Glossary In ASP

Basically, ASPs are ISVs (Independent Software Vendors) or ISPs that are now using the internet as the delivery vehicle to make software applications available. Delivering information to applications in this manner allows small to medium enterprises to remove the time and costs associated with installing, managing and supporting new applications.

Some typical applications that companies are outsourcing to ASPs are :-
payroll, travel and expense accounting, product configuration, sales force automation, and e-commerce hosting.

A communication protocol designed to offer much higher data transmission speeds over existing networks than traditional methods such as Ethernet. It is also knon as automated teller machine.

Active Directory Services Interface
A set of COM interfaces used for managing network resources from different network providers in a distributed computing environment. Used to access the Microsoft Active Directory.

Business Performance Management. An active superset of DSS/BI (business intelligence).

It helps users evaluate specific product offerings by understanding business needs before evaluating technology solutions. A four-dimensional BPM evaluation framework includes an information supply chain dimension, the business model, the technology framework and an assembly spectrum.

Competitive Local Exchange Carriers.

ERP modules may be able to interface with an organization's own software with varying degrees of effort, and, depending on the software, ERP modules may be alterable via the vendor's proprietary tools as well as proprietary or standard programming languages.

An ERP system can include software for manufacturing, order entry, accounts receivable and payable, general ledger, purchasing, warehousing, transportation and human resources. The major ERP vendors are SAP, People Soft, Oracle, Baan and J.D. Edwards. Lawson Software specializes in back-end processing that integrates with another vendor's manufacturing system.

Electronic Data Interchange
A form of electronic communication that allows trading partners to exchange business transaction data in structured formats that can be processed by applications software.

The address used for sending e-mails to a person or an organization. Typical format is username@hostname.

File Transfer Protocol

The Internet protocol and program used to transfer files between network nodes.

A packet-switching protocol for connecting devices on a Wide Area Network (WAN). Frame Relay networks in the U.S. support data transfer rates at T-1 (1.544 Mbps) and T-3 (45 Mbps) speeds.

Web development software for the Windows platform. Developed by Microsoft.

In web terms: The same as News groups.

Internet search and retrieve protocol. A protocol designed to allow clients to search for, retrieve and display documents over the Internet. Generally superceded by the Web, and no longer in common use.

A computer program for transferring (and reformatting) data between incompatible applications or networks.

Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure.
The secure version of HTTP using certificates that can uniquely identify the server and client, and encrypt all communication between them.

High Performance File System.

Hypertext Transfer Protocol
A protocol running over IP and designed for the World Wide Web. Provides packaging of information that can contain instruction headers and other data about the content.

A pointer to another document. Most often a pointer to another web page. A hyperlink is a synonym for a hotlink or a link, and sometimes called a hypertext connection to another document or web page.

IISP - Internet Infrastructure Service Provider delivers turnkey ready-to-operate wholesale, Internet network and supporting services to business customers. This includes the provisioning of infrastructure, technical issues, network design, installation and operations, and business functions such as billing and provision of helpdesk services.

Independent software vendor. ISVs are one of the more important elements of the application service provider (ASP) model, as they provide the content. ISVs provide much of the software applications that are hosted by ASPs. Microsoft Corp. and Great Plains Software Inc. are examples of ISVs.

Independent software vendor. ISVs are one of the more important elements of the application service provider (ASP) model, as they provide the content. ISVs provide much of the software applications that are hosted by ASPs. Microsoft Corp. and Great Plains Software Inc. are examples of ISVs.

Internet Control Message Protocol.
The protocol used to handle errors and control messages at the IP level. ICMP is actually part of the IP.

Integrated Services Digital Network.
A technology offered by many telephone companies across the world. ISDN combines voice and digital network services in a single medium, making it possible to offer customers digital data services as well as voice connections over digital telephone lines or normal telephone wires.

Internet Information Server.
Web server developed by Microsoft that runs on Windows NT/ Windows 2000 platforms. Server is bundled and tightly integrated with Windows NT/2000 operating system

Internet Service Provider.
An agency or company that provides a connection to the Internet, usually as a leased line or a dial-up link.

Java Database Connectivity.

A programming language developed by SUN. Mostly for programming web servers and web applets.

See Web Applet.

Knowledge Retrieval System.

Klobits per second.

In web terms: A word used by a search engine to search for relevant web information. In database terms: A word (or index) used to identify a database record.

Multi Platform Management.

Mean Time Between Failures
Average time before failure of a system or device occurs.

Message Application Programming Interface.
The Microsoft standard application programming interface for email software. Allows programs to read, create, send and manipulate stored messages.

Manufacturing Resource Planning. Systems that enable users to manage the processes that make up a supply chain, including deploying inventory, forecasting, and shipping.

Sequentially, analysis of demands leads to creation of a master production schedule (MPS). The next step is the development of a material requirements plan (which generally assumes infinite material availability). This in turn generates a capacity requirement plan (CRP), in which capacity constraints are first uncovered.

Mean Time To Recover.
Average time required to repair a failed system or device.

Marketing Development Fund.

Management Service Providers.
MSP is most commonly used by editors and analysts today to refer to companies who deliver infrastructure management services using an ASP (hosted application) model. Management Service Providers most commonly offer network and application monitoring services for e-businesses

Managed Service Providers.
The term Managed Service Provider (MSP) is used to refer to service providers handling the delivery and management of network-based services, applications and equipment. Managed Service Providers can be hosting companies or access providers that are moving into next generation services such as IP Telephony, Messaging & Call Center, VPNs, Managed Firewalls, Server & Network monitoring and reporting and more.

The Network File System (NFS) is a distributed file system that allows users to access files and directories located on remote computers and treat those files and directories as if they were local. For example, users can use operating system commands to create, remove, read, write, and set file attributes for remote files and directories.

