The ISV Challenge.

Independent software vendors (ISVs) that effectively address the web computing needs of customers and the emerging application service provider (ASP) market will have a tremendous competitive advantage in today's Internet-driven economy.

According to the Gartner Group (The Decreasing Importance of Desktop Operating Systems, April 2000) at least 60 percent of consumers will use ASP sourced software or portal-based Web tops, such as AOL, for more than half of their computing functions by 2002.

By upgrading their applications for use over the Internet, software developers can dramatically strengthen the value of their product offering - opening up additional revenue opportunities and securing greater satisfaction and loyalty from customers.

However, before this can be achieved ISVs must tackle the challenge of web-enabling existing applications. The objective for an ISV is therefore to deliver a stable, feature-rich version of their software to clients across the Internet or through an ASP.

Furthermore, the software companies who gain competitive advantage will be the ones who are first to market, delivering cost-effective web-enabled versions of familiar applications for their typical user, without sacrificing features or functionality.

There is obviously a demand for web-enabled applications, but what do we actually mean by the term web-enable?

Web-Enabling vs. Webifying

Although `hot topics' among application developers and ASPs, the differences between web-enabling and webifying remain ambiguous.

By way of clarifying according to the World Wide Web Encyclopaedia, "To Webify is to convert a standard linear document to a hypertext web of small documents in a form suitable for the World Wide Web. These formats presently include HTML, VRML, and Adobe Acrobat Portable Document Format (PDF) formats." This definition implies a static solution which may only allow the user to view text or images.

On the other hand, web-enabling is considered to be more interactive. "Web-enabling an application means being able to use an application via the Web."

Web-enabled applications are the more essential of the two, due to several recent trends in desktop computing.

Identifying the Demand for Web-enabled Applications

These trends include the increasing independence of operating system or user locations and the increasing use of the web as a primary delivery and maintenance tool for software applications. This ultimately changes the way information systems are being used and the way people are doing business.

Operating System and Location Independence

One of the most significant trends today in desktop computing is the decreasing importance of the user's location and the move away from dependence on a single desktop system. In fact, remote users make up the fastest growing segment in the computing industry. Users are expecting to access corporate data and applications from anywhere in the world, any time of the day and from virtually any type of device.

Furthermore, fast communication among employees, customers, suppliers and strategic partners, no matter where they are, is becoming increasingly critical.

This business model goes beyond the traditional corporate work environment and its standard desktop operating system. With the rise in popularity of Java, Linux and Interact Devices, users can choose from a selection of cheaper, simpler and more convenient channels for handling corporate and personal information.

Server-based computing where traditional desktop applications are centrally managed and supported on a server or host computer and accessed by standard PCs or other desktop devices, is rapidly becoming recognised as the most reliable way to reduce the complexity and cost of enterprise computing while increasing efficiency. This new business environment presents a substantial challenge for IT teams and ISVs: addressing the users need to have a single application accessed from anywhere, from almost any desktop operating system or device. The challenge here is to extend existing desktop applications to the World Wide Web without potentially destabilising their code base and investing hundreds of man-hours in a software rewrite.

The Web Infrastructure and Just-In-Time (JIT) Software

Analysts predict that the Web will be the primary source for the delivery and maintenance of software by 2003. Dynamic and timely methods of updating software will become more critical as users demand instant access to new or upgraded functions, as opposed to the time-consuming process of ordering upgrades and then having IT professionals install it on their workstations. Users will expect their specific needs to be met through access to a wide range of functions that can work on any platform. Quite simply, the Gartner Group states, (The Decreasing Importance of Desktop Operating Systems, April 2000), "This model will expand the capabilities of the computer beyond those of today's desktop suites."

So, having examined the pressures in today's market that makes web-enabled applications a necessity for business survival, we can now turn our attention towards the options available for web-enabling and the qualities of the ideal web-enabling solution.

Finding the Ideal Web-enabling Solution

There are several web-enabling solutions available to software companies: rewriting the application, third-party middleware and Bridges. From a software company's perspective, an ideal web-enabling solution offers the following:

1. Quick time to market

2. Stability, requiring no application rewrites

3. Cost-effectiveness

4. Preservation of the ISV's branding and relationship with the customer

5. Adaptability to the changing desktop computing environment

6. Preservation of the application's interactive look and feel.

Rewriting the Application

Rewriting the application is a common approach taken by software companies. The rewriting of code enables the company to web-enable the application whilst preserving the software company branding and the relationship with the customer.

