An emerging Web development technique promises to shake up the status quo in PC software and blur the line between desktop and Web applications.
Over the years, desktop applications tied to a specific operating system have become entrenched as the main way to work on a computer. AJAX, a set of development techniques standardized over the past eight years, could change all that by bringing more sophisticated interfaces to Web applications.
With that, backers are hoping it can open a crack in the dominance of desktop software like Microsoft’s Office, the undisputed market leader. "This is a space that’s crying out for innovation," said Scott Dietzen, president of messaging start-up Zimbra. "At this point, there isn’t a company that’s up to challenging Microsoft. But we’re out to change that."
