Forrester: Open Text Makes A DAM SaaS-y Move

Open Text has acquired eMotion, a SaaS based Digital Asset Management solution. Combined with the OPenText platform a good Software + Services example I would say …

… Open Text announced late last week that it has acquired eMotion, a software-as-a-service digital asset management (DAM) product, from Corbis. Open Text plans to rebrand eMotion as Artesia on Demand for Marketing, complementing its full-featured, installed Artesia DAM product.

This move into SaaS DAM is a smart move by Open Text. The installed version of Artesia has a reputation as one of the top DAM solutions out there, but its functionality and price tag may be daunting for those organizations just starting to dip their toes into the DAM waters. Some enterprises don't have the need for some of the high-end functionality - management of broadcast-quality video, for example - that "Classic Artesia" offers. Instead, many enterprises exploring DAM want to use it to manage rich media assets for use in the online channel. …

Source: Open Text Makes A DAM SaaS-y Move

Seagate introduceert 1,5 TB-schijf voor desktop

Grappige ontwikkeling. Veel software fabrikanten roepen “SaaS / Cloud Computing” en diskfabrikanten roepen “Terrabyte op de desktop”. Beiden hebben gelijk volgens mij; veel gebruikers willen nog zaken lokaal op blijven slaan : “Software + Services” ;-)

Seagate brengt drie nieuwe harde schijven op de markt met een hoge opslagcapaciteit.

Source: Seagate introduceert 1,5 TB-schijf voor desktop

Saved by SaaS: Data backup via software as a service

MOre on Backup-as-a-service …

In case of disaster, log on and grab your files? Some SMBs are having great luck with data backup via software as a service. Esther Shein looks at a few firms that make it work.

Source: Saved by SaaS: Data backup via software as a service

Forrester: European Consumers' Behavior Online: A 2007 Deep Dive

“… consumers are spending more time online engaged in dozens of new bandwidth-heavy activities…” This is an interesting yet obvious conclusion. Broadband has become a commodity in almost every western country and ‘standard’  in many European countries.

When you put ‘ high bandwidth acitivites’  in relation to SaaS what do you get ? Powerfull backend applications running in a browser is an option. It could very well be powerfull applications, rich content ran by powerfull local applications. This is an aspect of what Microsoft calls software + services. High bandwidth makes the location (local / remote) of information irrelevant as it is transported in seconds. Consumers in this case decide how thay ‘process’  the content …

… Forrester has surveyed European adults about their technology use for nine years. We track a wide variety of online activities relevant to consumers' daily lives, and we dive deeply into media consumption, online shopping, entertainment, and social networking online activities to understand how this changes over time. Now that broadband has reached 72% penetration among Internet users in Europe and is almost ubiquitous in some European countries, consumers are spending more time online engaged in dozens of new bandwidth-heavy activities. This deep dive into European consumers' behavior online will give market research professionals the tools they need to bring facts and insights into their company's marketing and strategic planning discussions. …

Source: European Consumers' Behavior Online: A 2007 Deep Dive

Microsoft adding 10,000 new datacenter servers a month

Interesting, yet unconfirmed numbers ....

Today’s trivia question: How big is Microsoft’s back-end services infrastructure?

Microsoft officials won’t say how many servers total Microsoft has churning in its various datacenters. But Microsoft’s corporate vice president of Global Foundation Services Debra Chrapaty is on record saying Microsoft is adding 10,000 new servers a month.

(Facebook is estimated to have 10,000 servers total, the Data Center Knowledge folks report. In other words, Microsoft is adding one Facebook-worth of new servers every 30 days.)

On a related note, Microsoft has been building out its content-distribution-network (CDN) infrastructure, as well, as noted in a Bill Gates ThinkWeek paper that I excerpted in my Microsoft 2.0 book. Microsoft was already building out in late 2006 its Blue Cloud and CloudDB services to support the hundreds of Microsoft online properties/services it was powering.

Source: Microsoft adding 10,000 new datacenter servers a month

Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online is there ...

.... Microsoft Corp. today announced the general availability of Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online, an on-demand customer relationship management service hosted and managed by Microsoft. The new Internet service delivers a full suite of marketing, sales and service capabilities through a Web browser or directly into Microsoft Office and Outlook.

It provides “instant-on” access to businesses that want a full-featured CRM solution with no IT infrastructure investment or setup required. Businesses can learn more about Microsoft’s strategy for delivering next-generation CRM solutions from a new webcast being launched today at http://crmchoice.com, featuring Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and Martha Rogers from the Peppers and Rogers Group.

“At Microsoft, we’re revolutionizing how companies deploy marketing, sales and service solutions to users within their organization,” said Brad Wilson, general manager of Microsoft Dynamics CRM at Microsoft. “Microsoft Dynamics CRM delivers the power of choice to customers, with a familiar and productive user experience and a multitenant platform that enables fast on-premise implementations or ‘instant-on’ deployments over the Internet.”

Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online reinforces Microsoft’s broad software plus services strategy for delivering integrated business solutions over the Internet, and it is a part of Microsoft’s multibillion-dollar investment in global datacenters. In addition to full access through a zero-footprint browser client, the new service delivers marketing, sales and service information within a native Microsoft Office experience, integrated with the desktop tools that employees already use every day, enabling businesses to ramp up end-user adoption and productivity rapidly.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online is initially packaged in two service offerings:

• Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online Professional delivers a full suite of CRM capabilities with extensive configurability and extensibility options. Businesses get 5 GB of data storage, 100 configurable workflows and 100 custom entities. The Professional edition is priced at $44 per user per month, with an introductory offer of $39 per user, per month.
• Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online Professional Plus delivers all the capabilities of the Professional version plus offline data synchronization with expanded data storage, workflow and customization options that give businesses 20 GB of data storage, 200 configurable workflows and 200 custom entities. The Professional Plus edition is priced at $59 per user per month. ....

