6. Hosted applications
Due to higher speed broadband becoming available, many people are now starting to use hosted applications for their everyday needs.,
Instead of installing and using applications such as the Office suite on your own computer, it is now possible to access word processing applications, spreadsheet and presentation applications online.
For example, 'Google Docs' are a set of standard office-suite type of applications hosted online by Google. Amazon also offer a remote hosting application service.
Some organisations are also beginning to turn to this method as it can work out less expensive to 'rent' the application for a large number of employees than the costs of purchasing software licences for traditional software applications.
Advantages for users |
Disadvantages for users |
|---|---|
| Save money, no need to purchase the application in the first place | Need constant broadband link for it to be used |
| Some hosted applications are free to use e.g. Google docs. | Less control of the application - it is not up to you which version is in use |
| Cost-efficient - no need to waste money on unused software licences - if a service is being used that charges, you only pay for what you use. | May not be as responsive as local applications |
| The latest version of the application is always available without any need to re-install software upgrades. | May not have as many features available as a proprietary application |
| Save storage space on your hard disk or for a company on their server | External company may change or go out of business which would affect you. |
| Saved documents can be accessed from any computer anywhere in the world - no problems of leaving documents at home |
Challenge see if you can find out one extra fact on this topic that we haven't already told you
Click on this link: Hosted Applications