NT File System.
The Windows NT native disk format. Provides an efficient data storage format, and allows a range of security settings to be applied to individual files and directories.

NIS (Network Information System) is a network naming and administration system for smaller networks that was developed by Sun Microsystems. NIS+ is a later version that provides additional security and other facilities. Using NIS, each host client or server computer in the system has knowledge about the entire system. A user at any host can get access to files or applications on any host in the network with a single user identification and password. NIS is similar to the Internet"s domain name system (DNS) but somewhat simpler and designed for a smaller network. It"s intended for use on local area networks.

Network Service Provider.
A company that provides access to ISPs. Sometimes NSPs also are called backbone providers due to the fact that they provide access to the Internet backbone.

Open Database Connectivity.

A programming interface from Microsoft that provides a common language for Windows applications to access databases on a network.

Operating System.
The software that manages the basic operating of a computer.

Point-To-Point Tunneling Protocol.
A protocol that allows native network services such as NetBEUI and IPX to be used to create a secure and reliable connection over the Internet.

Provider of Payroll ASP services.

Partner relationship management.

Post Office Protocol.

A protocol used to retrieve e-mail from a mail server.

Public Switched Telephone Network.
The public system provided by telephone companies for residential and business telephone and fax services. Consists of exchanges and subexchanges, with calls switched between them as required.

Quality Of Service.

A multimedia file format created by Apple.

Risk management application. Discovers and analyzes risk factors and providing decision makers with risk/return models. Portfolio management, credit issuance and risk determination to support insurance actuarial determinations are typical uses. Also included are predictive models associated with mutual funds and derivatives pricing.

Resource Description Framework
A framework for constructing languages for describing web resources.

Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition.
Utility information system used in transmission and distribution networks.

Sales Force Automation. Methodology that enables sales personnel to concentrate on selling, providing better information exchange in the sales cycle. It includes lead generation, marketing, support and order management/fulfillment functions.

Symmetric Multiprocessing.
SMP (symmetric multiprocessing) is the processing of programs by multiple processors that share a common operating system and memory. In symmetric (or "tightly coupled") multiprocessing, the processors share memory and the I/O bus or data path. A single copy of the operating system is in charge of all the processors. SMP, also known as a "shared everything" system, does not usually exceed 16 processors.

SMP systems are considered better than MPP systems for online transaction processing (OLTP) in which many users access the same database in a relatively simple set of transactions. An advantage of SMP for this purpose is the ability to dynamically balance the workload among computers (and as a result serve more users faster).

Secure Sockets Layer.

Supply Chain Management Application. Analysis used to forecast inventory levels and requirements and determine efficient distribution strategies. It analyzes purchase patterns to determine their impact on supply chain effectiveness and efficiency.

Service Level Agreement. A contract between the provider and the user that specifies the level of service that is expected during its term. SLAs are used by vendors and customers, as well as internally by IT shops and their end users.

They can specify bandwidth availability, response times for routine and ad hoc queries and response time for problem resolution (network down, machine failure, etc.).

SLAs can be very general or extremely detailed, including the steps taken in the event of a failure. For example, if the problem persists after 30 minutes, a supervisor is notified; after one hour, the account representative is contacted.

Simple Mail Transfer Protocol.

A protocol for sending e-mail messages between servers. Most e-mail systems that send mail over the Internet use SMTP to send message from server to server.

Secure Electronic Transaction.
A credit card security and authorization protocol supported by Visa and MasterCard.

Switched Multimegabit Data Service.

Simple Network Management Protocol.

Time To Live.

In web terms: Notifications or commands written into a web document.

Transmission Control Protocol.

Uninterruptible Power Supply.

Computer operating system, developed by Bell Laboratories. Mostly used for servers and web servers.

To transfer a file from a local computer to a remote computer. In web terms: to transfer a file from a web client to a web server.

Very High Speed Digital Subscriber Line transmits data on the speed up to 55 Mbps over short distances, usually between 1000 and 4500 feet (300 - 1500 meters), of twisted pair copper wire. The shorter the distance, the faster the connection rate.

How entrepreneurs should value ASP businesses from a pre and post
funding standpoint.

Is it 7 to 10 times earnings?

1.5 * Revenue?

Or another metric...

Virtual Private Network
Pseudo-private network that is constructed by using public networks to connect nodes. Requires encryption and other security mechanisms to ensure that the data can not be intercepted.

Wireless Application Protocol. It is an initiative started by Unwired Planet, Motorola, Nokia and Ericsson to develop a standard for wireless content delivery on the next generation of mobile communication devices.

Wide Area Network.
Computers connected together in a wide network, larger than a LAN, usually connected via phone lines.

A software program used to access web pages. Sometimes the same as a Web Browser, but often used as a broader term.

A windowing and graphics system developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). MIT has placed the X-Window source code in the public domain, making it a particularly attractive system for UNIX vendors. Almost all UNIX graphical interfaces, including Motif and OpenLook, are based on X-Window.

Etensible Link Language.

Extensible Markup Language.

XML is a markup language for documents containing structured information.

Structured information contains both content (words, pictures, etc.) and some indication of what role that content plays (for example, content in a section heading has a different meaning from content in a footnote, which means something different than content in a figure caption or content in a database table, etc.). Almost all documents have some structure.

A markup language is a mechanism to identify structures in a document. The XML specification defines a standard way to add markup to documents.

XPath is a set of syntax rules (language) for defining parts of an XML document. XPath is a major part of the W3C XSL standard.

Zero Administration Kit.

A compressing format for computer files. Commonly used for compressing files before downloading over the Internet. ZIP files can be compressed (ZIPPED) and decompressed (UNZIPPED) using a computer program like WINZIP.