SAP Partners With ASP eOnline

Cupertino, Calif.3:53 PM EST Tues., Aug. 24, 1999

SAP America Inc. aligned with eOnline Inc. to offer customized hosted-application services.

The deal calls for eOnline to deliver application-hosting services via the Internet and virtual private networks on a per-user, per-month fee basis.

The application service provider (ASP) also is establishing a channel program with SAP Implementation Partners and SAP Certified Business Solution providers to deliver the hosted services. The Cupertino, Calif.-based company has signed on six SAP partners so far, said a company spokeswoman.

The SAP solutions will be hosted in eOnline's Application Service Centers. In addition to hosting applications, the ASP also manages operating-system software, databases, networks and capacity planning in its centers.

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) vendors have had their sites set on the growing application-hosting market for some time.

PeopleSoft Inc., Pleasanton, Calif., recently made an undisclosed equity investment in ASP Corio Inc., for example.

The ERP vendor also named Redwood City, Calif.-based Corio a preferred ASP partner. The alliance calls for the company to deliver application-hosting and management solutions for PeopleSoft's enterprise applications.

As part of the relationship, PeopleSoft and Corio agreed to market and sell a combined software and service offering. Corio also agreed to train PeopleSoft employees on the ASP model.

Oracle Corp., Redwood Shores, Calif., also recently joined the fray by introducing its own ASP offering.