I’m reading a new book called “The Future of the Internet and how to Stop It” by Johnathan Zittrain. In the early part of the book Zittrain examines some of the history of the computer and data communications industry. It seems to me that one of the first “computers” was sold as a service. It’s arguably not software or even a computer, but the business model and type of service being performed is quite similar to SaaS.
In 1896 Herman Hollerith formed the Tabulating Machine Company (TMC). He invented a machine to tabulate the 1890 census. But instead of selling the machine to be used by the US government, he leased it. The system was owned and operated by TMC and produced the results for the 1890 census in only 1 year the 1880 census took 8 years to tabulate)
In 1911, TMC and 3 other corporations merged to become IBM.
The book is an interesting read so far (just started it) and raises several social and legal questions about the Internet, free access to the Internet and regulation.
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