Despite these advantages, rewriting an existing, stable application with an existing install base is not the preferred solution. This method can be costly and time-consuming and rewrites have the potential for introducing instability to an otherwise stable program.

In addition, rewriting applications can mean introducing a static front end to the application, sacrificing the rich interactive experience users have come to expect and usually requiring that users undergo additional training to learn the new software.

The greatest problem, however, may be the very long development and quality assurance time that applications take, sometimes delaying the product's introduction to the market for years.

Third-Party Middleware

Software companies can also recommend that customers buy third-party middleware for a multi-tiered solution. This middleware application (tier 1 or 2) executes the application on a separate server and sends screen updates to the client (tier 2 or 3).

While this solution is very effective from a functionality standpoint, it poses several important problems. One of the problems is that the third-party product or server must be sold to the customer as part of the software package, which increases the complexity of the sale, making it more costly for the customer, a more difficult buying decision and likely prolonging the sales cycle

This arrangement also requires an IT specialist to implement, maintain and support the server since it is a complex third-party product. This would require the customer to pay the additional cost of IT training or engaging consultant resources, such as those offered by the reseller.

Third-party middleware will not run on regular NT, but requires special Windows TSE or NT terminal services from Microsoft.

An additional disadvantage is that the software company now loses branding recognition and account control for their product since they are now required to use another product to run their software. Perhaps most importantly, the software company has missed the opportunity for generating revenue with their web-enabled, product, as that revenue is now going to the third party.

Bridges

Bridges software from GraphOn Corporation is a third option that solves all the problems associated with rewriting code and employing third-party middleware. Bridges is ideally suited for developers who want a quick to market, cost-effective technology to create cross-platform, web-enabled versions of their Windows, UNIX or Linux applications. The Bridges technology allows ISVs to offer Windows applications with complete application functionality at the desktop, effectively web-enabling their application without rewriting or even altering a single line of code. No extensions, add-ons, or code rewrites are required to run applications on Macintosh, Windows, UNIX, Linux and any Java-enabled device or browser.

Bridges advantages include:

1. Bridges enables ISVs to deliver their web-enabled applications quickly to customers in their own packaging with Bridges software included and transparent to the end-user.

2. The Bridges server requires less than one hour to install and provides instant delivery to any desktop or internet computing device, anywhere in the world.

3. Bridges extends the capabilities of standard Windows NTI2000 servers enabling applications to be run from any desktop computer or display device, including Macintosh, UNIX, Linux, Windows, and any Java-enabled device or browser.

4. The Bridges software uses the RapidX (RXP) protocol, enriching the users experience with features such as client side printing, local client access and auto-client install within a stable, dependable environment.

Web-Enabling Applications with GraphOn's Bridges Software

Using GraphOn's innovative Bridges technology, JSVs can offer a complete, cost-effective web deployment solution to their multi-platform customer base and for distribution by ASPs. Bridges provides ISVs with a competitive edge by offering an affordable, scalable and customisable solution for web-enabling full featured Windows, UNIX and Linux applications quickly and without modifying the application's code or requiring costly add-ons.

By bundling and integrating Bridges from GraphOn with their products, software companies can provide web access to their application transparently, without extra cost, effort or special training for their customers. Bridges provides internet delivery of web-enabled 32-bit Windows, UNIX or Linux applications, accessed instantaneously by any desktop device, from any location. These server-based versions of the applications offer the same functionality as desktop versions. With Bridges, the applications retain the original "look and feel" and appear to be running directly on the desktop.

Bridges technology easily extends the reach of critical applications to branch offices, remote users and telecommuters, over any connection including Internet, phone and wireless, with consistently high performance. With Bridges comes freedom in the choice of applications, operating systems and connectivity framework.

Web-enabling by Bridges takes very little time and simplifies the software maintenance process. Centrally located applications with distributed client access improve application management, because problems can be solved in a central location, instead of at the many individual end user desktop locations. The result is lower development costs and improved server performance.

Using GraphOn's innovative Bridges technology, ISVs can meet market demands quickly and offer a complete, cost-effective web deployment solution to their multi-platform customer base and for distribution by ASPs. Bridges provides JSVs with a competitive edge by offering an affordable, scalable and customisable solution for web-enabling full-featured Windows, UNIX and Linux applications.

Robin Ford Executive vice president, sales and marketing, GraphOn Corporation http://www.graphon.com

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