Author Archives: emma

Microsoft ASP.NET is a web application framework that allows developers to create web applications, dynamic websites as well as other web solutions. In the initial stages, classic ASP (Active Server Pages) was built on .NET framework, which was followed by ASP.NET framework with enhancements. With its improved features and services, this software has become popular among various Microsoft NET developers to develop dynamic websites and web applications.

While businesses are looking for cost-effective development services, they are giving more preference for offshore ASP.NET developing companies. It is because of their skillful and experienced programmers who can give a new dimension to your development solution.

Before you hire .NET programmers for your business development project, you must give attention to take offshore .NET development services from a reliable and experienced offshore company. If you take custom web development from offshore company, you will get the following:

1. They are trained, qualified and experienced in developing quality solutions by using ASP.NET framework to accomplish a solution in less time and within budget.

2. The requirement to hire dedicated resources for your web development project is possible from an offshore development company at affordable price.

3. No extra cost is incurred on the dedicated developers working for your project at a distant location.

4. Cost-effectiveness is maintained throughout the project without compromising with the quality.

5. Creates a direct communication channel with programmers or programming team via e-mails, chat, video conference etc., for keeping a track of the development at anytime and every time.

6. When experienced .NET developers are working on the project, there is no chance of delaying the final project deployment.

7. Provides regular working status to the clients for reducing the chances of re-works

Although there are many offshore ASP.NET companies, but choosing the one that fits best with your requirements is a challenge. Therefore, it is essential to make out a list of software firms in advance and evaluate their capabilities to make the final deal. An easy way out to choose the one from the list of software firms is by thoroughly reviewing their previous work. The testimonials and clients’ reviews can also help you in understanding their capabilities, strengths and weaknesses in accomplishing a project.

If you were looking for a development partner for your firm, it is important to minimize costs by outsourcing it to an offshore firm. This will not only help you in reducing the time taken for web development but also in improving the quality of web development solutions.

When I am at an event with colleagues that are not yet doing business in Latin America, I am often asked the same questions. This leads me to believe that these are the topics that most people interested in the Latin American channel would like to learn about. So I thought it would make an interesting article to answer these questions here for those that are new to our channel in this region of the world.

How big is the market?

Latin America is comprised of over 20 countries, which is home to approximately 550 million people. Because their buying power is not as high as it is in the USA or more developed countries, they are much more price sensitive. A rule of thumb to use from a manufacturer’s perspective is the 5% rule. The 5% rule is that sales of your product line will be approximately 5% of your revenue in the USA. Obviously this is not set in stone and some companies reach 10% and higher, however it is a quick barometer of what to expect in the region.

As for specific markets, here they are in descending order: Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Venezuela and Chile. These top six countries represent 80% – 85% of the total Latin American market, depending on who’s numbers you want to believe, with Brazil being the largest and representing approximately 45% of the entire Latin American market. All the other countries not in the top six will make up the remaining 15% – 20% of the total market.

Is there a technology gap?

Back in the late 80’s and early 90’s, there was somewhat of a technology lag in Latin America. While more mature markets in that time-frame were selling IBM ATs, Latin America was still buying IBM XTs (I realize I’m dating myself here but it helps make my point). This was due to a lag or gap in technology where the Latin America market just wasn’t aware of the newer technologies available. However, since the mid to late 90’s, Latin America is up to speed on the latest and greatest product offerings coming from the Americas, Europe and Asia. However, today in some countries we have a financial gap, and not a technological gap. Why a financial gap? It comes down to buying power. For example, if you have a bank branch manager that makes $12k per year and needs to order 500 LCD monitors for his branch, they will go with the smaller size LCD because of the difference in price. A US$20 difference per monitor on a 500 unit deal is almost equivalent to his salary for one year. In the USA and other mature markets, when the difference for an LCD monitor is US$20, most consumers go with the newer, larger models because US$20 doesn’t represent a significant amount of money.

Does this mean you will sell only older technology in this region? The answer is definitely not. The channel in Latin America is well-versed on the new technologies and the example above applies to certain countries that offer opportunities to move some product in your warehouse. However, by no means underestimate or treat customers in Latin America as technologically inferior as this is a sure fire way to get them to buy your competitor’s products.

Do customers expect credit terms?

