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.
5 comments
Microsoft Partners Move 1,000 Customers to Cloud Computing
Posted March 21st, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
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?
Memo to MSPs: Double Check Recurring Revenue Commissions
Posted March 8th, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
Managed services and cloud computing have a wonderful upside: They generate recurring monthly revenues that can flow directly into an MSP’s corporate bank account. But a timely reminder to MSPs: Watch your bank accounts closely because SaaS and cloud commission glitches — though rare — can potentially short-change your business. One recent example involves Microsoft BPOS (Business Productivity Online Suite), Telstra (the big service provider) and a few resellers in Australia.
Azaleos: MSP Continues to Bet Heavily on Microsoft
Posted March 1st, 2011 by Nicholas Mukhar
Azaleos, the Seattle, Wash.-based MSP, continues to build a closer working relationship with Microsoft. In fact, Azaleos has once again earned the Microsoft Gold Partner status. Looking ahead, it sounds like Azaleos will help customers migrate from Microsoft Business Productivity Online Standard Suite (BPOS) to the forthcoming Office 365, among other initiatives.
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.
Prediction: Microsoft Will Change Cloud Billing Policy for Partners
Posted January 14th, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
Rewind to December 2010. MSPmentor’s most-read story of the month involved a cloud billing debate between Microsoft and channel partners. Some Microsoft partners say they want to control cloud billing to end-customers, but Microsoft has yet to introduce such a capability. Fast forward to late 2011 or early 2012, and I suspect Microsoft’s Office 365 cloud platform will eventually allow channel partners to control end-customer billing. Here’s why.
5 Things to Know: Oracle Cloud Office, Google Apps & Microsoft Office 365
Posted December 16th, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
The looming SaaS battle between Google Apps and Microsoft Office 365 (the forthcoming successor to Business Productivity Online Suite) just got a bit more interesting. Indeed, Oracle has launched Oracle Cloud Office — a SaaS platform that VARs and MSPs can host on their own. Also, Oracle launched Open Office 3.3, the latest version of the desktop productivity suite. Here are five quick points for MSPs to keep in mind as they mull desktop and mobile productivity strategies for their customers.
Virtual Desktop Infrastructure: Competing with Microsoft Office 365?
Posted December 7th, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
Roughly 36 percent of managed services providers (MSPs) are testing or deploying some form of virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI), according to our preliminary MSPmentor 100 research results (the survey closes Dec. 17.). But here’s the twist: If Microsoft would adjust its licensing policies for Windows and Office, I suspect VDI would catch on even faster with MSPs. And once Microsoft’s Office 365 arrives in 2011, I wonder if VDI’s momentum will slow. Here’s why.
Google, Unisys Gain Cloud Email Momentum In Federal Government
Posted December 6th, 2010 by John Moore
The General Services Administration last week provided some reinforcement behind the Obama Administration’s “cloud-first policy,” taking action of its own. Specifically, GSA awarded a $6.7 million, five-year task order contract to Unisys Corp. for cloud-based e-mail and collaboration tools. In the process, GSA claimed to be the first federal agency to move e-mail into the cloud on an agency-wide basis. Unisys partners with Google, Tempus Nova, and Acumen Solutions.
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.
MSPs Launch Microsoft Lync Managed Services
Posted November 18th, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
When Microsoft Lync — a unified communications platform — officially launched this week, multiple MSPs jumped on the bandwagon. Among the prime examples: Azaleos Corp. introduced a managed service for Lync, supporting private cloud, data center and on-premise deployment models. But is Lync really set to catch on with MSPs? Here are some initial thoughts.
Mimecast Extends Security and Archiving to Microsoft Cloud
Posted November 16th, 2010 by Matthew Weinberger
Mimecast, which already provides cloud-based email security, continuity, archiving and policy control, now plans to support the Microsoft BPOS SaaS productivity and collaboration suite. The company says the new support has seeks to solve customers’ migration headaches. Here are the details.
ConnectWise IT Nation: 13 Key Takeaways for MSPs
Posted November 9th, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
When the ConnectWise IT Nation conference wrapped up on November 7 with a golf tournament, I began to think about key themes, trends and takeaways for managed services providers (MSPs) that missed the event. So what did you miss, and where is ConnectWise CEO Arnie Bellini taking “IT Nation” (his term for SMB solutions providers) next? Here are 13 key wrap-up observations from MSPmentor.
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.
Google Sues US Government Agency over SaaS & Cloud Contract
Posted November 2nd, 2010 by Matthew Weinberger
If that headline made you do a double-take, you’re not alone. I was surprised when I read a Seattle Times’ blog indicating Google was suing the US Department of the Interior for only taking bids from Microsoft partners reselling BPOS/Office 365 cloud solution. The Google lawsuit definitely has cloud channel partner implications. Here’s the update.
ConnectWise IT Nation: 35 Questions Worth Asking
Posted November 1st, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
Roughly 1,100 MSPs and VARs will gather later this week at ConnectWise IT Nation (formerly ConnectWise Partner Summit). The conference (Nov. 4-6, Orlando) also serves as a magnet for several related events hosted by CharTec, HTG Peer Groups, LabTech Software, Level Platforms and TruMethods. No doubt, attendees will hear a lot of themes related to cloud computing, the last mile of IT and managing the modern office for SMBs. Here are 35 key questions MSPmentor plans to raise during the conference.
The Latest Managed Services Inflection Point Arrives
Posted October 25th, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
Anecdotal evidence suggests the managed services market remains healthy. But for the second time in 12 months, I believe MSPs are reaching a major inflection point. There’s no cause for panic. But the rules for managed services seem to be changing — yet again. Here’s why.
Microsoft Cloud Channel Chief Addresses Skeptical MSPs
Posted October 22nd, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
Some MSPs remain skeptical of Microsoft’s cloud computing strategy. But give Microsoft credit: Cloud Channel Chief Gretchen O’Hara addressed more than 100 managed services providers earlier today, during a Cloud Computing panel at the N-able Partner Summit in Scottsdale, Ariz. Here are perspectives from O’Hara and highlights from the panel discussion.
Six Managed Services Trends You’ve Overlooked
Posted October 21st, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
MSPmentor spent most of this day mingling with managed services providers at the N-able Partner Summit in Scottsdale, Arizona. Much of the chatter involved opportunities and challenges that weren’t on the radar at last year’s N-able Partner Summit. So, what’s the chatter? Here are six managed services trends worth watching,
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.
N-able Partner Summit: Five Trends Worth Watching
Posted October 19th, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
A few hundred managed services providers (MSPs) are set to attend the N-able Partner Summit later this week (Oct. 20-22, Scottsdale, Ariz.). So, what managed services trends can we expect at the conference, and what messages will N-able CEO Gavin Garbutt deliver to the crowd? Here are five clues and predictions from MSPmentor.
Can Microsoft Learn From McAfee’s SaaS Strategy?
Posted October 11th, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
Sometime in 2011, McAfee will roll out a channel partner designation specifically for SaaS specialists and managed services providers. The effort will offer partners three SaaS security options: (1) you can just sell it (2) or you can sell it and bill it or (3) you can sell it, bill it and support it. As I heard about the McAfee SaaS effort, I began to wonder: Will Microsoft ever offer that type of SaaS flexibility to channel partners?
SaaS: Google Apps Makes The Grade At 697 NY School Districts
Posted October 6th, 2010 by Matthew Weinberger
A little bit of hometown news for MSPmentor today as Google announces that 697 K-12 public school districts in New York State will be going to their Google Apps cloud productivity suite. That’s over 3.1 million students and hundreds of thousands of teachers all potentially going to Google Apps. Here’s the scoop.
