An image forming apparatus includes extended services that are an extended function service and a backend service, and an extended service manager that manages the extended function service and the backend service. Each extended service provides an extension application with a function other than standard functions of the image forming apparatus, without using a standard application that realizes the standard functions of the image forming apparatus. The extension application is an application that realizes the function other than the standard functions of the image forming apparatus. The standard application is a copy application, a printer application, a facsimile application, or a transmission application.