There once was a time when almost every application in the office ran off of a central mainframe in an effort to lower costs and consolidate data. However, with the introduction of the personal computer in the 1980s, slowly the mainframe terminal started to disappear. Granted, some companies still use them, but with the ever-falling price of hardware, it has gotten cheaper to run every application locally on a user's computer --- but has it gotten easier?

Many of the newest versions of software are starting to cost too much and quite often, you do not need all the features that are included. Sometimes it is useful to be able to collaborate on a project, but when it comes time to sharing the results among multiple people in different locations, you can run into problems. As a result, many companies have moved back toward the mainframe concept and are now using web-based applications. These programs are designed to allow the user to interface with a database and do not require more than the standard web-browser already has installed on the employee’s computer.

At BGTE we have been developing web-applications for nearly a decade. It is our belief that sometimes it’s just not worth the time and money needed to support so many individual users and their computers. We believe that often an application can be written that allows users from any location to get work done.

• Almost all BGTE technical support is done via a web-based application.
• Most future college students will apply online rather than by written application.
• Many companies now collect and process job applications entirely online
• Google offers services similar to Microsoft Word that run in a web-browser.

We could list more examples, but why not try to think about what you use everyday and ask yourself, “Would it be cheaper if I ran this application online from a central location?” At BGTE, the Internet is our specialty - from networking and security to the parts you see everyday. Give us a call and let’s see how BGTE can make the Internet work for you.