The direct answer is YES. There are many large, well-established companies in the market and they do expect payment terms. Most will ask for 60 day terms using the reasoning that it takes much longer for the product to reach them, however the grand majority have net 30 day payment terms. Smaller companies may opt to pay cash, but you will still get some resistance to do business with you. Most suppliers pay for credit insurance to hedge their receivables from any large defaults on payment. There are also organizations that allow you to share credit information with others in the channel such as the NACM ( National Association of Credit Management ), which keeps close tabs on common customers and have a warning system should a customer fall behind on his payments with another NACM member.

Many suppliers entering the market usually start with cash terms and then offer small lines as the business grows with their partners and they feel more comfortable working with them.

Is it safe to travel to Latin America?

Traveling to Latin America is like traveling anywhere else in the world. If you are in a large city, whether it’s New York, Tokyo or Mumbai, there is going to be crime. So it pays to play it safe and not be alone wondering out in the streets or stand out too much from the crowd. Sporting expensive electronics, watches, handbags and jewelry is probably not a good idea. In some cities like Mexico City, taking a cab off the street is not recommended either. Either have a customer drive you, use a cab from the hotel, or have someone call a cab for you and they will ask for you by name when the designated cab gets there. After 20 plus years of travelling into the region, I have never had an incident thus far. Now I’ll probably get ripped off on my next trip for having written this last line!

Well, I hope these questions are questions you would have asked. I realize the answers are rather short and to the point, without too much explanation or room for grey areas, but for time’s sake, we have to keep it this way. Obviously these topics can be really delved into, but we’ll leave that for some other time.

Feel free to contact me with any specific questions or comments.

While developing websites or web applications on .NET technology, the developers tend to follow the security model which makes the hosting, service offerings and coding more credible. Further more, majority of the offshore Web Application Development Companies have also developed their own security management model which is generally utilized by the experts to make a perfect project delivery. The best part of this model is that the developers don’t require to generate heavy coding for developing a smart web structure. It is in fact much easier for them to make sand box improvements for the web structures and deliver their services in the professional way.

How this security model works?

This security model works in a synchronized way and automatically corrects the errors in the coding structure. So whenever you want to check the authenticity of the codes, you should firstly put the codes in this automated tester which will tell you whether the code is trusted is no. The main motto of Security Model is to test whether the codes are fully authorized or not or whether they will be able to perform well to conduct complex operations or not. For this reason it becomes necessary to authenticate and process the vital permissions to codes for performing the nexus of complex operations. The whole model can widely categorized into three categories:

1. Sand Boxing For Partially Trusted Code: The sand boxing is done to authenticate the partially trusted code. This is a procedure in which limitations are set for the assemblies or specific applications comprising the grand set. In the sand boxing procedure, firstly an application domain is created for the assemblies and later on, they are run on various web browsers. The procedure of sand boxing provides credibility to the codes and when you are granted absolute transparency, you will be able to embrace a compatibility on the search engines.

2. Protocol: The main aim of creating this security channel is to gauge the code and provide permissions to the unfaithful applications. Each code has some special structure and it can be utilized in the best possible way to trace its original source and location. This protocol set under the security management model plays a key role in taking the decisions whether the permission for using certain codes should be given or not. This type of process is generally known as the permission grant sets and in the latest version the hosts are given greater liberties to follow their own protocols or say policies.

3. Enforcement: In this procedure, all the codes are kept in the sand box and certain provisions are made to make sure that enforcement of APIs is done in the right way. APIs sometimes play a key role in restricting the illicit activities. This procedure helps hosts as well as libraries to offer services to the partially authenticated codes. In the latest transparency model it has become easier to allow administration with a much ease.

The .NET development outsourcing team makes sure that all this security model in implemented properly so access by the unknown codes can be controlled easily. Even the .NET development team in the IT companies don’t have any knowledge about the real functioning of this model. This happens because most of the codes are redeemed in the sandbox and its permissions are granted own its own. The web application development companies keep on introducing changes in this model and try to implement their own version to ensure absolute safety and security.

Outsourcing development requirements to offshore companies have become a new trend across the world. Many businesses are relying on offshore development services to save time, money and resources. It has also given rise to tough competition among offshore companies to sustain their position in the industry. Therefore, all the companies are trying to stay abreast with the latest trends and technologies for providing the best possible solution to the clients worldwide.

