I know it sounds weird but my thinking is that the majority of applications that are written are aimed at multi user environments and the majority of them use some form of data to build some sort of experience, so its only natural to think that they collect the data too. Google does it through its search and so does many other of the big tech companies. The value in collecting the data is in being able to disseminate user habits and find marketing niches. In my previous job I worked at a company that developed a software solution that used a workflow of some sort. The same workflow was used by various organisations, only with their organisation-specific data, but with the same process. GMail is a prime example of this – we all send and receive email with GMail, but the data is differentiation, and that is what Google ultimately wants.

I am still relatively unsure of where SaaS sits as a definition for me personally. Does it mean I get to use something like Microsoft Word or Microsoft Excel on my current desktop connected to a licensed copy on a server? Or does it mean I get to use it in the GMail way where I access email through my browser? I guess its the fact that some of these apps reside in a browser that confuses the issue for me somewhat because to me it seems like because it runs in the browser its a web application. Does SaaS imply that a browser is simply a “wrapper” for GMail because GMail can run in various other guises – such as a mobile app or as a Chrome add on, for example. Does SaaS then mean that the underlying technology is provided as a UI agnostic element? Could I therefore build an entire suite of apps of my own based on these technology components? My thinking is going too far, so before I get to a point of no return I’ll return to my initial question.

If SaaS acts as a mechanism for allowing others to use your application infrastructure then surely the act of collecting, disseminating and analysing the usage data can give rise to providing Data as a Service. Implement a workflow and collect the data, simple concept really.

I really like the big screen, specifically the AMOLED display. Its crisp and bright. The user interface is very responsive, my only gripe being that the phone doesn’t always recognize when the phone is horizontal or vertical – I have had to tap it to get the correct orientation.

I like the Facebook integration so far, specifically the fact that images from Facebook profiles can be found under pictures. Browsing the interwebs on a bigger screen makes it so much more pleasant to view websites. The software upgrade process is seamless, from installing the Zune software right through to connecting the device. I have done two updates already. You have to admit that the Zune interface is way as in major way better than the crappy iTunes one. Synchronising music seems quite easy, as does photos. I might just grow to really like this phone a lot.

I got myself a new WP7 device – the Samsung Omnia 7 which was released in South Africa recently and in particular through Vodacom. The price seemed decent, decent enough for me to take it on a contract – just so that I can experience the OS. iOS and Android are the main diet of mobile development these days and they also maintain the biggest marketshare, along with RIM, which might make it worthwhile to invest in the more popular ones. I already own a BlackBerry Bold, 9700 but there are some limitations in the way Blackberry make updates to their core software available. Is it even possible to update to the latest BlackBerry OS from any newish device? It seemed to me that I would have to upgrade to a new BlackBerry if I wanted the latest OS software. Updates to the OS is a part of both Android and iOS, and to me its an important part way of how software should work these days – updates must be consistent and frequent. The Chrome browser is a great example of a piece of software that gets updated regularly. It makes me feel that the software is being worked on and being made better. The first time I connected my Blackberry to my PC using the supplied software there was no clear way of upgrading the OS, so I was a little disappointed.

I wanted to own a WP7 device because I know a few people who have iPhones and although its a great device with a great OS I really want to be different. And the Metro UI is different and admittedly I am a Microsoft fan, and the constant opinion that Microsoft cannot innovate and that Apple are the only real innovators made me decide to get WP7 device.