A new breed of ASPs (application service providers) that have learned from the mistakes of their predecessors is emerging and offering better service to users, according to a new report published by International Data Corp.
Instead of attempting to offer via the Internet traditional client/server applications that were designed for corporate networks, the new ASPs often build their own applications to suit delivery over the Internet, said Jessica Goepfert, a senior analyst with IDC’s application service providers research program who wrote the report. The new ASPs are thus in a better position to offer scalable and customizable applications that are easier to integrate with other systems.
Apache 2.0 beta hits the Web
The beta version of Apache Web server 2.0 was recently completed, marking the availability of what is seen as the first major reworking of the popular software in some time. The upgrade is expected to make the software more accessible to users unfamiliar with it and to integrate better with other platforms.
The update includes enhanced customization and usability features and will offer better speed, according to those who have worked on the beta. One of the open-source community’s biggest success stories, Apache delivers content from many of the world’s leading Web sites to the end user in what many in the industry describe as a stable, affordable fashion. Its adherents contend that Apache software sits on at least half of all Web servers. The beta is available at www.apache.org/.
Glitch downs AOL’s instant messaging service
The Internet’s most popular chat service was temporarily quieted April 3, as many users were unable to reach the free instant messaging (IM) service offered by America Online Inc.
The Dulles, Va.-based Internet service provider confirmed that its AOL Instant Messenger service was unreachable to many users for part of that day. “Due to an equipment glitch, some IM users were not able to access [the service],” said AOL spokesperson Andrew Weinstein. He added that AOL wouldn’t identify what specifically went wrong, other than to say it was a hardware problem.