Embarcadero Technologies, a provider of database and application development software, recently announced AppWave, a free platform that provides self-service, one-click access to PC software within organizations for business PCs and even personal employee laptops.
Available via a free download, the AppWave platform gives users access to more than 250 free PC productivity apps f
or general business, marketing, design, data management, and development including OpenOffice, Adobe Acrobat Reader, 7Zip, FileZilla, and more.
AppWave users also can add internally developed and commercial software titles, such as Adobe Creative Suite products and Microsoft Visio, for on-demand access, control, and visibility into software titles they already own. [Disclosure: Embaradero Technologies is a sponsor of BriefingsDirect podcasts.]
The so-called app store model, pioneered by Apple, is rapidly gaining admiring adopters thanks to its promise of reducing cost of distribution and of updates — and also of creating whole new revenue streams and even deeper user relationships.
As mobile uses rapidly change the way the world accesses applications, data and services, the app store model is changing expectations and behaviors. And this is a good lesson for enterprises.
App stores work well for both users and providers, internal or external. The users are really quite happy with ordering what they need on the spot, as long as that process is quick, seamless, and convenient.
As with SOA registries, it now makes sense to explore how such “stores” can be created quickly and efficiently to distribute, manage, and govern how PC software is distributed inside of corporations.
The AppWave platform provides business users ways to quickly build productivity, and speed-to-value benefits for PC-based apps. Such approaches form an important advance as organizations pursue more efficient ways to track, manage, and deliver their worker applications, and bill for them based on actual usage.
Easily consumed
The AppWave platform converts valued, but often cumbersome business software into easily consumed and acquired “apps,” so business users don’t have to wait in line for IT to order, install, and approve the work tools that they really need without delay.
With AppWave, companies have a consumer-like app experience with the software they commonly use. With rapid, self-service access to apps, and real-time tracking and reporting of software utilization, the end result is a boost in productivity and lowering of software costs. Pricing to enable commercial and custom software applications to run as AppWave apps starts at $10 to $400 per app.
With rapid, self-service access to apps, and real-time tracking and reporting of software utilization, the end result is a boost in productivity and lowering of software costs.
Increasing demand for consumer-like technology experiences at work has forced enterprises to face some inconvenient truths about traditional application delivery models. Rather than wait many months for dated applications that take too long to install manually on request, business managers and end users alike are seeking self-provisioning alternatives akin to the consumer models they know from their mobile activities.
You may also be interested in:
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- White paper: How enterprise app stores help drive productivity (PDF)
- Enterprise app store trends point to need for better applications marketplace for ISVs, service providers, mobile business ecosystems
- The enterprise app store and self-service IT: how SOA SaaS, and mashups will thrive
- Enterprise app store can provide user choice, IT control
- Enterprise ‘app store’ unveiled . . . cool idea
