From choosing the features of your next laptop to customizing the playlist that will stream through your iPod, what has been called the “next generation” of virtual, user- friendly, and on demand services and products has arrived. With our future resting in the cloud it seems the information we seek and the products we need – from media to business to technology – are at our fingertips. Whether “Web 3.0” is just marketing hype or a real step forward in the digital revolution, efficient distribution models are continuously evolving to make it easier-faster-cheaper for both the end user and the seller.
It’s a win-win business deal that now spans from entertainment (with Apple as our pioneer) to technology and computing, what we think of as “software on demand.” Just like listening to your impending iTunes purchase for 20 seconds before downloading, Apparent Networks wants you – network engineers and operators – to try out PathView with the free download; test it out and solve a problem. We want you to immediately benefit from the value of the tool as you decide if it is the right product for monitoring and assessing your networks. As the seller, we have more to lose if you buy the product and are dissatisfied, than if we create a trial model that you can test out and build on because you like what you got. We are not alone in this new approach to the instant download and e-distribution model. Last week SolarWinds, a fellow “on demand software” provider, had its initial public offering – demonstrating the success of a selling model where you, the customer, can find your solution and fix the problem in a couple of hours.
So how did we get here?
The success of the entertainment industry (where do we start? the iPod, iPhone, on-demand movies, and next-day Netflix) has led the business world to see how the instantly accessible nature of these consumer products could apply in a different marketplace. One where reaching a much greater audience online, at a lower price, in less time is becoming the ideal business model. Where engaging with customers continuously and responding quickly with new product capabilities is the goal. Apparent Networks has embraced this agile business and development model with PathView. With product capabilities updated monthly and an “on demand” sales and support model, we are hoping to make your job as a network hero that much easier…
-JimM
