On the second Tuesday of each month, ASPnews unveils its updated list of the Top 20 ASPs and Infrastructure Providers — companies that are the harbingers of success in the ASP industry.
In July, two new companies burst onto the Top 20 ASP list — ManagedOps and WebSideStory.
What is the ASPnews Top 20?
All entries in the Top 20 ASPs and the Top 20 ASP Infrastructure Providers lists are drawn from the ASP Industry Global 200 Directory, as published monthly by ASP News Review, the executive newsletter for the worldwide ASP and Web services industry.
The companies are selected based on several factors. Sheer size is just one parameter, which is weighted along with more qualitative assessments, such as respect among peers and talent to innovate within the ASP model as defined by ASPnews (see The ASP Value Chain for a detailed description).
When two new companies make the list, two others, of course, slip off. Displaced are longstanding providers Aristasoft and netASPx. We would be remiss if we didn’t point out that the loss of Top 20 status doesn’t imply any setbacks at either of the
two companies. Both Aristasoft and netASPx continue to move forward, but they
have been overtaken by the faster pace of ManagedOps and WebSideStory.
No Switching Channels Here
The success of ManagedOps reflects the strength of its chosen
model of delivering ASP services through a solution provider partner
channel (see ManagedOps Won’t Change Channel). In fact, the
industry now seems to be converging on this “master provider”
model (see ASPs – Masters of the Internet.)
ManagedOps was one of its earliest pioneers, and — with some 200 partners
and a growing tally of customer contracts — it
is now reaping the reward for its longstanding determination
to make the channel model work. It’s putting that
experience to good use by continuing to develop innovative techniques
and business practices that will help its partners win further
success in selling ASP solutions.
WebSideStory Something to Sing About
The arrival of Web site analytics service provider WebSideStory
in the ASPnews Top 20 demonstrates the increasing maturity
of the Web-native ASP model. WebSideStory’s first service was
a free-of-charge pageview counter called HitBox, introduced in 1996.
Eighteen months ago it added paid professional and enterprise
versions of HitBox. Now its customer base includes Cisco, HP,
Sony Playstation and Walt Disney’s entire Internet presence,
and it has fast-growing revenues that rival those of leading
enterprise ASPs.
That it has made the quantum leap from an enthusiast niche
into the enterprise mainstream in just two years illustrates the
remarkable upside potential that exists for effective, Web-native,
software-powered services. ASPnews is keeping a close watch
on other Web-native providers in the Global 200 who look ready to
follow suit along the same impressive growth curve.
Top 20 ASPs
This is the list of companies that, in the view of ASPnews, are the world’s 20 leading ASPs. For inclusion, companies must meet the following criteria:
Have ASP and/or Web services as their core business
Have a substantial and active customer base
Be able to demonstrate proven revenue streams
Be innovators within the ASP and/or Web services models
Be recognized as a leader by others within the industry
These are the 20 companies that, in the view of ASPnews, are the most influential providers of software or infrastructure for the ASP and Web services industry. For inclusion, companies must meet the following criteria:
Have a substantial and active customer base of ASPs and/or Web service providers
Be active in their support and promotion of the ASP and/or Web services model
Be innovators within the ASP and/or Web services models
Be recognized as a leader by others within the industry
What do you think of our choices? What ASPs and infrastructure providers are missing that deserve to be here? And what companies do you think made that list that shouldn’t have? Critique our selections — or make your own list — in the ASP Discussion Forum.