Despite some strong showings by several up-and-coming contenders this month (who we continue to monitor), there are no changes to the Top 20 ASPs list. However, there is one addition to the Top 20 Infrastructure list, as we introduce provisioning platform startup Abridean.

ASPnews Top 20 Archive

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Sun Engulfs iPlanet
The gap in the infrastructure list comes as a result of moves to integrate iPlanet more fully into its parent Sun Microsystems' organization. iPlanet was formed as a joint venture with Sun after AOL acquired Netscape late in 1998, and was effectively a merger of the Web server platform businesses of Sun and Netscape, both of which had acquired strong Web application server vendors as well as building up their own platform products.

The joint venture agreement runs out in March next year, but AOL has already more or less lost interest in iPlanet. Earlier this summer, it laid off several hundred iPlanet employees, most of whom were promptly rehired straight away by Sun. iPlanet is effectively now simply a division of Sun, and it no longer makes any sense to show it as a separate company in our Top 20.

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). For more on the process behind the Top 20 lists, see Global Top 20 — Your Questions Answered.

Abridean on the A-List
Among several contenders, a small startup with a long heritage of application services expertise has earned its way into the vacant place. Abridean, originally a Canadian startup with its base in Halifax, Nova Scotia, has assembled a team with experience going back five or more years in hosted application platforms. It has taken an innovative approach to building modular packages that are based on its own provisioning system but which also include pre-integrated applications from other vendors.

Recent successes in building its customer base brought the final element in its selection for the Top 20. (See USA.net Will Provision with Abridean and Abridean Vows to 'Provision Anything'.)

Taking Stock of Publicly Traded ASPs
We are now entering the results season again for those companies in the Top 20 that are publicly held, so the coming month may not be so calm for members of the list. Be sure to check back next month.

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

Top 20 ASP Infrastructure Providers

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