Among various technologies, ASP.NET development is becoming popular for developing simple to complex applications and solutions. You can also ask assistance from offshore dot net development company to design a strategy that can help you get a solution as expected within your budget.

Although there are many development companies established in different parts of the world, but there are few factors that set a good company apart from the rest. Some of the factors are as under:

1. Reputation: Many companies enjoy a good reputation in the industry for providing bug-free development solutions. It is important to consider reviews and testimonials for the shortlisted companies to make the right selection and investment in development services.

2. Skills: Offshore companies have a team of developers with different set of skills and educational background. This helps them to develop a solution by using different technologies like .NET, Java, RoR, PHP etc.

3. Quality Standards: The experienced .Net developers have raised the quality standards of the development process to a higher level which can’t be well met with in-house development team. The developers do not compromise with quality and therefore, maintains a significant name in the development industry.

4. Cost Reduction: Offshore development companies only provide those resources that can lessen development time of a project. This helps in reducing cost to a great level. Moreover, offshore companies provide development services at a less price to make it affordable for everyone. So, a business is likely to save a lot of money in investing in offshore development services.

5. Communication Channel: There is often a fear that offshore .NET specialists will not be able to understand the requirements due to language barriers. However, you will find developers with good command over English language for direct interaction. You can keep full track on the development process via chat, email or phone.

There are many other factors which must be taken into consideration but you can start with the above mentioned points in making the right selection.

Created by Microsoft as a development platform for creating dynamic web sites, applications and services, ASP.NET offers several advantages to the developer, including the ability to use object-oriented design. In addition, because the common language runtime allows for multiple languages, coding can be done in the developer’s choice of C#, VB.net, Chrome, and several other options.

There are two ways to build Web applications with ASP.NET; with web forms, or with MVC (model view controller). The MVC architecture divides an app into three different components: model, view, and controller, providing an alternative to the web forms pattern. Both types of development are useful and lightweight, and integrated with all existing ASP.NET features. MVC, a standard design pattern, lends itself to development of certain types of web applications, while traditional ASP.NET is more useful for applications based on web forms. Both approaches are useful and not mutually exclusive.

The MVC framework has the advantage of dividing the application to make it easier to manage, and providing better control over the behavior of an application. It has strong support for a test-driven development model, and works well for apps that are supported by larger development teams.

Web-based development on the other hand, preserves state over HTTP, which is more useful in business-focused app development. It also uses a Page Controller pattern, which lends itself to adding functionality to individual pages. It works better in smaller development teams, and because of the large number of components available, is well suited to rapid application development situations. It is the less complex option, since the components are already well integrated, and require less coding than MVC.

ASP.NET application development is especially well suited to commercial, dynamic web sites and web applications. And with nearly every business now having an online presence and an Internet channel for sales, having an easy path to commercial web apps is essential. One factor about ASP.NET that makes it the platform of choice for commercial web app development is the fact that when the code is processed, it is returned to the server so that both HTML and JavaScript can be used, to make the browsing experience all the better for the end user.

In addition to scalability, the ASP.NET platform gives programmers more tools and features to create a comprehensive and well-integrated app. As it is well-suited to commercial e-commerce app development, developers are able to integrate best practices and to create an environment that can handle a large volume of transactions on a daily basis. Applications will also enjoy a high degree of device interoperability, and of course, development is always cost-effective. In addition to e-commerce applications, ASP.NET is often used in developing business applications such as CRM and other enterprise resource planning applications.

This idea of the Internet as level playing field – that all data is treated the same regardless of source, destination or content – is called net neutrality. Content can’t be blocked, slowed down, sped up, or interfered with in any way. It’s all equal. For many netizens and content providers large and small, net neutrality is a sacred principle, often called the First Amendment of the Internet. For the owners of the pipes, though – the cable companies and telco Internet Service Providers – and some of the largest content and tech companies, there’s money to be made, advantage to be had, and new value and choices to be delivered to consumers if the Net were not quite so neutral.

What does it mean for business?

Like everything about net neutrality, it’s not a simple question to answer. If you’re a company with some depth to your pockets, an unregulated Internet with paid premium pipes could be a huge competitive edge. Your fast-loading content will make for the best user experience, putting your competition at a disadvantage they may not be able to overcome, if they can’t also ante up for the faster pipe.

If you’re an entertainment company, you have reason to be concerned, as you likely already are. Without net neutrality, nothing’s to stop the companies that control the pipes from creating their own premium entertainment channels.

And obviously, if you’re an ISP, you have the opportunity to make a lot more money with very little effort if net neutrality goes away. Without laying one more inch of fiber, you can start collecting fees from anyone who wants their content delivered quickly.

So what about the rest of the business world? Software-as-a-Service companies in particular have a lot to worry about, but they have not been very vocal in the debate. Businesses that depend on cloud applications everyday have performance expectations that have to be met. If SaaS providers have to pay more to make sure their applications stay up to speed, it’s going to impact their business models – reducing profits, increasing costs to end users, or both.

The bottom line is, we already know that users start abandoning sites after waiting just four seconds for them to load. If the big competitor’s site loads faster, that’s where users are going to go. Better make sure you’re doing everything you can right now to make sure your site is a lean, mean speed machine.

What can businesses do to prepare?

Businesses can’t afford to put their heads in the sand and hope net neutrality works out in their favor. Even if net neutrality becomes a formal regulation, you’ll still be a more competitive business if you optimize your site for speed and performance.

A sound strategy for optimizing performance today and in the future includes following best practices in page construction – minding script and object placement, reducing external calls, keeping assets small – and following a robust and consistent performance monitoring program in the field at the end-user level, so performance issues and hiccups can be quickly identified and corrected. This strategy is doubly important on the mobile side, where networks are less consistent and speeds inherently slower.

When the web & software industry is flooded with number of latest technologies & languages, .NET framework remains all-time favorite because of its ease in usability & functionality. The Microsoft .NET Framework is a software component that can be incorporated to the Microsoft Windows operating system. .NET framework offers several efficient pre-coded solutions to common program requirements, and directs the execution of programs that are written specifically for the framework. With its ease to be used for creating most new application & all browser friendliness, .NET Framework has turned out to be a key offering from Microsoft.

The numerous pre-coded solutions build the class library of framework and cover a wide range of programming requirements in areas such as the user interface, data access, cryptography, web application development, numeric algorithms, and network communications. Programmers use the functions of class library to combine them with their own code to create novel applications.

The execution of programs written for .NET Framework is done in a software environment that controls the program’s runtime requirements. This runtime environment is a part of the .NET Framework & is called the Common Language Runtime (CLR). CLR helps the programmers in two ways:

oBy providing the appearance of an application virtual machine, so that programmers need not think over the competence of the specific CPU that is used for execution of the program.

oBy providing security mechanisms, memory management, and exception handling.

In simple words, .NET framework is made up of class library and the CLR collectively, which ease the programmers to develop computer applications and lower the susceptibility of applications and computers to various security threats.

.NET framework was launched in 2002 supported by Windows Server 2003 and Windows Vista. The latest & current version 3.0, has been released in November 2006, and is well supported on Windows XP Service Pack 2, Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1, and Windows Vista.

Why It Is In Demand

.NET Framework has come up as one of the most significant changes to the Windows platform since its introduction, relatively to the impact of Visual BASIC. It has become the first choice of software developers since its launch. We can jot down the significances in the following manner:

oAvailing the operating system with features and functions that earlier used to be provided individually by programming languages and tools from various sources.

oProviding programmers a common channel of accessing framework features, no matter what programming language has been used.

oAssuring a common behavior within the framework, regardless of programming language.

oLessening the complexity and limitations of program-to-program communication, regardless of different .NET languages.

So now you know which programming language to use for making your software a success tool for your business!

Gone are days when companies used to recruit and train professionals to get the work done. However, with the increasing operational costs, smart people know where to look for fulfilling their changing needs. Now, by spending a proportion of the estimated total cost, client companies can get quality software solutions to improve their internal control and transparency within different departments. Outsourcing .Net developer is the best way to get specialized services to streamline the existing business processes. Outsourcing assignments to companies generally located far away from the client company is a great way to generate impressive work by giving an array of benefits to all users. Why not to assign works to offshore service providers, save money, get desired solutions and increases your productivity?

Outsourcing Increases worth of a web identity:

Undoubtedly, hiring .Net developers or a team of developers is a great way to get valuable services at unbeatable prices. In this arrangement, you can choose your people, preference of technology, procedure, and duration of the project. In nutshell, you can plan your project and get desired results without paying much.

Advantages of hiring outsourcing .Net developers:

• State-of-art business models and procedures
• Professional and experienced professionals
• Get personalized services
• Get frequent updates on daily or weekly basis
• Choose your own people
• No need to pay additional maintenance costs
• No tax liability
• Enjoys superb communication channels
• Get full monitoring rights
• Pay per hourly basis
• Client centric solution that works for your team
• Get consultancy on web development
• Sharing of responsibility
• Regular updating of web solutions

Dedicated .Net Developer [http://www.offshoredotnetdevelopment.com]

Throughout magazines, the internet, and newspapers there are countless articles telling us to watch less television. The vegetating trance of the ‘Boob Tube,’ is accused of letting our minds enter a state of cruise control where minimal mental activity is necessary. From witty quotes to extended commentary, critics, educators, and scholars have bashed TV for years. The hypercritical analysis of its content and presentation has created a sophomoric truism, allowing it to be written off as a mere guilty pleasure to some, and a menace to others.

This unanalyzed platitude had led to a depravity analogous with the destructiveness of drug addictions emerged from once sacred plants. In discussing ‘Electronic Drugs,’ author Terence McKenna, likens “the addictive power of television and the transformation of values that is wrought,” to heroin (218). Often cited are the social consequences, as television severs interpersonal communications, detaching users into a static bliss of clouds and commercials. Substituting for parent, teacher, and friend, “manufactured data streams can be sanitized to ‘protect’ or impose cultural values (McKenna 219)” I assert that the problem is not inherit to television, but rather is an issue to which all media is vulnerable. By subscribing to an anti-TV position, not only are we losing the chance to derive any worth from the shafts of broadcast, but also leave all other emerging infotainment based telecommunications open to the same situation.

A definitive “No,” to television is falling to the same unanalyzed, obsessive behavior which it is criticized for. In an age where technology is ubiquitous, it is time we look at these issues carefully and intelligently. Accepting TV as the “idiot box,” has led to a learned helplessness stunting any evolution, creating a self-fulfilling critique. Communications theorists, Marshall McLuhan, asserted that the medium conveys more message than the actual content. From this position, the television’s ability to draw people around in a campfire fashion, and be mutually informed nationwide bespeaks a valuable avenue. Despite this, McLuhan controversial postulation that specific content has no effect on society is undermined by careful examination of TV programming. Television’s current state of intellectual and social depravity is a direct result of low user input and control.

Minimally engaging, television contrasts from the internet as it is dictated by consumerism and government agenda: “Control of content, uniformity of content, repeatability of content make it inevitably a tool of coercion, brainwashing, and manipulation (McKenna 220).” The web on the other hand, although sharing an ancestry with television, has been given a chance to unfold into its current model, aiming to facilitate “creativity, information sharing, and, most notably, collaboration among users.” But yet, this is not how the internet has always been, twined to a tapestry lush for memes and rational discourse. Only with the development of the Web 2.0 trend has the expert been replaced by the amateur, and has the end-user been able to truly dictate the direction of content. And if we’re not careful, this be not may not always be the case.

Television has radiated moral depravity, idiocy and violence, with resulting distraction and obsession. Still, it would be unfair to condemn the platform in its entirety. Displays of cinema and film as captivating and culturally significant as any novel or other piece of art have permeated the air waves for years. The Star Trek series can be held as inspiration for many modern day technologies, even prompting some individuals to pursue a life of science. College classes today are held explicating The Sopranos. Further, an array of science, discovery, and technology channels are gaining increasing popularity, with fascinating programming that could spark a thirst for knowledge in anyone. (And plus, who doesn’t love Comedy Central?).

Although flipping through channels does not have the same research and discovery feel as crawling the net does, the quality and convenience of set programs certainly sets a different stage. The biggest problem with television appears to be the centralized control of data and data availability. This directly relates to the issue of net neutrality, which concerns who controls the content of the internet. If network service providers are able to control and influence the availability of content to its user, then eventually an elite centralization will occur. The problems with television are not at all inherit to television, and if net neutrality fails we will see the internet equally bedeviled.

McKenna, Terence. Food of the Gods. Bantum Books. 1992.

The subject of net neutrality has been the topic of many discussions on the U.S. forums and discussion boards since long now. To first understand why many businesses are so upset about the subject, you have to understand what net neutrality is.

What is net neutrality? According to an article in Business Insider, net neutrality prevents Internet providers from dictating the kinds of content users would be able to access online. Instead, Internet providers are required to treat all traffic sources equally. Why is this topic so controversial that the U.S. Court of Appeals had to weigh-in? Because Internet Service Providers (ISPs) like Verizon, AT&T, and Comcast want to charge for use of their networks. Meaning, these providers will have the ability to pick and choose what consumers see online and to then charge content providers.

The internet speed is basically a fixed sum game. If your competition can afford to pay to drive on the fast lane, then by default your small business gets put in the slow lane. The deeper the pockets of the company, the more competition they can speed past on the way to new customers. Right now many small bloggers and start up websites are afforded the exact same opportunity to reach an audience as the big corporations. However, it is important that you understand what net neutrality is and how it can affect you. When you boil it down, net neutrality means that all data is equally accessible via the Internet. This means that regardless of whether you are a small accounting firm or one of the big name international firms, you have equal access to placing information and accessing other information via the web. You must also factor in things like advertising and marketing budgets to get the word out, but in terms of accessibility, you’re on a level playing field with the big dogs. If net neutrality goes out the window, so does that equal accessibility. Some things to consider:

Paying More For Better Access:

No net neutrality means that Internet service providers (ISPs) will be able to create tiers of accessibility, meaning they can start demanding more money for better accessibility. Smaller businesses with tiny budgets won’t be able to compete for access with the larger companies who can afford to pay the new fees. It also means that there’s nothing to stop big companies or competitors from paying ISPs to slow access to other sites, thus effectively putting them out of business.

Limited Access to Content:

ISPs will be able to limit what you have access to base on their own corporate interests. From Business Insider: “For example, Comcast would probably like to promote NBC’s content over ABC’s to its Internet subscribers. That’s because Comcast and NBC are affiliated. But net neutrality prevents Comcast from being able to discriminate, and it must display both NBC’s and ABC’s content evenly as a result. That means no slower load time for ABC, and definitely no blocking of ABC altogether.” If net neutrality is gone, there’s nothing to prevent corporate discrimination like this, meaning your window shopping for vendors may be limited to just those on Rodeo Drive. Your favorite information sources may not be as fully available to you as they are now.

Limited Access For Potential Clients:

While the previous example explained how you would be limited in what you could access (potentially increasing costs for your business as your options dwindle), it works the other way as well. Prospects will now have a harder time finding you as well. Entrepreneur likens this to when you buy cable TV: “Instead of being able to sell to anyone with an internet connection… entrepreneurs would find their customers limited to those who paid for the ‘internet package’ that covers access to their particular website. It would be like your cable TV plan: The more you pay, the more channels you receive.” In essence, your clients may only be directed to window shop Rodeo Drive and not realize there are more efficient and equally effective options like you out there.

Slower Load Times:

So let’s say ISPs don’t altogether block access to those sites that aren’t part of their approved network. That doesn’t mean they won’t try to incentivize you to visit their preferred sites. They can do this by interrupting streaming or slowing load times on websites that don’t pay a premium. The speed and reliability of a site can make or break you. Admit it, you’ve just decided to leave a page when it took more than a couple of seconds to load. That impatience is universal and could affect traffic on your website. And if you wanted to engage in video marketing and stream on your website, you might be up the creek without a paddle (slowly, very slowly drifting).

Leveraging Video Marketing:

SMBs that depend on video (such as YouTube, Netflix, etc.) as part of their marketing strategy could be impacted if net neutrality is eliminated. For instance, if your company streams videos to homes across the country, or if you want customers to view your company’s product videos, then there’s a probability you might be affected. Similarly, if SMBs can’t afford to pay ISPs to share their content, their prospective customers may be unable to view the product videos and may not be enticed to purchase their products. Moreover, the investment on producing and optimizing the videos will result in a financial loss. The FCC decision, thus, could have an impact on your SMB and how you are able to access the internet in the future.

As a small business owner, it’s important to understand net neutrality. The decisions being made could possibly have an impact on your small business and how you are able to access the Internet in the future.