The future is here
While the majority of software companies talk about the forthcoming Microsoft .NET (pronounced dotnet) computer environment MSS have already studied, trained, designed, written and installed the first .NET applications for AlphaLAW-Vantage.
Click here .... for an on-line demonstration of AlphaLAW-Vantage Client WEB Access
So what is .NET? Microsoft .NET is a set of software technologies for connecting information, people, systems and devices. In simple terms there is currently the Windows operating system for your PC - under which you run your word processing, your accounting applications etc - and there is the Internet or WEB - for accessing the outside world. What .NET does is to amalgamate these two separate entities into one common environment. The .NET technology enables the creation of applications, processes and websites as services that share and combine information with each other on any platform or device (PC, laptop, hand held PC, mobile phone and devices yet to come that will integrate video, audio and computer technology), to provide tailored solutions for both organisations and individuals. It is all about sharing and interacting with information via the WEB no matter where you are and no matter what communications device that you have at that moment.
One of the components of the .NET environment is called WEB SERVICES. These are discrete applications, provided by both Microsoft and other software suppliers, that are available to all users of the WEB. To use software today you install it on your computer and run it: all the code the program needs has been installed on, and runs from, your computer. In contrast, .NET allows programmers to make parts of programs available over the Internet. Let's say Microsoft adds an English-to-Spanish language translation feature to its word processor, Word. Using .NET technology, your word processor would take the sentence to be translated, pass it to another computer on the Internet, where it gets translated into Spanish and returned to your Microsoft Word document.
To obtain the full benefit of the .NET environment all programs must be completely rewritten. There are a number of shortcuts that can be taken but our research has shown that this can result in a very limited improvement in functionality together with possible instability when running. Because of this MSS has adopted a graduated development plan. There are, as our research has shown, areas of immediate benefit to both law firms and their clients, and others where the benefits do not appear so obvious or are so important. For example, how many cashiers have the need to make financial postings using their mobile phone while on the train? Not too many we suggest. Clients, however, are becoming more aware of the Internet and are starting to demand WEB access so that they can monitor the progress of their matters. Hence the reason for our graduated approach - making the applications that are most beneficial the high priority.
The first component designed and written totally for the .NET world is the AlphaLAW-Vantage.net Client Web Access. This new option enables Vantage users to make available to their clients either all, or a selection of, the information relating to the progression of their matters.
For a demonstration of the new AlphaLAW-Vantage .NET functions click here.