The Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA), Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and Sun Microsystems officially launched the Application Service Provider Centre (ASP Centre) at a press conference today. Located at the NTU Innovation Centre, the ASP Centre aims to position Singapore as a premier hub for information services and content in the Asia-Pacific region...
Singapore, 16 July 2001 | For Immediate Release
The Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA), Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and Sun Microsystems officially launched the Application Service Provider Centre (ASP Centre) at a press conference today. Located at the NTU Innovation Centre, the ASP Centre aims to position Singapore as a premier hub for information services and content in the Asia-Pacific region.
The ASP Centre was officially opened by Mr Lim Swee Say, Acting Minister for the Environment and Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology.
The ASP Centre is a collaboration between IDA, Sun and NTU. Established under the Java Tarik II initiative, the ASP Centre is designed to help Application Service Providers deploy innovative and scalable services quickly and help them become successful world class enterprises. The ASP Centre's mission is to position Singapore as a premier hub for ASP services in the Asia-Pacific region and to establish Singapore as a nett exporter of quality IT services.
"The ASP Centre will further Singapore's aim of having a conducive Infocomm environment that fosters innovation in the provision of IT services, and attracts technology innovators from around the world," said Mr Khoong Hock Yun, Assistant Chief Executive, Infocomm Development, Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore.
"It reinforces Singapore's commitment to facilitate partnerships with leading Infocomm companies in their quest to achieve success in world markets" said Mr Khoong.
"Application Service provision is a key mechanism to bring IT services to the next paradigm where enterprises can access application at a competitive price. This competency centre is a center of excellence for ASP process and methodology," said Lionel Lim, Co-Chairman of ASP Centre, Vice President and Managing Director, Sun Microsystems, Asia South. "By transfering skills and technology, Sun is helping to build a conducive environment that will nurture innovation and spur technological entrepreneurship."
"The partnership with IDA and Sun Microsystems in establishing the ASP Centre will further strengthen NTU's technopreneurship drive in infocomm technology." said Prof Er Meng Hwa, NTU Dy President, Dean, College of Engineering and Dean, School of EEE.
The ASP Centre is open to infrastructure providers and services providers in Singapore, to pilot new and innovative services. The ASP Centre will form strategic alliances with infrastructure providers and service providers so as to provide focused assistance and industry development.
The Centre has been appointed by Sun Microsystems to provide auditing services for Asia South for Sun Microsystems' SunTone programme for establishing service level verification and certifications. This certification and branding will allow Singapore service providers to differentiate their services and enable them to compete internationally.
The ASP Centre provides the following :
- ASP incubation services for local industry to develop new and innovative ASP application services.
- Business and technical consultancy so as to equip the local industry to deliver quality ASP services over the Internet
- Consulting and auditing for the Sun Tone Service Level certification programme.
- Environment and resources for research to explore new technologies and capabilities for ASPs.
- Scholarships for students to develop skilled manpower in the relevant technologies needed by ASPs. The students will undertake research projects at the ASP Centre as part of their studies.
- Expansion of their services to the regional and global markets.
The ASP Centre operates on the basis of partnerships with key industry companies to provide an environment for ASP incubation and research. Together with its technology partners, the Centre will incorporate these best practices and technologies to help service providers achieve a high level of service quality, reliability and availability to their customers. The technology partners are Oracle, Cisco, End-To-End, Ecquaria, iPlanet, i-STT, Software AG and BMC.
The opening of the ASP Centre further complements the Java Tarik programmes which Sun and IDA have implemented over the last three years. The Java Tarik programmes comprise of the Java Resource Centre, Asia Java Venture Fund, Java Manpower Development programme, the Infocomm Local Industry Upgrading Programme (iLIUP) and the recently established Java Wireless Competency Centre (JWCC) under the 'Wired for Wireless' programme.
As part of the Java Tarik initiative, Sun will also help ASPs with Sun Go-To-Market (GTM) programme. These GTM programme includes bundling of services with IDCs, Sun hardware and ASP solutions, exhibitions, conferences, end-user education via SME academy and reseller training programme.
ISSUED BY CORPORATE COMMUNICATION DIVISION
INFOCOMM DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF SINGAPORE
About SunTone(SM) Certification Programme
The SunTone Certification and Branding Programme is a collaborative effort with industry-wide support, led by Sun Microsystems to make 7-by-24 service and reliability the norm for consumer and business Web-enabled services. Sun Microsystems sponsored the SunTone(SM) Certification and Branding Programme to provide customers of Web-enabled services and applications with the means for identifying suppliers who meet defined standards for
providing quality outsourced services.
The SunTone Architectural Council was formed as a collaborative effect with e-industry leaders and Sun Microsystems to identify best practices and establish standard requirements for SunTone Certification. The council consists of business and technical experts from companies representing all areas of the industry.
Currently, there are more than 1400 members in the world who have indicated interest in SunTone certification. There are already about 90 of these members who are SunTone certified. In Singapore, there are several leading IDCs who will soon be SunTone certified. With the SunTone certification, IDCs in Singapore will be able to compete in the global market.
About Java Tarik Initiative
Java Tarik is a series of Sun initiatives with the governments of Asia South countries. The goal in these initiatives is to develop the local enterprises to be exporters of IT and communication products and services. This is achieved through a series of programmes consisting of technology development, technology transfer, industry development, incentives, manpower development and proof of concept pilots in the government and industry.
Through these initiatives, Sun contributes to the growth of the regional countries in the exploitation of IT and the building up of local enterprises to be world class companies.
About Sun Microsystems, Inc.
Since its inception in 1982, a singular vision -- The Network Is The Computer(TM) -- has propelled Sun Microsystems, Inc. (Nasdaq: SUNW), to its position as a leading provider of industrial-strength hardware, software and services that power the Internet and allow companies worldwide to take their businesses to the nth. With $19.2 billion in annual revenues, Sun can be found in more than 170 countries and on the World Wide Web at http://sun.com or the Asia South website at http://sun.com.sg.
About the Nanyang Technological University (NTU)
The Nanyang Technological University (NTU) aims to be a world-class university. Its mission is to nurture high level manpower and leaders for the professions, industry and business, and to advance research and development in the academic and professional disciplines.
About Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore
The Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) is a dynamic organisation with an integrated perspective to developing, promoting and regulating info-communications in Singapore. In the fast-changing and converging spheres of telecommunications, information and media technologies, IDA will be the catalyst for change and growth in Singapore's evolution into a vibrant global info-communications technology centre. For more information, please visit www.imda.gov.sg.
For media clarification, please contact:
Mr Kelvin Lee
Manager, Corporate Communication
Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore
Tel:+65 211-1726
Fax: +65 211-2227
Email: kelvin_lee@imda.gov.sg
Ms Kelly Long
Sun Microsystems, Asia South
Tel: +65 239-7092
Email: kelly.long@singapore.sun.com
ASP Centre
Tel: +65 790-4418
Email: alfred@aspcentre.org
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