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Abstract
There is no doubt about it: forward-thinking manufacturers look to leverage the power of the Internet in their efforts to enhance the product development process. That is why many are evaluating a new breed of Internet resources. Two that are making manufacturers sit up and take notice are application service providers (ASPs) and engineering portals. Simply put, a portal is a Web site that provides links to other general resources. A vertical portal - such as those emerging in the CAD/CAM/CAE/PDM sectors - provides market-specific resources including content and community. Some add e-commerce and e-services. An ASP is a provider of software and services to multiple users from a central data center that operates over a wide-area network. It typically provides its Web-hosted software on a per use or subscription basis. Applications are simply accessed via a broswer. An ASP can operate on its own or be accessed via a portal.