On-demand computing finally comes to the desktop

Sapila and WebTec have teamed up to bring the open source Officeware product, Instant Office, to the desktop on a subscription or on-demand business model.

This comes close on the back of Sapila releasing its locally developed office solution that offers a complete Office solution with word processor, spreadsheet, presentation software and an e-mail client.

By using the WebTec subscription-based software solution, the product is now possible to go to market at less than $10 per month per user. This makes for an easy buying decision and includes all updates and support.

Excellent licence control is also handled as users are only billed for monthly usage. No need for long-term contracts or sticky licensing restrictions. The whole idea behind on-demand is to pay for the software as you use it and with this offering it is within reach of every user, from corporate through to the single home user.

WebTec and Sapila will take this software to the market through their respective channels, targeting ISPs and the corporate, government and SMME markets in SA, Europe and the US.

Discussions to bundle the software with hardware vendors are also at an advanced stage. This means that you will in future be able to buy your PC with software pre-loaded on the machine and then to be able to pay for it as and when you use it, be it for only month, a year or longer.

IT managers are under increasing pressure to justify software purchases and are loath to go into long-term contracts or to buy unused licences just because of a `what-if` scenario. By being able to adapt to a flexible model that allows customers to choose licensing terms that fit their needs, and payment models that suit the customer are the main driving forces behind going to market in this way. The unique subscription-based solution also advises larger users on a month-to-month basis the amount of licences used, giving exact ROI and allowing for effective budgeting.

The keys to success in the on-demand software market are flexibility and simplicity. By being able to contain cost within a transparent budget, easy take-up of this software is expected in all fields.

"To date, our subscription-based offering has been geared very much towards Internet security. This partnership with Sapila launches WebTec into the market for subscription-based business and consumer software on the desktop," says Paul Dinsmore, WebTec CEO.

"We believe that being able to offer clients a best-of-breed product within affordable rates and via easily accessible model makes for an easy buying decision and allows for effective implementation. This will allow us to go to market at speed and it will allow us to be able to bring on-demand to every user that is looking for software regardless of budget, yet allowing the client to make use of solutions that address their software needs effectively," says Andre de Wet, Director, Sales and Marketing, WebTec.

"The partnership with WebTec makes our office automation products even more compelling as well as offering accessibility and affordability to all," says Mark Mackay, Sapila COO.