Microsoft Office 365, a forthcoming cloud platform, remains in beta. But my phone is ringing off the hook with questions about Office 365, and the potential implications for MSPs, VARs and cloud service providers (CSPs). In response, here’s an Office 365 FAQ designed for channel partners. The FAQ will ultimately live on TalkinCloud, MSPmentor’s sister site. We’ll make updates and provide more perspectives as readers share more views with us…. and as Office 365 nears its official launch.
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Microsoft Office 365: 10 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Posted March 23rd, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
Microsoft Partners Move 1,000 Customers to Cloud Computing
Posted March 21st, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
Microsoft’s top U.S. channel partners have moved more than 1,000 customers to cloud computing and BPOS (Business Productivity Online Suite), MSPmentor has learned. The 1,000-customer milestone arrives at a critical time for cloud computing and the Microsoft Partner Network channel program. Here’s why.
Microsoft Targeting July 1 for Office 365 Cloud Launch?
Posted March 17th, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
Multiple sources say Microsoft has circled July 1 as a potential launch date for Office 365, the forthcoming successor to Business Productivity Online Suite (BPOS). The potential target date would allow Microsoft to heavily promote Office 365 at the annual Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference (WPC, July 10-15, Los Angeles). No doubt, Microsoft is betting its cloud strategy on Office 365 and its sister cloud site, Windows Azure. But will MSPs warm up to Office 365 when it arrives?
Microsoft, Symantec Jump on Managed Services Bandwagon
Posted January 25th, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
As Level Platforms prepares to host managed service provider (MSP) gatherings in 19 cities, two software giants — Microsoft and Symantec — will hitch a ride to more closely monitor and learn about the MSP sector. It’s the latest sign that both Microsoft and Symantec are finally waking up to the next-generation channel. Here’s why.
Microsoft Office 365 Strikes Fear In Some MSPs
Posted December 1st, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
In recent weeks I’ve heard from some key visionaries who work in the managed services market. The topic of Microsoft Office 365 keeps popping up during the discussions. I can’t sugar coat what I’ve heard. Despite Microsoft’s best efforts to promote a channel-friendly cloud strategy, the forthcoming Office 365 launch has quite a few MSPs concerned about the end game in the SMB software market. But I wonder: Should Office 365 really trigger so much fear, uncertainty and doubt in the IT channel? Here are some thoughts.
Microsoft Makes Cloud Computing Pitch to HTG Peer Groups
Posted November 3rd, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
How do you convince channel partners to embrace cloud computing more rapidly? Microsoft thinks it has found the answer within HTG Peer Groups, which represents scores of VARs and MSPs. HTG is hosting a major conference in Orlando, Fla, this week. Microsoft is on hand promoting the new Microsoft Partner Network. Plus, the software giant is launching a special contest to help drive MSPs toward Microsoft BPOS (Business Productivity Online Suite), which includes Exchange Online and SharePoint Online. Here are the details.
Microsoft’s Cloud Strategy: Three Reasons to Worry
Posted October 20th, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
When Microsoft announced plans to re-brand its SaaS platform from BPOS to Office 365, I took a day or so to digest the news. No doubt, Microsoft has made some solid SaaS and cloud computing moves in the past year. But I believe this week’s rebranding efforts reveal that Microsoft’s cloud initiatives are experiencing considerable turbulence. Here’s why.
Can Microsoft Properly Host Its Own Cloud Applications?
Posted September 7th, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
Consider the following scenario: You’re a managed services provider. Instead of investing big bucks to build your own hosted applications, you entrust your end-customers to Microsoft’s cloud — including Exchange Online and SharePoint Online. But in the past few weeks, that Microsoft cloud — called BPOS (Business Productivity Online Suite) — has gone dark at least three times. The big question: Will end-customers remain patient amid Microsoft’s SaaS growing pains? Or is there something fundamentally wrong with Microsoft’s hosting strategy?
Microsoft’s Cloud Suffers 90 Minute Outage
Posted September 3rd, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
Portions of Microsoft BPOS (Business Productivity Online Suite), the software giant’s SaaS platform, went dark for 90 minutes today. It’s the second cloud outage in recent weeks for BPOS, which includes SharePoint Online, Exchange Online and other Microsoft SaaS applications. The latest outage arrives as Microsoft is locked in a SaaS pricing war with Google, plus Microsoft is still working to launch the latest Exchange 2010 and SharePoint 2010 releases to its cloud customers. Here’s a closer look at today’s outage and the competitive variables facing BPOS.
Microsoft Cloud Channel Chief Set to Address MSPs
Posted September 1st, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
Jon Roskill is Microsoft’s global channel chief. But check the Microsoft organization chart, and you’ll discover a cloud channel chief working closely with Roskill. Her name is Gretchen O’Hara, and she’s set to address a few hundred managed services providers (MSPs) during the N-able Partner Summit in October 2010. What message will O’Hara share with MSPs? Here are some potential clues.
