Anyone who follows the Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) market knows that every major SaaS player, starting with Salesforce.com, uses the success of consumer-oriented, on-line services as the model for their business-to-business solutions.

SaaS vendors, executives and ‘experts’ (myself included) point to the way these web-based services created an enjoyable, effective and economical user experience as the centerpiece of their success.

The most prominent example of this approach has been Apple iTunes.

Ironically, Apple has never taken advantage of its prominence and positioned itself as a SaaS or cloud computing player.

It appears that this may be changing. At this past week’s MacWorld, Apple unveiled a new, web-based version of its iWork productivity suite. Just as Microsoft’s Software-Plus-Services strategy is an acknowledgement of the growing interest and adoption of web-based apps, so is Apple’s move down the same path.

Apple is also moving in this direction to build on … Read More »