Did you know, web technologies are getting more and more powerful every day? It has even came to the point where you can run an entire program via a web browser. Up and coming technologies like Adobe's Flex is a fine example. A computer running an expensive program which has be licensed for every machine is no longer needed. Now, all you need is a simple, web server. In the right hands, a developer can make a web server do things no one has ever thought possible. Running such applications as:

• Point of Sale System (POS)
• Library Systems
• Lunchroom Ordering System
• Inventory Systems
• Billing Systems
• Restaurant POS systems
• Hotel Booking / Reservation Systems
• Customer Tracking System
• Car Servicing System
• And Much More!

eApps can run everywhere. Client devies only need a web browser. It does not have to be the latest and greatest machine. The user can also access the program from anywhere (library, home, cell phone, etc.). Basically any device with an internet connection.

The low cost of running such a system is the second advantage. All that is need is a mid-grade web server (estimated at $1,000) and basic desktops ($599 with Monitor) for the clients. The rest of the investment will be made creating the program. There will only be an one-time, up front fee for the program. And because of the program is license free, a company can add as many computers to the network as needed without the expense of purchasing a new software license for that system.

These eApplications are universal. By universal I mean they incorporate the latest web technologies. If the server goes down, just copy the programs to the new web server and you are back up and running. No crazy installations and reconfigurations. Also because of the universal web technologies, it is very easy to find people to work on the systems. How many Visual Basic or C++ programmers are out there compared to web technologies like PHP, ASP.net, Java, etc.?

Platform Independent: it will run on any operating system using any of the major web browsers. eApps can run on Macs, Phones, Linux Boxes, Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows XP, and even Windows Vista with no stability problems. Even if Microsoft decides to release an new operating system, the user does not have to worry about a compatibility problem. With the standard application programs, companies would have to get the latest update for the software and pay a license premium to do so. With the web technologies, a company can use this application forever! These applications will last 10 years with little to no updates!

Now that you have decided to switch to an eApp what to do now? Well first you need to find a developer. All the developers are different. Each one has their own preferences on what web technologies to use and which server environment is their favorite. Almost any are fine but you need to have some criteria before you hire on the spot.

First make sure you get the most diverse eApp developer. Some are only limited to a certain technology. A company needs a developer diverse in all web technologies. At times a developer may need to combine multiple web technologies to make one amazing application. For example, my web site tracker uses three web programming languages and five web technologies. If you only hire a developer fluent in one web programming language then they will be unable to produce awesome results and are limited on the features their application can provide. So look for developers that are fluent in as many technologies as possible.

Second is an eApp developer that manages or knows how to manage their own web server. This is a priority. Web technologies rely on the web server and its software to run the eApp reliably, securely, and correctly. A lot of application features use specific extensions to web server to run. If a developer is not fully engrossed with the server software then they will have no idea how much protentual the server software can provide. I would suggest that who ever you choose to make your eApp should also build and configure your server. If they do not know or state they do not work on servers, dump them. That is a sign that they do not know what is going on. Any good eApp developer will know all the power behind their eApps comes from the web server making it the most important piece. A developer should want to take a major part in the server he or she will be developing on.

Finally find a reliable developer. Some of the best web developers are probably some of the most unreliable people. It is just because of where they come from and their background. Most of them started when they were kids in school building web sites in the summer for an hobbie. Because they see it as a hobby and not a true professional business, they will only work on it when they feel like it. They also get discouraged very easily. And no, your fellow employees or best friends kid does not know web technologies like a professional.

A lot of people say "my son can build a web site" which is true, in most cases. Here is what they know if you are lucky: HTML. That is it. HTML is a very basic web technology and most of all, it is not a web programming language! Anyone can make a web site using HTML or an HTML authoring program. Just the fact that they have HTML authoring programs just shows you how simple HTML is. If you do not believe me, go to google, search free HTML authoring tool. The application will look like a word application. The user can insert images, create hyper links and type text. That is the extent of HTML. HTML can not perform math calculations, can not connect to a database server, can not change dynamically depending on who opens it and most of all is not secure.

I have good news for you, I am an eApp developer! I enjoy working on web sites and have been doing it for some time now as you can read in my about me. I have always seen the possibilities that were out there in web technologies. As you can see by going through my site, I pass all the criteria for being an eApp developer: have my own custom web server, I am very diverse in all kinds of technologies, and am very reliable. Yes, I know what you are thinking, but you wrote what we should look for so were you not just trying to sell us yourself? Well to that a respond honestly: yes and no. Yes because I know I am a web developer and know I am one of the best, therefore I was thinking the requirements that I need for developing an eApp and made them the minimum requirements for developing such applications. No because I feel those are really the minimum qualifications. I just don't see how anyone can develop eApps with less knowledge.

With my eApp development services, I prefer a Red Hat based server running Apache server software. My strongest web programming language is PHP and have much experience with Flex and Actionscript. I do have a database software of choice: MySQL. I strongly prefer to build and configure the server. For clients wanting to use my services, I will admittedly explain that I need to choose the server configuration and software. I will work on other servers if the client already has one but can not guarantee the results.

My eApp services start at $3,000 without a server. Including a server, server configuration, and customizing the starting price point is $5,000. If you would like a quote from me or like to know if your current outdated program can become a great eApp, please contact me.