In essence, ASPs are a way for companies to outsource some or almost all aspects of their information technology needs. They may be commercial ventures that cater to customers, or not-for-profit or government organizations, providing service and support to end users.

According to ASPnews.com, ASPs are broken down into five subcategories:

• Enterprise ASPs -- deliver high-end business applications.
• Local/Regional ASPs -- supply wide variety of application services for smaller businesses in a local area.
• Specialist ASPs -- provide applications for a specific need, such as Web site services or human resources.
• Vertical Market ASPs -- provide support to a specific industry, such as healthcare.
• Volume Business ASPs -- supply general small/medium-sized businesses with prepackaged application services in volume.

ASP News Review
Provides the latest news analysis, and resources for the Application Service Provider community.

ASP Myths and Misconceptions
The ASP market is growing and maturing, but myths and misplaced emphasis continue to provide unnecessary confusion.

SmallBusinessComputing.com
Provides technology solutions for small business owners, hardware/software reviews, webmaster resources and news.

The Second Coming of ASPs?
When ASPs first came on the scene in the late 1990s, they were billed as the future of software. Has that future arrived?