Lesson 3, software as a service. Software as a service is when software is provided by a third party. They host the application, and maintain the application, and then offer it to customers online, over the Internet. Software as a service is a very familiar variety of Cloud computing to many users. SaaS, as it is often referred to as, they can deliver enterprise software at a subscription price. SaaS offerings are very common. We see accounting, conference meetings and tools, time tracking, payroll office products, and many others offered by way of SaaS. SaaS also has a wide market share, not only with corporations, but also with consumers. SaaS eliminates the need for businesses to install, host, and maintain software products, and again, allows for a model which is much more efficient, and the firm only pays for software that is used. So again, it can be economics, the finances can be quite compelling. As technology advances, SaaS makes it possible for firms to have the same access to more technology products, and also makes it possible for even the smallest firms to have the best technology products. Some software products that were really only available to the biggest corporations can now be made available to even smaller firms by way of software as a service. In many cases, software as a service delivers technology to firms that possibly could not normally support or afford in the conventional sense. SaaS also delivers expertise and other application support. Some SaaS examples include Gmail, and e-mail hosting is a very popular SaaS offering for the very simple reason that e-mail is quite labor-intensive, e-mail support is quite labor-intensive, and having it hosted by a Cloud provider is often the most efficient way to go for many firms. So Gmail is one example of a software as a service offering. Also, Office 365, Salesforce.com is a very large software as a service offering. PayCom, QuickBooks, and there are many, many, many more offerings.