2008-11-13 12:39:43 - Software solutions company Mamut ASA and Enterprise Open Source Content Management provider eZ Systems are teaming up to offer a convenient way to get started and develop a professional website. Mamut ASA is the leading European provider of complete, integrated software solutions and internet services for SMEs with more than 335.000 customers. eZ Systems is the largest Open Source Content Management software company in the world.

Source: ez.no/company/news

When choosing a web application today, one must consider many factors, including flexibility, infrastructure, up-front license costs, Open Source alternatives, and so on. Then, one must go through the process of installing and setting up the application. Lately, the software industry has made significant strides in the way customers get, purchase, and use software. For example, Open Source has

made software available to anyone, encouraging innovation and fostering quicker development. The Software As A Service (SaaS) model enables organizations to bypass setup, hosting, and maintenance hassles to use applications "on demand".

eZ Systems has always made its software freely available under GPL / NewBSD licenses, building a strong ecosystem around its products and continuously innovating. While purely community-based Open Source projects have not satisfied enterprise customers seeking support guarantees and responsibility, eZ Systems' CMS eZ Publish has combined the best of the proprietary and Open Source worlds. eZ Systems has long provided the security, guarantees, support, and maintenance that you expect from a professional vendor, but with the Open Source freedom where anyone can download, learn, work, and innovate with eZ technology.

However, some organizations are searching for a web application that is not only supported, reliable, and robust, but that is also fully hosted and managed. They recognize the power of eZ Publish, but need a quick setup that is ready to use immediately. This is where the SaaS model makes real sense. In a SaaS model, organizations who do not require extensive customization, integration, and other enterprise needs can benefit from a standardized package.

This fall, eZ Systems and Mamut ASA will launch eZ Publish as a service. This gives organizations even more choice. They can download eZ Publish, install and host it themselves, or they can get it as a service with a predictable cost plan (or even convert existing eZ Publish installation to the SaaS model) and the flexibility to adapt at any time.

The combination of Open Source software and SaaS is unique in the content management market and will be very competitive since no license costs are part of the price calculation. This will enable small- and medium-sized businesses to use eZ Publish at a very low cost, without needing to download the software, test it, install it, or read the documentation. They will get support and maintenance directly from eZ Systems, the creators of the software. SaaS customers will also be able to upgrade the service should their needs grow to require eZ Publish's award-winning customization possibilities.

Full details about the eZ Publish SaaS offering from eZ Systems and Mamut ASA are coming soon, as the launch is being finalized.

Written by VP Marketing of eZ Systems, Bertrand Maugain

About Mamut
Founded in 1994, Mamut (OSE 'MAMUT') is a leading European provider of complete, integrated software solutions and internet services for SMEs. Mamut offers complete and user-friendly solutions at the best value for money integrating CRM, sales force, logistics, accounting, e-commerce, domains, e-mail, web hosting and security. More than 335,000 European customers simplify their daily business with solutions from Mamut. Further information about Mamut and the company's products can be found at www.mamut.com

About eZ Publish
eZ Publish is an award-winning, enterprise-grade Open Source Content Management System and development framework with functionality for web publishing, media portals, intranets, e-commerce and extranets. eZ Publish helps all kinds of organizations - including multinational corporations, humanitarian organizations and educational institutions - succeed at sharing their information.

About eZ Systems
Founded in 1999, eZ Systems is the world's largest Open Source Content Management software company with offices in Norway, Denmark, Germany, Belgium, France and North America. With customers such as the United States Navy, National Geographic France, Massachusetts Insitute of Technology, CNBC, Tele 2, Elle and Vogue, eZ Systems is the creator of eZ Publish, an award winning Open Source Content Management System with 2,5 million downloads, more than 200,000 installations and registered users in more than 160 countries. The eZ philosophy of openness and information sharing is still the basic guideline for the company and the eZ Ecosystem.