag.com/freeinfo
White Pine Software Changes Name To CUseeMe Networks
White Pine Software has changed its name to CUseeMe Networks. The new
name, based on White Pine's brand, CUseeMe, was chosen to align the
company's branding with its vision and focus for the future. The CUseeMe
Networks name also reflects the launch of a new value-added hosting
business that will serve both business-to-consumer and
business-to-business markets. It also recognizes the continued success of
the company's consumer video chat and corporate video conferencing
software.
No. 422, itmag.com/freeinfo
BT And Ridgeway Begin Trial Of Multimedia Over IP
Ridgeway has announced that British Telecommunications (BT) will begin an
internal trial of Ridgeway's "broadband multimedia over IP"
solutions. The trial solution will allow BT employees to click on a
Web-based directory to make a phone call, then enhance the call with
real-time, two-way video and data sharing. BT will integrate the Ridgeway
VX system with BT's Click-to-Talk service. BT is interested in enhancing
this service with Ridgeway's unique
"Click-to-Add-Video-and-Data" solution.
No. 423, itmag.com/freeinfo
Global Crossing Signs UM Agreement With Tornado
Global Crossing has forged a strategic partnership with Tornado
Development that will bring the features and benefits of unified messaging
(UM) to Global Crossing's world customer base. Under the terms of the
agreement, Global Crossing will offer customers a UM service based on
Tornado Development's Tornado Messenger. UM will be included in a full
package of premium bandwidth services, including optical wavelengths, ATM,
and an array of voice services.
No. 424, itmag.com/freeinfo
Lantel Intros World Voice
Lantel Worldwide Communications has unveiled its latest cutting-edge technology, called World
Voice. By utilizing a local access number, an individual will be able to
call phone-to-phone to any city serviced by Lantel Worldwide Communication
(local and international) at no cost. The company's architecture and
broadband capabilities also allow for unlimited fax and video conferencing
over the same connection. "It's our goal to have key partnerships
established internally and externally to provide our customers with a
cutting-edge experience and in-depth knowledge to successfully handle
their business 24 hours a day," said Lantel's president and CEO,
Stephan Curry.
No. 425, itmag.com/freeinfo
Open Port And MIND Provide Integrated Billing Solution
Open Port Technology and MIND will collaborate to offer service providers
an integrated pre-and post-paid billing and provisioning interface for
enhanced Internet messaging services. The solution, which will combine
Open Port's IP LaunchPad enhanced Internet messaging software and MIND-iPhoneEX
products, is designed to offer service provider customers reduced
integration costs and faster deployment. Open Port and MIND will also team
in marketing, joint selling, and interoperability testing.
No. 426, itmag.com/freeinfo
Sedona Networks Leads Shift Toward Services-Carrier Model
On the heels of an FCC ruling, Sedona Networks affirmed its vision of the
evolution of the service provider environment, and anticipates the drive
toward services deployment with its services-aware access architecture.
The ruling, FCC 99-238, seeks to accelerate the development of competitive
choices in local telecommunication services for end customers. In the
interest of encouraging the universal deployment of broadband services,
the Commission re-stated its policy on unbundling, but also exempted new
packet-based network infrastructure deployments from unbundling
restrictions.
No. 427, itmag.com/freeinfo
TalkingNets Brings ASP Concept To Telephony
TalkingNets is providing an end-to-end, wholesale telephony solution that
helps ISPs and CLECs offer voice services to their new and existing
business customers. Using its server-based network, TalkingNets can allow
data-only carriers to quickly and easily provide voice services to their
small and medium-sized business customers, at rates that are 25 to 50
percent lower than those offered by traditional telephony providers.
No. 428, itmag.com/freeinfo
Pagoo Launches Internet Phone Service
Pagoo announced the availability of the Pagoo Internet Phone Number, a
service that allows consumers to use their PCs to receive calls from any
phone and make calls while they are online. This service functions as an
extra phone line and works both on and offline. The Pagoo Internet Phone
Number service also includes free voice mail, caller-ID, and a follow-me
feature.
No. 429, itmag.com/freeinfo
PictureTel Intros Web-Enabled eVideo Application Server
PictureTel has announced eVideo Application Server (eVAS), a Web-based
software streaming solution that empowers companies to create, automate,
and manage streaming media Webcasts over the Internet and corporate
intranets. eVAS provides organizations with the ability to utilize
streaming media for communication, while preserving the elements of
personal contact and visual collaboration. The offering will be sold as a
product (directly from 1414c and 1414c resellers); and as a service via an
ASP model from 1414c and from ASPs enabled by 1414c.
No. 430, itmag.com/freeinfo
ipVerse Unveils Phase 2 Of ControlSwitch
ipVerse announced the second major phase of its ControlSwitch, a
software-based switch that empowers service providers to rapidly deploy
new, revenue-generating voice and data services. The second phase of the
ControlSwitch product family, the ACX2000, gives carriers the only packet
telephony solution scalable for use within the highest traffic core IP or
ATM transport networks, making the crucial advance towards end-to-end
voice and data convergence.
No. 431, itmag.com/freeinfo
Broadwing Installs Network-Based IP VPN Solutions
Broadwing Communications announced that three customers are successfully
completing beta trials of Broadwing's eClass IP VPN Services offering, a
suite of network-based, business-grade IP VPN services. Broadwing eClass
services enable customers to have voice, video, and data network
configurations on one seamless transport platform, in a manner that is as
dynamic and fast-changing as their business needs.
No. 432, itmag.com/freeinfo
Symantec, Gestalt Conducting Trials Of Succession IP Telephony
Symantec and Gestalt Technology are conducing trials of Succession
Internet Telephony solutions from Nortel Networks. Nortel Networks'
Succession Internet Telephony portfolio -- expanded to include the
Succession Communications Server for Enterprise (CSE) -- allows service
providers and enterprises to IP-enable their communications networks to
take full advantage of the cost, quality, performance, and reliability
benefits of a new, high-performance Internet.
No. 433, itmag.com/freeinfo
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