Workspot

Workspot was the first GNU/Linux desktop Web Service, i.e. it provided Open Source personal computing without computer ownership.[1][2] Founded by Greg Bryant, Gal Cohen, Kathy Giori, Curt Brune, Benny Soetarman, Bruce Robertson, and Asao Kamei,[3] in 1999, it was the first application service to make use of Virtual Network Computing. Workspot also hosted a free Linux Desktop demo using VNC: 'one-click to GNU/Linux'[4] It eventually began to charge for a remote, web-accessible, persistent desktop, and several desktop collaboration features.[5] Workspot won Linux Journal's Best Web Application award for 2000.[6][7] Badly hit by the dotcom crash, it ceased activity by 2005.[8]

Workspot was based in downtown Palo Alto, California during the dotcom boom, and funded its free desktop service through wireless contracting: they may have been the first mobile web app shop, involved in creating the first mobile apps for Google, eBay, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Metro Traffic etc., as well as client-server software for OmniSky and Palm.[9][10][11][12][13][14][15]

Workspot released AES encryption patches for VNC.

Workspot's domain and name was sold in 2013 to Workspot, Inc.[16]

References

  1. ↑ Gulker, Chris (February 28, 2000). "Immortal Machines". The Independent.
  2. ↑ Cohen, Eileen (April 10, 2000). "Linux-friendly ASP surfaces". CNN.
  3. ↑ Tina Gasperson, linux.com (January 23, 2003) Workspot Linux
  4. ↑ Lord, Timothy (March 20, 2000). "Workspot Offers Free Web-based Linux Accounts". Slashdot.
  5. ↑ Varghese, Sam (January 30, 2003). "Available Now in a Browser Near You". Sydney Morning Herald.
  6. ↑ "Linux Journal: Linux Journal and LINUX Business Expo Post Winners of Second Annual Penguin Playoffs". Linux Today. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
  7. ↑ Marti, Don (November 29, 2000). "Spotlight on the Winners: WorkSpot". Linux Journal. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
  8. ↑ "Happening People". Eugene Weekly. September 18, 2008.
  9. ↑ "Workspot selected by Omnisky". Businesswire. July 25, 2000.
  10. ↑ "Omnisky selects Google". Google, Inc. May 3, 2000.
  11. ↑ "eBay goes Wireless". eBay, Inc. October 4, 1999.
  12. ↑ "OmniSky: Google's first mobile product".
  13. ↑ "eBay's first mobile application".
  14. ↑ "The first Location Based Service".
  15. ↑ "Barnes & Noble Mobile Initiative". Barnes & Noble. May 2, 2000.
  16. ↑ "Workspot". Crunchbase. May 17, 2013.


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