What type of applications are tailored specifically for a narrow market segment?

The focus on vertical-market applications is key to understanding why this choice is the correct answer. Vertical-market applications are designed to meet the specific needs of a particular industry or niche market. These applications are specialized and tailored to address the unique requirements of businesses operating within that market, which can include sectors like healthcare, finance, education, or manufacturing.

By contrast, web applications are generally more versatile and can cater to a broad range of users and industries. Mashups, which combine data or functionality from different sources to create new applications, do not target specific market segments in the same way that vertical-market applications do. Shareware refers to software that is distributed on a trial basis for free, with the option to purchase a full version later, and is not inherently focused on a narrow market segment.

Thus, vertical-market applications stand out as the correct answer because they are explicitly designed for and serve the needs of a distinct, specialized audience.