What Do iTunes and Virtual TimeClock Have In Common?

iTunes is a perfect example of a program that seamlessly bridges the gap between a traditional desktop app and a web app. Here's what I mean. The iTunes software needs to be installed locally on each computer. That's the desktop part. But when you open the iTunes Store, it's like you're using a web app. Your locally running software populates with information based on an Internet connection, but you don't need to use a web browser to get there.

We hope to bridge the same gap with our Virtual TimeClock software. A time and attendance system that gets installed like a desktop app but functions like a web app. What could be better? We hope to offer several different deployment models in the future, so each time clock software customer can choose which configuration best fits their needs.

Traditional
This deployment option is for customers who want to host their database on their own Windows or Mac business server or computer workstation, and connect desktop clients over the local area network or over the Internet. This is our current time clock software deployment option with licensing based on the total number of computers that need to run a time clock.

Hybrid
This deployment option would allow customers to host their database on their own web server and connect a combination of desktop and web time clocks. Licensing will most likely be based on the total number of employees that need to access the time clock. This is the time clock software deployment option for those customers who want to keep control over their own time clock data, but want more flexibility when deploying time clock clients.

SaaS
This deployment option would allow customers to access their time clock from any web browser. Their database would reside in the cloud, commonly called software as a service. This is the deployment model for those customers who want the convenience of paying a monthly service fee and not have the fuss of hosting their own server or dealing with software upgrades.

We'll certainly keep you posted on the progress of these different time clock software deployment options.

Jeff Morrow
Virtual TimeClock Product Specialist
Redcort Software