Local Web-enablement specialist and Macromedia ColdFusion distributor, Dax Data, has announced that M-Web will offer ColdFusion hosting services, thereby supplementing an already comprehensive portfolio of similar services.
Eddie van Rensburg, general manager of M-Web Business Solutions, says the move is in direct response to customer demand and consistent with a vision to offer freedom of choice. "This means we now offer customers a wide range of Web hosting platforms including Apache or ColdFusion on Linux, ColdFusion or Microsoft Internet Information Server (IIS) on Windows NT/2000 as well as solutions for Sun Solaris environments.
"These services enable customers to eliminate the drain on resources and bandwidth typically associated with self-hosting," he adds.
Van Rensburg sees the appointment as a means of extending M-Web`s already comprehensive line of Web site and application hosting services. "As demand for comprehensive B2B and B2C e-commerce grows, companies are realising the advantages of not having to maintain and manage the highly complex IT environments needed to support such solutions," he says.
According to Jeremy Matthews, MD of local Macromedia distributor, Dax Data, the dearth of IT skills globally has resulted in a trend toward outsourcing what can often be a painful and costly exercise -- implementing and sustaining systems needed to support Web-based business applications.
"This is causing a shift in focus on the part of ISPs as they strive for ways to add value in a highly competitive market," he says.
"Successful international ISPs are transforming themselves into ASPs (application service providers) by offering a wide range of hosting and value-added services to their established customer bases. It is good to see local ISPs following suit and trying to ensure their survival and ultimate prosperity in this fashion," comments Matthews.
Van Rensburg agrees. "International take-up of B2B and B2C e-commerce solutions appears to favour the ASP route because it enables companies to `rent` the solution rather than purchase it outright," he notes.
Another factor, says Matthews, is the growing reputation of Macromedia ColdFusion Studio as a robust development environment for building Web applications. "ColdFusion Studio 5 offers a powerful suite of integrated tools for quickly and easily developing applications. "From e-commerce to business automation and more, ColdFusion Studio will get you there fast. Add to that the economic benefits of hosting the applications off-site and you have what many businesses perceive to be a compelling value proposition," he concludes.
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Dax Data was incorporated in September 1989, has offices in Cape Town and Johannesburg, is an IBM Business Partner, a Microsoft Solution Provider and holds a variety of distribution agreements for local markets, including Macromedia, NetManage, DataMirror, MGI and Graphon. Over the years the company has built an extensive skills-base for these products, assisting many southern African enterprises to tackle complex host-any connectivity issues, Internet-based delivery mechanisms and remote database replication solutions.
Macromedia
Macromedia is passionate about what the Web can be. Its award-winning products empower designers and developers to efficiently create and deliver the most engaging experiences on the Web, and enable innovative Internet business solutions. Headquartered in San Francisco, Macromedia has more than 1 400 employees worldwide and is available on the Internet at www.macromedia.com.
M-Web
M-Web is SA`s leading online service provider. The company focuses on delivering the most compelling Internet experience in SA. M-Web has a dial-up member base of over 250 000, representing a greater user base of over 1 000 000 unique visitors per month. The company has invested in leading-edge network and service infrastructure to ensure it provides subscribers with fast and reliable connectivity. Through the M-Web Anywhere strategy, the company delivers content and commerce, regardless of viewing device or transmission path.
M-Web delivers e-commerce solutions through its Business Solutions division and its virtual shopping mall, M-Web Shopping, is one of SA`s most popular online shopping destinations. icanonline, a joint M-Web and BoE/NBS initiative, offers debit-based banking facilities, shopping, investment and insurance services, providing a one-stop-shop for users who want to shop, trade, invest and insure. Headquartered in Cape Town, M-Web has operations in Johannesburg and Durban. M-Web also owns Computicket and manages the Internet Africa and Netactive residential subscriber bases.
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