A start-up called Spiceworks has launched a beta of its namesake software, a free IT monitoring software designed to meet the needs of small and medium businesses and organizations. The browser-based "IT Desktop" software integrates a number of features that help smaller organizations automatically inventory, monitor and report on software and hardware running in their IT networks. Spiceworks says its software can be used to manage networks with up to 250 devices. However, customers of Spiceworks' IT Desktop software have to agree to allow technology-related ads, via Google AdSense, to appear on their management console screens. For instance, if an IT manager is checking the status of a storage device, the links listed could point to data backup and recovery companies. When users click on the links, Spiceworks gets a cut of the action.
Administrators can download the software, install it and get an inventory of what's on their network within a few minutes, according to Scott Abel, founder and CEO of the company. Spiceworks is designed to be simple to use, supported by Google Ads appearing on the right side of the administration console. "We will get paid for referring that person that clicked on the ad to the online Web site," explains Jay Hallberg, vice president of marketing and co-founder at the company.
"When we were starting the company (last year), we looked at what you can do for free in the consumer web, or Web 2.0, world and we see how that's pervading into the enterprise," said Jay Hallberg. "We think we will see more ad-based services in the enterprise," he said.
Spicework is developed using Ruby on Rails, a relatively new web development framework, and AJAX development techniques to create the application's user interface. In addition, Spiceworks has built a feedback button into the application, which shows users a page with a listing of features. Customers can vote on whether they like a proposed feature, much as Digg.com participants influence an Internet posting's popularity, Hallberg said.
"The software doesn't have access to private files or databases. It can only populate the ads based on the web page that is right in front of you," says Ballard. "It is adware, but compared to the cost of actually buying network management software, seeing the ads don't bother me a bit. It's worth the trade-off."
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