Web hosting provider DiscountASP.NET (discountasp.net) publicized on October 23, 2007 that it is expanding its Open Control Panel API beta with the addition of APIs for SQL Database backup. The new SQL Backup API is part of DiscountASP.NET's Open Control Panel Initiative, whose goal is to offer an open hosting system framework that provides customers with maximum control over their hosting presence management.

In 2006, to support this initiative, DiscountASP.NET introduced an ASP.NET Web service API library that customers could use to develop their own Web, desktop or mobile applications that interface directly with their Web hosting account. In the first phase, DiscountASP.NET exposed methods to retrieve resource usage information and manage some IIS functions, such as recycling their application pool.

DiscountASP.NET said customers can activate access to the API library through their control panel and are assigned a unique authentication key. In addition, a sandbox key is provided so customers can test their applications without the risk of making changes to their hosting account.

Takeshi Eto, VP of marketing for DiscountASP.NET explained: "With our Open Control Panel Initiative and our control panel API, we are moving toward a next-generation hosting experience. Our vision is to offer our customers the flexibility to manage their hosting presence using our hosted control panel application or through Web services and customized user-driven solutions."