Microsoft Cloud Channel Team Pursues Managed Hosters
Posted July 19th, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
Microsoft continues its All In cloud computing push at HostingCon this week in Austin, Texas. During HostingCon, Michael Joffe (senior product manager, Windows Server) and Trina Horner (pictured, US SaaS/cloud channel development strategist) are expected to describe Microsoft’s cloud strategy to scores of Web hosts, managed hosting providers and service providers. Still, Microsoft will need to maintain a careful balancing act as it pitches cloud computing to large hosting partners and small MSPs. Here’s why.
Microsoft Channel Chief: Potential BPOS Marketplace?
Posted July 14th, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
A few minutes ago, I asked Microsoft Channel Chief Jon Roskill the following question: Can small VARs and MSPs really profit from basic BPOS (Business Productivity Online Suite) applications like SharePoint Online and Exchange Online? Or should those small partners begin to focus more on writing their own targeted cloud applications for Windows Azure? Roskill provided these perspectives.
SaaS: Microsoft Launches BPOS Partner Resource Page
Posted July 7th, 2010 by Matthew Weinberger
Microsoft has launched the “Deploying Business Productivity Online Suite” page, designed to be a self-described one-stop shop for resellers old and new of their SaaS (software as a service) applications like Exchange Online and SharePoint Online. It’s a small but significant move in Microsoft’s fight with Google Apps to ensure the loyalty of the IT channel. Here’s the scoop.
Microsoft: iPhone 4 Needs Patch For Exchange Online
Posted July 7th, 2010 by Matthew Weinberger
Consider this a public service announcement for MSPs administrating a fleet of Apple iPhone’s and a Microsoft Exchange Online deployment: any device running iOS 4.0 needs a patch to continue using ActiveSync. Here are the details.
Microsoft SaaS: Can MSPs Compete With Steve Ballmer?
Posted June 29th, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
The SaaS and cloud computing war between Microsoft and Google is triggering some collateral damage among managed services providers (MSPs) and VARs. Two cases in point: Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer is now visiting customers to personally pitch BPOS (Business Productivity Online Suite) and Exchange Online, sometimes to the detriment of partner MSPs. And Microsoft is quietly offering special pricing on some direct BPOS engagements, MSPmentor has learned. Here are the details and the potential implications for MSPs.
SaaS: Microsoft Promotes BPOS to HTG Peer Groups
Posted April 5th, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
Microsoft’s latest SaaS and cloud move involves targeted promotions into influential channel organizations. One prime example: Microsoft is promoting BPOS (Business Productivity Online Suite) — including Exchange Online and SharePoint Online — into HTG Peer Groups, which includes dozens of MSPs and VARs. Here are the details.
VMware-Zimbra: What Becomes of 450 SaaS Partners?
Posted January 12th, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
The rumors and speculation were all correct. VMware today acquired an open source email specialist — Zimbra — from Yahoo. If you’re a managed service provider that’s still sorting out your virtualization and SaaS email strategies then VMware’s move is worth following. Here’s why.
SaaS: Microsoft Bolsters BPOS Partner Sales Support
Posted January 11th, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
Microsoft’s BPOS (Business Productivity Online Suite) team is bolstering its SaaS training options for channel partners. The effort includes learning tools, delivery support and technical support options for VARs and managed services providers. Here’s a look.
Ingram, Intermedia Promote Hosted Exchange 2010 to MSPs
Posted December 4th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
Intermedia and Ingram Micro Seismic are marching forward with their plans to offer Hosted Exchange 2010 to managed service providers. The move comes as many VARs and MSPs continue to sort out their SaaS (software as a service) strategies for Microsoft applications.
Microsoft Wins Huge European Cloud Deal
Posted November 24th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
It’s one small step for Microsoft’s cloud software strategy, and one giant leap for UK’s Royal Mail Group. Specifically, Royal Mail Group’s 30,000 employees will leverage Microsoft’s Business Productivity Online Suite (BPOS). Computer Sciences Corp., a massive integrator, won the SaaS and cloud deal for Microsoft. Here are some details and early perspectives for smaller managed service providers (MSPs) and integrators.
Microsoft’s SaaS Strategy In 450 Words or Less
Posted July 16th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
During the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference 2009 (WPC09), multiple briefings and interviews gave me a clearer — though certainly not perfect — view of the software giant’s SaaS (software as a service) and cloud strategies. Plus, I began to see the implications for VARs and managed service providers. Here are some thoughts.
Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference: 4 Names to Know
Posted July 10th, 2009 by The VAR Guy
As The VAR Guy heads to this year’s Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference in New Orleans, he looks forward to quizzing four key Microsoft executives about the company’s cloud, software as a service (SaaS), small business and netbook/OEM strategies. Take a look, and submit your own questions to The VAR Guy (if you have them) for Microsoft.
Microsoft Still Attracts Managed Services Crowd
Posted July 9th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
Windows no longer sits at the center of the IT universe. But Microsoft’s Worldwide Partner Conference (WPC09) still knows how to attract a big crowd — including most of the major managed service software providers and MSPs themselves. Here are five MSP-centric topics MSPmentor will track at the event.
