Technologies themselves are not what Web 2.0 is about. Revolutionary new ideas are at the bottom of Web 2.0. It embraces quite a number of social phenomena like social networking, user-generated content and collective intelligence. And technologies which become popular in the Web 2.0 era are merely the means to make it easy for everyone to participate, share and create. Therefore blogs, social bookmarking and networking sites are some of the most popular online destinations nowadays.

Since 2004, when the term “Web 2.0” was used for the first time, it has transformed from an IT buzzword into a mainstream trend which affects both individuals and enterprises. Developing software, as well as doing business, in the Web 2.0 era demands from us to adjust to the realities of the new Web.

Web 2.0 Software
Web as a Platform
One of the key principles of Web 2.0 – the Web as a platform – states that now the Web can serve as an operating system. This introduces new benefits for both software vendors and customers and allows building new products and services by bringing desktop functionality capabilities to the web , enhancing and improving existing websites’ and applications’ functionality and performance.

Rich User Experience and Usability
Simple layout, don’t-make-me-think navigation, big fonts and bright titles distinguish Web 2.0 design style and let developers improve the look and feel of websites and user interfaces. But design is not the only thing which ensures the improved usability of Web 2.0 software. The use of AJAX (Asynchronous JavaScript and XML) makes it possible to create rich-client internet applications (RIAs) that are both more interactive and more productive than traditional web apps.

Composite
The Web 2.0 era gave rise to a new term in web development – mash-up, also referred to as a composite, or hybrid, web application or page. A constantly growing number of web sites are releasing XML feeds (such as RSS or Atom) and APIs which enables developers to mix and match them to create entirely new, unique and innovative services based on third-parties’ data.

Architecture of Participation
The most popular Web 2.0 projects confirm the fact that the easiest way to make your customers your product’s evangelists is to let them participate in its creation and development. “The architecture of participation”, which lies at the core of YouTube, Wikipedia, Digg and many other successful Web 2.0 websites, enables them to not only get millions of visitors daily, but also to put to good use the “collective intelligence” effect developing a rich pool of valuable data generated by users themselves.

Perpetual Beta
Web 2.0 software is shifting from software packages to ongoing services that are always on and at the same time are being constantly refined and improved. This introduces a new approach to updates and enhancements that can be delivered monthly, weekly or even daily without interrupting web system operation. In “the perpetual beta” model the users are co-developers and real-world testers of applications, since software vendors now can gather their feedback and thus produce the service which always meets current customers’ needs and preferences.

Web 2.0 Development
With broad experience gained over 7+ years of our operations Iflexion is ready to help you meet the requirements of the new generation of the Web delivering:

• Next-generation Portals
• Rich Internet Applications
• Composite Applications
• Software as a Service Applications
• Enterprise Mash-ups

Business Strategy Assessment
We work closely with clients to define their business vision and strategy to plan, implement and support their Web 2.0 initiatives. We identify business objectives and the benefits that Web 2.0 can provide and develop a detailed roadmap for solution implementation.

Technology Assessment and Architecture
The complex Web 2.0 technology infrastructure presupposes considerable complexity in application implementation, testing and support as compared to traditional web applications. When designing technical architecture we pay special attention to proper selection and effective usage of various Web 2.0 methods, frameworks and techniques including server-side software, client-side software, RSS, web protocols, valid XHTML markup, ActiveX controls, applets, real-time push, Web Services, APIs, etc.

Implementation, Support and On-going Improvement
Based on the roadmap and architecture developed during the assessment stage we deliver solutions with comprehensive business logic, efficient performance, business and technical scalability. After the initial launch of the system we help clients grow and improve the solution by seamlessly integrating new features and services on top of existing functionality.