By leveraging an outsourcer's data center, network connections, and technical expertise, Web startups can achieve favorable initial costs and scalable services.
Companies also can gain more time to focus on core competencies and business models.
The quality of outsourcers' infrastructure, services, and expertise varies so much that finding the right partner requires careful investigation and, perhaps, considerable trial and error. That's what happened with 3WK, an Internet-only radio station in St. Louis. And that's just what an always-on Internet radio station needs. Atkinson thought the best course was to choose a large, full-service hosting firm. He declined to name the first two companies he dealt with, but he discussed issues other companies should consider before signing over their infrastructure operations to a third party.