ASP puts global logistics online
June 25th 1999: Startup ASP Celarix began its push to dominate the enterprise logistics management market with the launch of its Web-based service this week (Jun 22nd). Its iSuite system collects data from freight agents, customs brokers and others in the supply chain, allowing businesses to track the progress of shipments in real-time. Users can set policies to alert them in the event of delays or problems, and can use the system to analyse bottlenecks. The system interfaces directly into on-site legacy or ERP systems. It is already live with the logistics departments of three major US retailers. Celarix is targetting companies shipping more than 500 containers a year. "Our application has [until now] been beyond the reach of most logistics departments," VP business development and co-founder Graham Lubie told ASP News Review this week. Celarix also launched its Global Logistics Exchange, a Web-based marketplace for logistics products and services.
o Read more about Celarix in the July issue of ASP News Review ... click here>>
o Celarix

Qwest, KPMG create ASP gorilla
June 21st 1999: Qwest and KPMG today announced the formation of Qwest Cyber.Solutions, an application service provider jointly owned and operated by the two companies. Marking the final step in Qwest's unveiling of its ASP strategy, the new venture begins operations with resources that would make it the world's largest pureplay ASP if it were an independent company. It will draw on the skills of over 450 applications specialists assigned to the venture by the US division of business and IT consulting group KPMG, and on access to Qwest's fibre-based IP network and application hosting data centres. Qwest owns a 51% stake in the venture, while KPMG has a 49% share. The two partners will fold their existing ASP contracts with vendors including SAP and HP into the new organisation. Phil Garland, head of KPMG's applications outsourcing, has been appointed COO, while Qwest's VP of business development John Charters becomes CEO. Charters exclusively revealed plans for the venture in an interview with ASP News Review last month (see May 28th news story "Qwest rebuffs USi critique"). Qwest is currently awaiting the outcome of its bid to jointly acquire regional US telco US West and long-distance IP carrier Frontier.
� Qwest Communications
� KPMG
� Announcement press release

ASPs emerge in Australia, UK
June 19th 1999: The growing strength of ASP activity outside the USA was confirmed this week by the inclusion of three Australian companies and one from the UK in the latest batch of new members announced by the ASP Industry Consortium. The twenty-five new recruits also included some notable big company names such as Microsoft, Fujitsu, Lucent, National Semiconductor and US West. IT services provider Mincom led the Australasian signings, describing ASP as a "natural progression" from its IT service bureau roots twenty years ago. It was joined by accountancy practice software vendor Solution 6 Holdings - which last month announced that the Australian branch of UNICEF is to become the first customer for its Internet-delivered SAP R/3 service - and by Professional Advantage, a leading provider of accountancy software solutions to small and midsized Australian businesses. Meanwhile, remote systems management provider Netstore became the Consortium's first recruit from inside the European Union.
o ASP Industry Consortium
o Mincom
o Netstore
o Professional Advantage
o Solution 6 Holdings

ASP to demo Office 2000 online
June 17th 1999: Apps from Microsoft's Office 2000 suite will be accessible online from almost any browser as part of a British company's demonstration of its Internet-based ASP facility this month. The demo service, which went live last week with Office 97 apps, uses Citrix technology to deliver a Windows session to browser users who log in to the site. Any visitor can enter the demo room, click on a program icon and start running the application in the browser window. This initiates a Windows Terminal Server session, delivered over ActiveX, Java or Citrix' own ICA browser plug-in. Oxford-based Esoft will market the service to independent software vendors (ISVs), both as a demo facility where prospective clients can try out apps, and for deploying application rental solutions and services. In addition to the Office 2000 demo, the site will be introducing apps from its first ISV customers, business development director David Sidwell told ASP News Review this week. "Over the next few weeks you're going to see an increasing number of apps," he said.
o ESoft

Baan readies rental launch
June 9th 1999: Baan announced an application rental partnership with French IT services provider Groupe Bull yesterday, and revealed it is preparing the imminent launch of a global application outsourcing programme. In addition to Bull, it will announce three ASP partners in the USA and one in Canada, general manager of Baan Business Solutions Outsourcing told ASP News Review. He added that Baan already has rental customers as a result of an earlier small business outsourcing programme, including a metal stamping company in New England and 20 businesses in Hong Kong. Baan prefers to partner with experienced IT services companies rather than new-wave telcos or ASP startups, said Worley. "Baan's strategy is to use experienced providers to host the applications. I would feel comfortable with anyone coming to Groupe Bull for outsourced ERP because it really knows how to run the Baan system," he said. The Groupe Bull announcement came at Gartner Group's Predicts99 conference in Paris, France.
o The Baan Company
o Groupe Bull
o Gartner Group

Futurelink buys US reseller
June 3rd 1999: Canadian ASP startup Futurelink today announced its agreement to purchase Irvine CA-based Citrix reseller Micro Visions in a deal worth approximately $50m, of which $12m is to be paid in cash. The acquisition, which has been under negotiation for several months, bolsters Futurelink's ASP vision with the reseller's substantial expertise in implementing server-based thin-client computing solutions. Founded in 1987, Micro Visions was the top Citrix reseller by revenue in the USA in 1998. In a conference call with investors today, Futurelink CFO Raghu Kilambi noted that, based on Q1 figures, the merged business will have annual revenues running at $23-25m "That is the highest revenue run rate of any pureplay ASP in the market including USinternetworking," he said. Glen Holmes, founder and CEO of Micro Visions, will become president of the combined companies, which will be headquartered in Irvine. Futurelink's Cameron Chell will remain CEO. Futurelink, based in Calgary AB, has also restructured its board and yesterday appointed Phil Ladouceur, formerly founder and CEO of Canadian telco Metronet, as executive chairman.
o Futurelink
o Acquisition press release
o Micro Visions

Oracle recruits Qwest for BOL
June 3rd 1999: Oracle yesterday revealed that IP carrier Qwest is the first of several partners it will appoint to provide data centre hosting and network infrastructure services for its Business OnLine ASP operation. The announcement is the first indication that Oracle will use third-party providers to host the BOL service, which finished its pilot phase early in May. A formal launch is likely later this month. A spokeswoman confirmed to ASP News Review today that Qwest will be one of "several" partners hosting the service, though Oracle will retain control of applications management and the customer relationship. Qwest has already announced it will host application services for Oracle rivals SAP and Siebel. The Qwest services are due to go live in the summer.
o See related ASP News Review stories Qwest rebuffs USi critique (May 28th) and Oracle launches Business OnLine (May 7th)
o Oracle Business OnLine
o Oracle/Qwest press release
o Qwest Communications