At the Intermedia Partner Summit in Silicon Valley, managed service providers and VARs are discussed how to compete with Google Apps and Microsoft’s Business Productivity Online Suite (BPOS). The discussion involved MSPs that offer hosted Exchange in partnership with Intermedia. Here are the key takeaways.
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MSPs: How to Compete with Google Apps, Microsoft BPOS
Posted March 4th, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
SaaS: What MSPs Can Learn From Hosting Providers
Posted March 2nd, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
Many MSPs are trying to sort out their software as a service (SaaS) strategies — with an eye toward Hosted Exchange and Hosted SharePoint. The big question: How do you continue to maintain customer control, even as SaaS platforms like Microsoft Business Productivity Online Suite (BPOS) move into the market and launch low-ball pricing? Instead of living in fear, smart MSPs may want to start checking in with large web hosting providers — many of whom have already sorted out their SaaS and Hosted Exchange strategies.
Microsoft, Google Making Federal Cloud Moves
Posted February 26th, 2010 by John Moore
There’s high-level support for cloud computing in the government space so, unsurprisingly, vendors are following the money. The latest to do so is Microsoft. The company this week rolled out a federal-specific version of its Business Productivity Online Suite (BPOS). And you can bet Google and Amazon Web Services will be making some federal cloud moves as well. Here are some of the details and implications.
Microsoft Quietly Researches Hosting Market
Posted February 23rd, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
Microsoft is quietly conducting some informal SaaS and hosting research at the Parallels Summit in Miami. The cloud-centric conference has attracted several hundred service providers and VARs focused on recurring revenue opportunities. Clearly, Microsoft is working hard to connect more closely with summit attendees — many of whom are checking out the Google Apps reseller program. Here’s some perspective.
Google Apps Team Launches CIO Road Trip
Posted February 22nd, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
Can you afford to ignore seven million college students who will ultimately enter the workforce? That’s the question facing MSPs who overlook the fact that more than 7 million college students now leverage Google Apps. Another key question: Can MSPs learn anything from the Google Apps sales pitch? A new Google Apps Education Edition CIO Road Trip may provide some answers.
Hosted SharePoint: The Next SaaS Commodity?
Posted February 16th, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
When RackSpace recently announced plans to offer hosted Microsoft SharePoint, it signaled both an opportunity and a warning sign for managed services providers. Is hosted SharePoint the next commodity SaaS service. Yes and no. Here’s why.
Microsoft Windows Azure Cloud Arrives
Posted February 1st, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
Windows Azure, Microsoft’s cloud for independent software vendors and partners, officially debuts with a paid pricing model today. Matt Weinberger offers some timely Azure perspectives over on The VAR Guy. But I’d like to weigh in with a few perspectives for managed services providers — particularly thoughts on Azure vs. Microsoft Business Productivity Online Suite. Here they are.
Microsoft and Avanade: Twice the CRM SaaS?
Posted January 29th, 2010 by John Moore
Microsoft is doubling down on the SaaS market through Avanade, the company’s joint consulting and integration venture with Accenture. Avanade’s SaaS platform, called Avanade Online Services, will initially focus on Microsoft Dynamics CRM. That space already has plenty of players — including Microsoft itself. Here are the details.
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.
Confirmed: Microsoft Cuts SaaS Prices 33 Percent
Posted November 2nd, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
Microsoft is slashing some SaaS prices by 33 percent, confirming a scoop from TheVARGuy.com earlier today. Sources close to Microsoft say this is the start of a SaaS price war with Google Apps, with VARs and MSPs potentially getting squeezed. But Microsoft is reminding reporters that more than 7,000 partners are building SaaS practices around Microsoft Business Productivity Online Suite (BPOS), Exchange Online and SharePoint Online, among other offerings. Here’s the updated report from The VAR Guy.
Microsoft Preparing SaaS Price Cuts?
Posted November 2nd, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
Two sources tell our sister site, The VAR Guy, that Microsoft plans to make SaaS (software as a service) price cuts amid a cloud war with Google Apps. Check out The VAR Guy’s blog for a look at potential implications for VARs and managed service providers.
Intermedia, Ingram Micro Seismic Team on Hosted Exchange
Posted October 26th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
If you’re an MSP trying to decide whether to cooperate or compete with Microsoft’s SaaS offerings, here’s another avenue for you to consider: Ingram Micro Seismic, the master managed service provider, has inked a co-marketing and sales agreement to offer Intermedia’s hosted Microsoft offerings — including hosted Exhange 2007, SharePoint and Dynamics 3.0. Here’s a closer look at Ingram Micro Seismic’s overall strategy, Intermedia’s business model and the emerging Microsoft SaaS industry.
Preview: Five Trends at ConnectWise Partner Summit
Posted October 26th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
The ConnectWise Partner Summit kicks off Nov. 4 in Orlando, Fla. Roughly 900 managed service providers — including HTG Peer Group members — are expected to converge on the event. Here are five trends we’ll be tracking at the conference.
SMB Nation: Want to Meet?
Posted October 1st, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
If you’re at SMB Nation in Las Vegas, MSPmentor and The VAR Guy will host a Tweetup at the Riviera Hotel’s Sports Book Bar and Grill. Watch our Twitter feeds (@MSPmentor and @TheVARguy) for an invite on Oct. 2. The first 20 people who show up get a round of drinks on us. If you’d prefer to potentially book an editorial meeting at SMB Nation simply email me (joe [at] NineLivesMediaInc.com).
SMB Nation Preview: Five Trends Worth Watching
Posted September 28th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
If you plan to attend SMB Nation Fall (Oct. 2-4, Las Vegas) and want to potentially meet, send me an email. Also, MSPmentor and The VAR Guy will host a TweetUp on Oct. 2. Watch our Twitter feeds (@MSPmentor and @TheVARguy) Oct. 2 for details. In the meantime, here are five trends to examine at SMB Nation.
Managed SharePoint Services: Can MSPs Cash In?
Posted September 24th, 2009 by John Moore
Fusepoint Managed Services has joined the ranks of companies offering hosting and managed services around Microsoft’s SharePoint collaboration and content management suite. The big question: Is there room for additional MSPs to differentiate their hosted SharePoint offerings?
ZOHO: Blending SaaS And Managed Services
Posted July 23rd, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
Consider two of the biggest questions facing MSPs: First, how will managed services and SaaS (software as a service) converge with one another? Second, what role will MSPs play in that convergence? Take a look at ZOHO Corp. and you might begin to find some key trends and answers. Here’s why.
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.
MSPs Push Beyond SaaS, Hosted Exchange
Posted July 7th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
What comes after hosted Exchange and software as a service? Managed service providers like Azaleos Corp. and Intermedia Inc. continue to offer new answers to those questions. Here’s what to expect from both companies heading into Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference 2009 (WPC09) in New Orleans.
Microsoft SaaS: Host It Or Resell It?
Posted July 6th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
It could be a sign of things to come. Heading into the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference 2009 (WPC09), Computer Sciences Corp. (CSC) has agreed to resell Microsoft Business Productivity Online Suite (BPOS). CSC’s move represents an inflection point for managed service providers, many of which are trying to decide whether to host Exchange and SharePoint on their own — or simply resell Microsoft’s own hosted services.
Beware the Hosting Hype Cycle
Posted May 21st, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
Frequent MSPmentor readers know I talk and blog about the Managed Services Hype Cycle (based on Gartner’s own Technology Hype Cycle chart). All technologies go through a maturity curve (a cycle of sorts) that involves a bit of pain (or lots of pain) for customers and MSPs. Now, some folks are starting to talk about a Hosting Hype Cycle. And it’s an important discussion.
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