saas

Agents Need to Morph into a VAR

January 22, 2009

It is getting tough out there, as the news keeps repeating as nauseum.
Businesses are laying off and closing. If you can maneuver in this environment, then opportunity awaits. No I haven't been drinking. Let's examine things.

Layoffs means companies have to be more efficient and more productive with less.

Posted in TEM, agents, saas, unified communications

Payroll by Ma Bell

August 13, 2008

AT&T bought USi in Oct. 2006. My friend Jack sent me an email from ATT Wholesale:

With AT&T's Payroll Services, powered by USinternetworking (USi), an AT&T Company, your payroll management headaches are history! You still keep control with full access and visibility, but we handle the tough jobs for you. Our know-how and tools will save you time, reduce your risk of errors and keep dollars in your pocket.

Would you let the folks that can't get your phone bill correct handle your payroll and payroll taxes?!

After thought: why is this ATT WHOLESALE?

Posted in Web 2.0, saas, telco

How Safe is the Cloud?

August 12, 2008

Network World has a story about how an online storage site, Linkup, formerly known as MediaMax, shut down this week after 45% of the data was lost. Who's fault is it? Well, the article tries to figure that out.

As we have seen, outages are everywhere - Amazon, Google, etc.

Posted in Web 2.0, backup, data center, saas, security

Dvorak Likes Shrink Wrap

July 14, 2008

In a recent column in PC Mag, An Ode to Shrink Wrapped Software, John Dvorak talks about the ten weaknesses of online apps. It really comes down to this: "Using the Internet to return to the old model of mainframe computing is a misuse of resources and a dead end."

Everything else he says just comes back to either the model sucks or the security / reliability stinks. His argument is really about Control.

Posted in Web 2.0, apps, saas

Are You Equipt?

July 2, 2008

Microsft launches Equipt: "The Microsoft Equipt bundle -- formerly code-named "Albany" -- includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote, plus OneCare and a handful of existing free Windows Live applications." [AP] Microsoft has already entered the SAAS market space with Hosted Office (for business). Now it enters the consumer market.

I wonder how much of this is a function of all the online apps (like Google Apps, ThinkFree, GE Whiteboard, etc.) coupled with a growing piracy problem. Let's face it, Gen Y doesn't like buying anything - music, movies, software.

Posted in saas

Why Hasn't SAAS Taken Off

June 13, 2008

Why North American Enterprises Aren't Interested in SaaS (according to Networld World mag)

According to a Forrester Research survey, these are the top 8 reasons why companies say "No Thanks" to SaaS.

Percent Reason

66% Integration issues
61% Total cost of ownership concerns
55% Lack of customization
50% Security concerns
42% "We can't find the specific application we need"
39% Complicated pricing models
39% Application performance
34% "We're locked in with our current vendor"

The security concerns and pricing models are the only thing in the hands of the people selling SAAS. Over at InfoWeek, there's an article about what people who use SAAS like.