application service provider
{{Short description|Business providing software via the web}}
An application service provider (ASP) is a business providing application software generally through the Web.{{cite web
| url=http://www.inc.com/magazine/20000401/18093.html
| title=Upstarts: ASPs, ASPs Article
| publisher=Inc.com
| date=2000-04-01
| access-date=2022-06-14
| quote=An ASP hosts software applications, which its customers access over the Web instead of running them on their own computers.}} ASPs that specialize in a particular application (such as a medical billing program) may be referred to as providing software as a service.
The ASP model
The application software resides on the vendor's system and is accessed by users through a communication protocol. Alternatively, the vendor may provide special purpose client software. Client software may interface with these systems through an application programming interface.
ASP characteristics include:
- ASP hosts the application{{cite book
| last = Stair
| first = Ralph M.
| title = Principles of Information Systems, Sixth Edition
| publisher = Thomson
| year = 2003
| page = 149
| isbn = 0-619-06489-7
}}
- ASP owns, operates and maintains the servers that support the application
- ASP delivers the application to customers via the Internet or a thin client
- ASP may bill on a per-use basis (on-demand outsourcing), a monthly/annual fee, or a per-labor hour basis
The advantages to this approach include:
- Application costs are scaled over multiple customers
- ASP may provide more application experience than the customer's staff
- ASP may provide application customization for the customer
- Application's version is likely to be kept up to date
- Experts manage the application for performance
- Experts research the application for new features
The disadvantages include: