In their book [44] about the .NET Framework,
Thai and Lam
provide the following answer to the question
How can software be viewed as services?:
-
‘The example we are about to describe might seem far-fetched;
however, it is possible with current technology.
Imagine the following.
As you grow more attached to the Internet,
you might choose to replace your computer at home with
something like an Internet Device,
specially designed for use with the Internet.
Let's call it an iDev.
With this device,
you can be on the Internet immediately.
If you want to do word processing,
you can point your iDev to a Microsoft Word
service somewhere in Redmond and type away without the need to
install word processing software.
When you are done,
the document can be saved at an iStore server
where you can later retrieve it.
Notice that for you to do this, the iStore
server
must host a software service to allow you to store documents.
Microsoft would charge you a
service
fee based on the amount of time your word processor is
running and which features you use
(such as the grammar and spell checkers).
The iStore service charges vary based on the size
of your document and how long it is
stored.
Of course,
all these charges won't come in the mail,
but rather through an escrow service
where the money can be piped from and to your bank account or
credit card.’
-
‘All of these things can be done today with Web Services.’