July 25, 2008 -- (WEB HOST INDUSTRY REVIEW) -- Industry leaders have announced the official launch of the first-ever trade association serving the shared interests of providers and vendors in the Web hosting and Internet services industry.
Years in the making, the Association of Internet and Hosting Service Providers, AIHSP (aihsp.org), will be unveiled next week at HostingCon 2008, the largest annual gathering of Web services professionals and exhibitors.
"The notion of a professional association for the web hosting and internet services industry has been discussed for many years, each time with widespread enthusiasm but ultimately a lack of dedicated energy," AIHSP founding committee president Paul Hirsch said. "Today, we see a moment of tremendous opportunity, and we believe we have developed the strategy we need to make this a reality. We envision an organization owned by its members with the purpose of serving the industry as a whole."
The goals of the AIHSP according to organizers are "To strengthen the Industry and forge stronger community ties - creating new connections within the marketplace and building relations with the general public, which lacks a fundamental understanding of the Industry and its needs." By making these advances, they said, internet and hosting service providers will have a brighter future, and raise the bar of ethics and credibility.
Unfolding over the coming years, AIHSP's plans include gaining affordable access to employee benefits such as health and dental insurance, implement business ethical standards, conduct market research, offer networking opportunities, and develop public relations to address media and lobby governments for key legislation.
AIHSP representatives will present "Making the Case: The Need for a Professional Association for Web hosts" at HostingCon on Tuesday, July 27 at 2:45pm.
