Editing 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 [[http|Web]].<ref>{{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.}}</ref> 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 [[application server|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<ref name="pis-ch4-p149">{{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
}}</ref>
* ASP owns, operates and maintains the servers that support the application<ref name="pis-ch4-p149"/>
* ASP delivers the application to customers via the [[Internet]]<ref name="pis-ch4-p149"/> 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<ref name="pis-ch4-p149"/>
* ASP may provide more application experience than the customer's staff<ref name="pis-ch4-p149"/>
* ASP may provide application customization for the customer<ref name="pis-ch4-p149"/>
* Application's version is likely to be kept up to date
* Experts manage the application for performance<ref name="pis-ch4-p149"/>
* Experts research the application for new features<ref name="pis-ch4-p149"/>

The disadvantages include:
* The customer must rely on the ASP for a critical business function, including security and performance<ref name="pis-ch4-p149"/>
* The customer may have to accept the application as provided 
* The customer may have to adapt to possible application changes
* Integration with other applications may be problematic

==See also==
* [[Application server]]
* [[Business service provider]]
* [[Communication as a service]]
* [[Hosted service provider]]
* [[Multitenancy]]
* [[Outsourcing]]
* [[Service level agreement]]
* [[Utility computing]]
* [[Web application]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:IT service management]]
[[Category:Customer relationship management]]