September 28, 2005 -- (WEB HOST INDUSTRY REVIEW) -- Web hosts use a variety of technologies to run their businesses. But they often encounter difficulty in making disparate systems in their infrastructures and back ends compatible.
With the goal of increasing integration and compatibility in the Web hosting industry, SWsoft (sw-soft.com) announced on Tuesday that it had officially introduced the OPEN FUSION platform. Unveiled earlier this summer by CEO Serguei Beloussov as part of his keynote speech at Hosting Con, OPEN FUSION is an open technology initiative specifically focused on integrating hosting systems and technologies. This not only covers SWsoft products, but third party modules, custom and in-house systems and solutions developed by other independent software vendors.
"This is a very important initiative for the industry," says Kurt Daniel, director of marketing for SWsoft. "It's about open industry standards ... and it's about integrating all these software solutions and components together in a truly seamless way for the benefit of hosting providers, end users, resellers, companies like SWsoft and all the partners we work with on a daily basis."
The OPEN FUSION platform includes a consolidated API that supports open XML and Web services-based protocols and features a consistent vocabulary along with provisions for multiple versions. There is a common API for localization and changing language settings for all integrated applications simultaneously. The platform also features a pluggable integrated user interface, version management, seamless updates and upgrades and common licensing. OPEN FUSION integrates with existing authentication and authorization solutions, providing profile, identity and session management. A single description and open roadmap for all of the OPEN FUSION components is available.
Daniel is quick to point out that this is something in the best interests of the industry, not just SWsoft, because open standards would enhance compatibility across the many technologies that support hosting and provide a wide range of operating benefits to hosts and third party software vendors.
"The obvious benefits are the reduced costs and the reduced complexity," says Daniel. "There are such a wide variety of combinations across various technologies and applications that are done in a hosted fashion. And different versions and different interfaces and being able to, on a technical level, integrate those and present those as a single solution to providers and end users, makes a lot of sense. It means saving time, better reliability and faster performance."
Hosts, SWsoft says, will benefit from reduced time to market for service deployment, fully automated systems that feature a single sign-on and user interface, better platform support and improved overall infrastructure manageability. Third party software vendors will enjoy easier integration, better solution portability and a new channel for distribution.
SWsoft plans to implement the platform in three stages over the near few years. Version zero is available now with compatibility for many of SWsoft's products and several third party partner solutions. Version 1 is slated for early 2006 and will feature complete integration with SWsoft's entire line of products and more third party solutions, in addition to an improved API and additional common framework elements. Another version promises to include even more advanced capabilities, broader integration support and is scheduled to go out in 2007.
SWsoft will fully support, document, maintain and promote the program, in addition to providing training. And the company is not set on going it alone, welcoming the entire industry to join the effort and encouraging feedback and support.
ModernGigabyte (moderngigabyte.com), a developer of billing solutions, has already climbed on board.
"One unified hosting standard is something that will help create a more unified experience for users and increased revenue and margins for hosting providers," Jeremy Christ, business development director for ModernGigabyte, said in a statement.
Ultimately, the goal is to create a set of open industry standards that will propel the entire hosting industry forward.
"It's really stepping up for the industry and pushing automation to where we believe it should be and helping support that," says Daniel.
