The Web 2.0 Mashup

CIO, August, 2006 by David Strom

Mass-market composite apps show the path for the next corporate toolsWith simple, Web-based products acting as building blocks, developers now have a new option for creating enterprise-class applications. Using standard tools such as Javascript and XML while separating application logic from presentation and reporting pieces, lightweight tools such as Web browsers can easily access rich features previously reserved for full-fledged applications. And by combining several such applications, complex tools are within reach.

Several vendors are already delivering concrete examples of the possibilities: Zimbra can host enterprise-class e-mail; Amazon’s s3 can do offsite disk storage; Basecamp can perform project management; Concur can track expense reporting; Ajaxwrite can do...