Software as a Service - Endeavors Technologies
ENDEAVORS TECHNOLOGIES ENABLE ON-DEMAND HORTICULTURAL EXPLORATION FOR THE CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW
IRVINE, CA and OXFORD, UK ; May 2nd 2007: Endeavors Technologies Inc, a leader in Enterprise Application Streaming, and the horticultural software supplier, Complete Gardens CD-ROM Ltd, today announced a first for the UK consumer market, with the release of Complete Gardens, an interactive plant selector, planting & pruning guide encyclopedia, as a Software as a Service (SaaS).
The service is built upon Endeavors’ patented technology, AppExpress, which allows any Windows application to be ‘packaged’ to enable streaming to a client system, whenever and wherever the user may require access to the software. Similar to streaming video, AppExpress enables true, on-demand access to any Windows application. The applications are dynamically streamed over the Internet from a central server, executed as if installed on the client PC, but avoiding time consuming and complicated installation procedures. Of interest to any ISV wishing to enable their software for on-demand access, Endeavors’ e-commerce software development kit, with inbuilt monetization capabilities (usage based charging), allows any software application to be securely distributed via the Internet and payment collected. The SDK is available on request.
Neil Bromhall, Managing Director of Complete Gardens comments “We have been selling our interactive planting advice software on a CD-ROM to the UK market via the traditional retail distribution channels for 6 years. We have an extensive UK client base supplying home users, students and professionals alike but were faced with increasing costs for updating existing customers by physically sending out a CD-ROM. Added to this we were faced with the huge logistical problem of attacking the lucrative North American Market using this cumbersome system involving setting up a distribution network, freight and agent’s costs etc.
Now, utilizing this streaming solution from Endeavors Technologies, we can easily distribute worldwide by allowing our potential customers to have our garden software stream directly to their PC using an internet connection. This method not only dramatically reduces our administration and production costs it also provides a greater level of security from illegal copying.”
Peter Bondar, Endeavors’ CEO added “Our Enterprise customers already experience the significant benefits streaming applications offers over traditional software deployment methods. When we were approached with the challenge of delivering a consumer based product direct to the customer via the internet, it was an ideal opportunity to demonstrate our intent to make Endeavors the number one choice for all application streaming requirements. This is the first solution of its kind for us and very much breaking new ground for the application streaming market.
This deal demonstrates the future for consumer based software enterprises wishing to deliver a cost effective solution directly to the customer. By utilizing our streaming solution Complete Gardens has removed the logistical hurdle of packaging and selling their software through traditional mailing systems, or download portals which is slow and immediately out of date when installed.
We were impressed by Neil’s vision for delivering this award winning software to its customers and it clearly demonstrates the potential of the emerging on-demand / Software-as-a-Service market and the possibilities it brings for ISVs, service providers and enterprises alike.”
Bromhall adds “Using the latest streaming technology we are able to provide our customers anywhere in the world access to the visually strong garden planner resource. Unlike other hosted plant finder software providers we will not suffer with load balancing problems as the individual elements of the software is only delivered to the user as they access that feature. This will allow up to 10,000 users to be active on any one server at a time.
Potential customers have the option to trial the software for 24 hours costing only £1 to satisfy themselves of the content and its ease of use. They can find plants to suit every aspect of their garden effortlessly by selecting any combination of color, season, aspect or height. The streamed software finds and displays the best plants to suit their needs within seconds. Speed and image quality is imperative and streaming provides the solution. The user’s data, such as their notes and plant lists, is saved directly to their own computer and available whenever the software is streamed, with the added benefit of not having the entire 7,200 plant photographs taking up disk space.
Complete Gardens will be able to provide customers the convenience of instantly streaming updates containing more plants and advice. The release of their latest 3,500 plant version with 9,000 high resolution images is being launched at the Royal Horticultural Society Chelsea Flower Show.
Bromhall concludes “Utilizing application streaming will enable us to deliver larger high resolution photographs that would just not be feasible or practical on a CD or indeed hosted on a conventional server. We also believe that we will have the edge when new photographs are added as they will be instantly available to the user as will be any upgrade or enhancement as our unique offering continues to evolve.”
Bondar continues “AppExpress is ideally suited to the future demands of software distribution. By instantly delivering the basic code needed to execute the application, and then only delivering additional features, on-demand, as/if the user accesses that application feature. The application is executed in a virtual environment, and therefore does not impact the host operating system – thus eliminating application conflicts and the need for costly regression testing prior to deployment of new applications, upgrades and patches.”
Complete Gardens online can be seen at download.complete-gardens.co.uk
About Endeavors Technology
Endeavors Technology Inc, a Californian based subsidiary of Tadpole Technology plc (London LSE TAD) together with its sister division, Stream Theory Inc, creates, develops and markets innovative, patentable technologies (Application Streaming) that allow the pc based applications to be streamed from servers to client computers where they are subsequently executed. These “next stage” technologies replace thin client computing paradigms. Organizations can reduce the total cost of ownership whilst improving service levels; simplify the management of computers whilst improving security and reliability and offer innovative distribution methodologies that offer new revenue opportunities whilst reducing costs and waiting times for end users. Endeavors is a pioneer and though leader with 9 patents granted and 18 pending, including the first ever patents granted for streaming applications. Endeavors realizes its solutions through licensing, royalty and technology transfer models. See www.endeavors.com for more details.
Investor and Media Information
Peter Bondar
President of Endeavors Technology Inc
pbondar@endeavors.com
US Office: +1 949 553 5659
UK Office: +44 1845 501772
Worldwide mobile: +44 7775 883122
About Complete Gardens
Complete Gardens CD-ROM Ltd is an Oxford based company established in 2001. A team of authors, photographer and programmers was brought together to build an interactive plant resource aimed primarily at the garden novice. Since then, plant data has been added to satisfy the needs of many horticultural students and professional Garden Designer. Managing Director Neil Bromhall is an 'Emmy' award winning photographer and Cameraman for his camerawork on BBC David Attenborough's 'The Private Life of Plants'. Neil has spent 16 years working for the BBC specializing in macro and Time Lapse and underwater camerawork. Neil was Emmy Nominated for Outstanding Individual Achievement in a craft Cinematographers BBC Predators series 'Nowhere to Hide" and BAFTA Nominated for camerawork on BBC 'Lion Battle field' series. Neil has filmed in many parts of the world with TV presenter Nigel Marvel - Creepy Crawlies, Giants, and the Iran series. Paul Williams Award Winning Author wrote much the plant description and plant care text.
Contact
Neil Bromhall
Complete Gardens CD-ROM Ltd
40, Davenant Road
Oxford
OX2 8BY
United Kingdom
Tel: 01865 512561
Email: neil@complete-gardens.co.uk
