Workspot
{{Short description|Former Linux web service}}
Workspot was the first Linux desktop Web Service, i.e. it provided open source personal computing without computer ownership.{{cite news|last=Gulker|first=Chris|title=Immortal Machines|work=The Independent|date=February 28, 2000|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/analysis-and-features/everything-you-ever-wanted-on-an-immortal-machine-709736.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121206050117/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/analysis-and-features/everything-you-ever-wanted-on-an-immortal-machine-709736.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 6, 2012}}{{cite news|last=Cohen|first=Eileen|title=Linux-friendly ASP surfaces|publisher=CNN|date=April 10, 2000|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2000/TECH/computing/04/10/linux.asp.idg/index.html}} Founded by Greg Bryant, Gal Cohen, Kathy Giori, Curt Brune, Benny Soetarman, Bruce Robertson, and Asao Kamei,Tina Gasperson, linux.com (January 23, 2003) [http://archive09.linux.com/articles/27440 Workspot Linux] in 1999, it was the first application service to make use of Virtual Network Computing. Workspot also hosted a free Linux Desktop demo using VNC: 'one-click to Linux'{{cite news|last=Lord|first=Timothy|title=Workspot Offers Free Web-based Linux Accounts|publisher=Slashdot|date=March 20, 2000|url=http://slashdot.org/story/00/03/19/2347203/workspot-offers-free-web-based-linux-accounts}} It eventually began to charge for a remote, web-accessible, persistent desktop, and several desktop collaboration features.{{cite news|last=Varghese|first=Sam|title=Available Now in a Browser Near You|publisher=Sydney Morning Herald|date=January 30, 2003|url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/01/30/1043804458991.html}} Workspot won Linux Journal
Workspot was based in downtown Palo Alto, California during the dotcom boom, and funded its free desktop service through wireless contracting: they may have been the first mobile web app shop, involved in creating the first mobile apps for Google, eBay, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Metro Traffic etc., as well as client-server software for OmniSky and Palm.{{cite web|title=Workspot selected by Omnisky|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/WorkSpot+Selected+by+OmniSky+to+Deploy+Wireless+Internet+Service.-a063663600|publisher=Businesswire|date=July 25, 2000}}{{cite web|title=Omnisky selects Google|url=http://googlepress.blogspot.com/2000/05/omnisky-selects-googles-award-winning.html|publisher=Google, Inc.|date=May 3, 2000}}{{cite web|title=eBay goes Wireless|url=http://pages.ebay.com/aboutebay98/releases/9910.html|publisher=eBay, Inc.|date=October 4, 1999}}{{cite web|title=OmniSky: Google's first mobile product|url=http://www.gregbryant.com/omnisky/index.html}}{{cite web|title=eBay's first mobile application|url=http://www.gregbryant.com/ebay/index.html}}{{cite web|title=The first Location Based Service|url=http://www.gregbryant.com/lbs/index.html}}{{cite web|title=Barnes & Noble Mobile Initiative|url=http://www.barnesandnoble.com/ir/press/archive/2000/050200.asp|publisher=Barnes & Noble|date=May 2, 2000}}
Workspot released AES encryption patches for VNC.
Workspot's domain and name was sold in 2013 to Workspot, Inc.{{cn|date=July 2021}}