LongJump, a vendor of on-demand business applications, has unveiled application programming interfaces that let LongJump's platform deliver a "Database-as-a-Service" offering.

 

LongJump's new DaaS gives companies self-provision relational database access and storage on-demand. Similar to Amazon's S3 on-demand storage service, LongJump gives developers something for housing their Web-based applications.

 

LongJump's DaaS provides an environment for hosting a Web-enabled database marketed as "cutting the costs and easing the hassles for entrepreneurs and developers who would otherwise have to purchase a database server, provision it, address data access and availability issues, manage backup and replication issues, and tackle security and

data protection."

 

"Businesses want unified Web applications that help them manage their critical business information and processes with increased team communication and collaboration," said Pankaj Malviya, LongJump's founder and CEO.

 

Company officials say a "surprisingly large number" of businesses manage, share, and

update important company data in spreadsheets and ad-hoc databases. These databases are usually put together by business analysts or team members who take the initiative to solve a problem but often lack the performance, access control, security, maintenance, or backup to ensure data and keep teams from effectively collaborating around that data.

 

Data loaded into LongJump is accessible to team members via a Web browser. Alternatively, Web developers can build integrated data-driven Web sites without managing a database infrastructure

 

A couple months ago LongJump introduced a new full-featured application, E-mail Campaign Manager, to its expanding suite. The product includes a visual dashboard and a step-by-step process that salespeople and marketers can use to build and track e-mail campaigns.

 

Unveiled in September, LongJump provides a catalog of customizable, interconnected applications aimed at SMBs.

 

LongJump users pay a monthly fee for access to LongJump E-mail Campaign Manager, and a catalog of other business applications including CRM, sales force automation and deal tracking. Users of the LongJump Campaign Manager get 250 free e-mail messages each month, with pay-as-you-go pricing based on the number of e-mails sent. Companies can add new users and buy only what they really need.

 

The E-mail Campaign Manager is billed as being able to help "improve campaign results through better integration between Marketing and Sales department processes," according to LongJump officials: "For example, it lets Sales or Marketing automatically schedule a call back task for a sales person when a prospect has opened and clicked an e-mail containing the latest newsletter."

 

LongJumpers say the product can review all previous campaigns directed at a particular customer, and combine e-mail templates with simple mail-merge features, build and manage lead lists for sales teams.

 

As part of its announcement, LongJump has also opened up its platform to third-party integration, announcing its first partnership with VerticalResponse, a vendor of self-service e-mail and direct mail services.