APPNET.Cloud

APPNET.Cloud covers the period from 1987 to 2001. The development of cloud computing and online payment gateways, uncovering overlooked contributions from pioneering companies in the late 1980s through early 2000s. The study reveals that SuccessInc's APPNET platform, launched in 1987, predates commonly cited milestones in cloud computing history by several years, offering advanced features such as single login, multiple data sources, and cloud-based applications. The paper explores the critical role of browser-based access in enabling universal consumer access to e-commerce, analyzing key contributions from companies like AssuredCard, AssuredCredit, and Milinx in developing online form access, browser-based interfaces, APIs, and early mobile applications. Furthermore, the research investigates the scalable architecture created by AssuredCredit and Milinx for hosted online payment gateways, incorporating robust infrastructure, iterative software improvements, and strong security measures. The study also examines a customer-centric secure e-commerce patent that introduced the concept of viewing products or services in any format for payment through a secure gateway, anticipating future developments in IoT device interfaces. This comprehensive analysis provides a more accurate timeline of cloud computing and online payment gateway evolution, highlighting the significance of early innovations in shaping the current technological landscape.