1&1 Internet and SWsoft become the first to provide an APS-based software-as-a-service (SaaS) standard; certification program for ISVs

June 18, 2007 - SWsoft and 1&1 Internet 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, CEO 1&1 Internet Ltd. “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.

For more information visit http://order.1and1.com or www.swsoft.com.