SWsoft and 1&1 Internet Announce Progress on Software-as-a-Service Standard

June 18, 2007; 05:38 AM

HERNDON, Va. and PHILADELPHIA – SWsoft and 1&1 Internet Inc. today announced the first implementation of the Application Packaging Standard (APS).  Developed by SWsoft, the APS standard enables software vendors to easily integrate their applications into hosting environments and deliver software-as-a-service (SaaS) solutions.  1&1 helped SWsoft design requirements for hosting providers and is the first service provider to implement support for the APS standard in its Click-n-Build web hosting platform.

SWsoft introduced the APS standard to the software development community in March.  The standard will help hosting providers take advantage of SaaS and offer customers a greater variety of services.  It will also help open the hosting channel for Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) by allowing them to deliver hosted applications to more end users.  

SWsoft also announced an APS certification program for ISVs and will soon be announcing a certification program for hosting providers. By advancing a certification program and an APS-compliant hosting platform, SWsoft and 1&1 hope to grow the emerging market for hosted SaaS applications. Industry analyst IDC predicts SaaS software revenues will reach $10.7 billion by 2009.¹

“APS will provide a sizeable new business opportunity for 1&1 and for the entire web hosting and software industries worldwide,” says Andreas Gauger, Chairman of the Board, 1&1 Internet Inc. “The standard is open to everyone and will provide exciting new sales channels for hosting providers as well as other Internet service providers (ISPs). Our customers and ISVs will benefit from the expected growth of new APS-compliant applications.”

The APS standard defines a packaging format that provides software vendors with a specification to create “pluggable” applications that require no additional integration by service providers utilizing an APS-compliant control panel, such as 1&1 Click-n-Build, SWsoft Plesk and SWsoft PEM.

“Hosting providers are an ideal delivery channel for SaaS with ISVs as another essential ingredient," said Serguei Beloussov, CEO of SWsoft. ”We developed an open, flexible, easy to implement standard to help advance the adoption of SaaS solutions for the benefit of end users.”

APS Certification Program

The APS certification program provides ISVs with basic and advanced certification criteria. The program offers two levels of certification: “Silver” (works with APS) and “Gold” (designed for APS). More information about the certification program and a complete list of certified applications are available at www.apsstandard.com.

APS Availability

1&1 is offering Click-n-Build -- the first certified APS control panel – bundled with its U.S. web hosting packages. APS platforms from 1&1 will be available in Europe in the second half of 2007. APS is available for free at www.apsstandard.com. 
The APS standard will be supported in upcoming releases of SWsoft Plesk control panel, as well as SWsoft PEM data center automation software.

About 1&1 Internet Inc.

1&1 Internet is the world’s largest web host (by known servers) and provides a one-stop-shop for web solutions. 1&1 Internet Inc. is a subsidiary of United Internet, a profitable public company with a market cap of $4 billion. 1&1 was established in 1992 and hosts more than 7 million domain names, while more than 40,000 servers run on the company’s five state-of-the-art data centers. 1&1’s global community is over 6.5 million customer contracts strong. The company’s U.S. headquarters is located in Chesterbrook, Pa.  For more information, please contact the company at www.1and1.com or 877-461-2631.

About SWsoft

SWsoft is a global leader in server virtualization and automation software. More than 10,000 customers rely on the proven performance and management capabilities of SWsoft products to optimize their IT infrastructures. Founded in 1999, the company has offices located throughout North America, Europe and Asia. For more information, call 703-815-5670 or visit www.swsoft.com.
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1.  IDC, Worldwide and U.S. Software as a Service 2005-2009 Forecast and Analysis: Adoption for the Alternative Delivery Model Continues, Doc #33210, March 2005