The Federal government launched Apps.gov as a one stop clearinghouse for software as a service applications that the GSA makes available to government agencies. It’s a good idea and if coupled with good oversight and accountability should net the government (aka your money) significant savings through better utilization of services (minimize shelfware), and a streamlined purchasing process.

For vendors it should be equally compelling because while getting on the GSA schedule is half of the battle the other half is going out and selling your products to government agencies even after you have been approved to sell to them. This storefront should make it easier to sell to the government although it won’t take all of the legwork out of the equation by any means.

If there is one potential problem for software providers it is that the pricing they are making available to the government is exposed for everyone to see. This was always more or less the case because a FOIA request would certainly have yielded GSA pricing but never before has it been so easy to see what a company is charging the government for technology.