ASP model will not make it

Speaking at the Internet E-Business Conference and Expo (IEB), Jay Pulz, Gartner's vice president of networking, said: "The ASP model will only survive long-term in a completely revolutionised form."

He recommended network-based action for ASPs, claiming that only this could drive them into the heart of the business world.

Gartner analyst Audrey Apfel recommended that the definition of ASP should be expanded to avoid errors in the security-sensitive area of service level agreements. In future, she said, the functionality and not the application itself should be offered to the customer, via one sole secure network.

Apfel also argued in favour of the pay-as-you-go payment method, claiming that it is better suited to the needs of the medium-sized and large companies critical to the success of ASPs.

By Kathrin Schmitt, http://www.silicon.de