Software-as-a-Service or Cloud Applications
Software-as-a-Service, or SaaS, is the term used to describe the model for software applications served in the cloud. It means that there is no software to install or maintain on the PC. Applications are delivered over the Internet and can be accessed from anywhere, using just a web browser.
The SaaS model has a number of benefits: applications are easy to use, lower cost by user, and do not have the maintenance and upgrade hassles of traditional software. In addition, the SaaS model does not require the large up-front investment in software and hardware which makes it lower risk. Since companies generally pay on a per-user, per-month basis, licenses do not go unused and shelf-ware becomes a problem of the past.
These are the SaaS market leaders serving large, mid-size and small businesses.
Salesforce
Target Market: Enterprise & SMB SaaS offering: Salesforce CRM –a suite of CRM enterprise applications to automate Sales, Marketing, Customer Service functions. Learn more Pricing. Group Edition: $9/user/month.
Professional Edition: $65/user/month.
30-day FREE Trial
Google
Target Market: Enterprise & SMB SaaS Offering: Google Apps – a set of online office productivity tools including e-mail (Gmail), calendaring, word processing (Google Docs) and a simple Web site creation tool; Postini, a set of e-mail and Web security services.
Pricing. Google Apps Premier Edition: $50/user/year. 30-day Free Trial
Microsoft
Target market: Mid-size and Enterprises Offerings: Microsoft Business Productivity Online Suite – a suite of communications, collaboration and productivity applications including Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, Live Meeting, and Office Communications.
Pricing: Standard Suite starts at $15/user/month.
Try it Free for 30 days
Zoho
Target market: Small business Offerings: A suite of online services including Zoho CRM, Zoho Projects, Zoho People, etc.
Pricing: Zoho CRM starts at $12/user/month.
3 first users are FREE |
