Method for serviing third party software applications from servers to client computers

A method for serving an application over a network, the method comprising:

• receiving a first request having a session identifier and a requested application identifier corresponding to the application, wherein the application is designed to run directly on an operating system;
• accessing a user database to authenticate the first request associated with the session identifier;
• accessing an application database to determine characteristics of the application based on the received application identifier;
• selecting a host to serve the application at least partially based on the determined characteristics of the application;
• sending an application descriptor to a client computer, wherein the application descriptor includes an identity of the host;
• receiving a second request at the host for the application;
• and
• sending a subset of instructions of the application to the client computer for execution.