In our January IT Report, "Looking for an ASP ", we described the emergence of application service providers (ASPs). ASPs are companies that host software applications and databases on their servers and let you access both over the Web. Here are a few ASPs that have come to our attention since then.

As its name implies, ReturnCentral.com aims to help business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) companies that market products on the Web – manufacturers, distributors, or pure e-tailers – manage product returns. Customers can arrange returns via the Web site where the merchandise was purchased. The software alerts the shipper, prints return mailing labels, and tracks orders through each stage of the returns process. Return Central's software helps monitor the reasons for returns in order to assess product quality and performance. It also maintains a database to help deal with returns that arrive with inadequate or inaccurate information.

PalletOnline.com offers online tracking and management of reusable pallets and containers. Among the company's clients is First Alliance Logistics Management of Charlotte, N.C., which offers pallet tracking and exchange for motor carriers. PalletOnline says its system lets clients enter information in three different ways: They can use point-of-transaction data collection to get real-time data; export information directly from their own existing inventory or shipping software; or use PalletOnline's Multi-Transaction Capability, which allows shippers to track pallets to multiple destinations. Pricing is on a per-transaction basis.