Nickname: enterprise problems

Review: Most of the buzz on 2.0 mentions a lot about how software as a service can be used effectively for unstructured data and collaboration and this article also gives examples of wikis and Skype. I agree. But weren't enterprise software companies solving problems to specific businesses and the businesses were paying them premium for access not for just the software but the adaptability of that software for that business (for e.g. a pharmaceutical company purchasing millions in licenses from a top 2 provider to improve its drug discovery). Most Web 2.0 companies I have come across are strong and easy to use but their downside is that they appeal to the lowest common denominator, and with the networked sales model, I don't see how the strategic problems that the big players were being brought into solve can be addressed. In summary, yes commoditized purchases where the users and customers know exactly what they want and the offering is non-differentiated, the service model will work.

Date reviewed: Jun 10, 2006 4:16 AM

Nickname: It was meant to be like this all along

Review: Software as a service is the only common sense way for software providers because through it, they can: (1) Prevent piracy (2) Reduce the selling cycle and make selling easier (3) Draw recurring, continuous cash flow (4) Save cost in distribution and retailing (cutting out middle men) (5) Save costs in maintainence and support The technology (networks) is barely starting to catch up to the conceptual idea of software. The "package software" era was only a buffer solution until network technology could help realize the true concept of software as a business. So, regardless if businesses/individuals stand to gain or if productivity really goes up, software as a service will happen because it is in the best interest of the software providers. They won't offer anything else in the near future because it is to their benefit, regardless of users.

Date reviewed: Jun 8, 2006 9:36 AM

Nickname: DreamOn

Review: My views here - http://rajatgupta.wordpress.com/2006/06/06/enterprise-20/

Date reviewed: Jun 6, 2006 9:31 AM

Nickname: humanefly

Review: Sounds like these new communication mediums give newcomers to companies a new voice and maybe new window into the company. At the company I work they've just allowed Notes-based messaging in the past year. I wonder how long it really will take these new media to become standard?

Date reviewed: Jun 5, 2006 11:54 PM

Nickname: mark

Review: User centricity should have been at the heart of any software developed over the past 10 years. Is Oracle just catching on to that?

Date reviewed: Jun 5, 2006 10:10 PM

Nickname: lawrence

Review: I couldn't agree more with the idea that software as a service is a model for the next generation. Fortunately I'm old enough that I remember that all software was originally built as a service. Whether it was hard coded for an IBM 1410 or designed for Nintendo the programs all provided a service. I'm more inclined towards enabling the end-user, providing corporate users tools that can be built and modified by the actual user while still adhering to the standards that make each business unique. Until we can capture the knowledge of the end user we are still treating our customers as dependant children who need to be told not only what to do but how to do it. Software development talks of iterative development--it's time we offered the user the same ability. Fortunately, the idea of software as a service provides a payment paradigm to support this. Lawrence Calmus www.Interneer.com

Date reviewed: Jun 5, 2006 9:54 PM

Nickname: Skydive72

Review: We whole-heartedly concur with Ray's point about the rise of software-as-service. In fact, testing free software as a usual service is the next wave, and almost an expectation from consumers for a class of services. Skydive72 (415)-234-5678 ext: 522737 www.talktrust.com (Safe Talk, any phone, any where. Free)

Date reviewed: Jun 5, 2006 9:50 PM

Nickname: skim1420

Review: The printed interview doesn't address a major component of the corporate software market, which is the coordinated project management of implementation and adoption. The success of a piece of software, large or small, relies so heavily on overseeing project management and planning, which today has no place in the type of Web 2.0 adoption discussed here.

Date reviewed: Jun 5, 2006 9:23 PM

Nickname: Mike Reardon

Review: I see startup Web 2.0 services as being only an audition into one of the larger controlling ISP/platform companies. To gain control of more profit from advertising, content sales, and service subscriptions, I see larger controlling ISPs, and stand alone Platform companies, offering a fuller range of Web services and content on demand to their customers. They will end offering Web 2.0 services as one more content and one more service into their ecosystem (Yahoo with Flickr and del.icio.us, eBay adding Skype and PayPal, eBay Express) to control views of their profit centers, advertising, content sales, and subscriptions. The best any Web 2.0 service can get in tomorrow's larger advertising market, is an advertising partnership in some exclusive controlling network.

Date reviewed: Jun 5, 2006 6:37 PM

Nickname: Mike

Review: As business applications evolve, an increasing number of businesses are embracing using applications they don't control or host--applications they leverage through the platform of the Internet and that they purchase on-demand and as a service. Companies must become more agile and work together to remove costs from the value chain to reduce friction. This will improve the overall efficiency, the overall value chain that can either increase margins or reduce prices to the consumer. This is a growth strategy rather than a cost reduction strategy--to be able to not just expose services through SOA, but to be able to reach-out to previously untapped markets by integrating or consuming these services through an agnostic platform. The value chain is composed of heterogeneous systems that need to be integrated. This is where Integrator solution providers come in.

Date reviewed: Jun 5, 2006 6:15 PM