The 10 Biggest Software Stories Of 2010

The concept isn't new. After all, Salesforce.com launched its AppExchange in 2005 and as of last week was approaching 700,000 downloads. But in 2010 the use of online application stores really seemed to go mainstream, becoming a critical vehicle for distributing application software for both businesses and consumers.

The biggest "app store" news came in March when Google launched its Google Apps Marketplace where third-party suppliers of on-demand applications that supplement Google's own applications could show off their wares.

But Google was hardly alone. In September Intel started AppUp, an application marketplace for netbook software, while Pervasive Software launched the Pervasive DataSolutions WebStore to offer cloud-based, pre-configured applications. As explained by Bill Jacaruso, senior director of Pervasive DataSolutions, to compete in the cloud today an application store is a must.