Source : Microsoft PressPass

Microsoft Albany Beta launches today, what is it?

New milestone for Microsoft by offering subscription based Office ...

... Microsoft launches Albany Beta today, but what is it? The name reveals nothing. “Albany” is the codename for a new all-in-one subscription service of essential software and services for consumers. It consists of Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007, Windows Live OneCare, Windows Live Mail, Windows Live Messenger and Windows Live Photo Gallery, it also installs the Microsoft Office Live Workspace connector. With Albany consumers will get the latest versions of Microsoft Office Home and Student and Windows Live OneCare as they are released.

Each “Albany” subscription is good for three PCs and the final version of the product will be delivered before the end of this calendar year. Microsoft Office and Windows Live OneCare will still be sold as standalone package as well. Albany just gives customers more choice and addresses the needs of those customers who value having the latest and greatest version of Microsoft Office. Pricing is not yet known.

Q&A: Group Product Manager Bryson Gordon discusses “Albany”
Getting ready for Windows Live Wave 3 .... 

Source: Albany Beta launches today, what is it?

TNT Post bezorgt rekeningen via Live Messenger

Windows Live Messenger is zo ingeburgerd dat dit soort oplossingen bijna een logisch gevolg zijn. Veel gebruikers zijn beter bereikbaar via bijvoorbeeld Live Messenger dan via hun traditionele brievenbus ...

... De samenwerking tussen TNT Post en Windows Live Messenger om post via 'De Digitale Brievenbus' van MSN te verzenden, is dinsdag van start gegaan. Salarisstrookjes en facturen kunnen voortaan via de messenger worden ontvangen. De twee bedrijven kondigden in november 2007 aan te gaan samenwerken om de instant messaging-client in te kunnen zetten als digitale brievenbus. ...

Bron: TNT Post bezorgt rekeningen via Live Messenger

The new town for Microsoft's new datacenter

The video is not very recent, yet gives a good overview of Microsoft's ambitions and real plan being executed in the datacenter space ...

Quincy, WA is the home of Microsoft's new online services datacenter, consuming 72 acres of land. The Mayor of Quincy expresses his gratitude for the choice, and MS planners explain why they chose ...

 

Video: The new town for Microsoft's new datacenter

Security Features in Microsoft Online

New Whitepaper on the Security Features of Microsoft Online ...

Security is critical to our customers: Online services from Microsoft were built from the ground-up to be more secure by design, secure by default, and secure in operation; validated by Cybertrust Certification and SAS 70 Type II attestation.

The benefits of software-plus-services (SPS) are often weighed against perceived costs in terms of security risks, and the potential for interrupted access to mission-critical business data.
Microsoft brings world-class experience in software design, development, deployment, and operations to its Microsoft Online Services offering, enabling businesses to gain considerable cost advantages while helping to avoid many of the security risks associated with Web-based software services.

Increased security in Microsoft Online services is derived from:

• Simplified automated access using single sign-on.
• Reduced user intervention for security-related tasks.
• Automated software and service updates.
• Comprehensive implementation of leading-edge, industry-standard network security and encryption protocols.
• Mature applications designed, built, tested, and deployed according to Microsoft- established software development disciplines.
• Field-proven service hosting platforms.
• Best practices for data center design and operations.

Microsoft Online services are designed to provide a software-plus-services environment featuring enhanced security and continuous access to applications and data. Increased security at each stage of the online transaction – user and administrator access, network connectivity, service hosting platform and physical datacenter -- helps you gain the established benefits of online services while minimizing your risk.

Source: Security Features in Microsoft Online

Networkworld: Microsoft SharePoint taking business by storm

Networkworld published an article about the (very) rapid uptake of Microsoft SharePoint Server.

Very cool that the introduction of Microsoft Online Services, which includes Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 hosted by Microsoft, is referred to as the 'perfect storm' ...

... Versatile Microsoft server may not be perfect, but it is attracting interest as tool to address anything from collaboration to process management

Microsoft's SharePoint Server is on a billion dollar juggernaut to potentially become the next must-have technology, offering companies tools for building everything from collaborative applications to Internet sites and potentially handing Microsoft its next cash cow.

"I have not seen anything like this since the early days of [Lotus] Notes," says Mike Gotta, an analyst with the Burton Group. In those days, corporate users were enamored with a shiny new technology that seemed to have infinite uses. "The talk [around SharePoint] is getting strategic now and people are talking about it as a middleware decision," Gotta says.

Microsoft Office SharePoint Server (MOSS) 2007 is the fastest growing product in the company's history and seems to have as many uses as a Swiss Army knife. Its six focus areas are collaboration, portal, search, enterprise content management (ECM), business process management and business intelligence.

Just last month, Microsoft added a hosted alternative to fuel adoption. There is a "perfect storm," observers say, around SharePoint in terms of the popularity of Web-based computing, demand for less-expensive ECM and portal tools, collaboration technology and integration around Microsoft's Office suite.  ...

Read on : NetworkWorld.com

Microsoft Office Live Meeting Service Portal

 

The Live Meeting Service Portal makes it easier to deploy and manage Live Meeting. If your company has deployed Microsoft Active Directory directory services, you can use the Live Meeting Service Portal to:

• Automatically create Live Meeting accounts for users once they are authenticated on your corporate network.
• Allow authenticated Windows users to log in to Live Meeting without entering a Live Meeting user ID and password.
• Permit users to change their Live Meeting passwords when authenticated by your Active Directory service.
• Automatically synchronize a user's Live Meeting account settings with the user's Active Directory settings each time the user logs in through the Portal.

Source: Microsoft Office Live Meeting Service Portal

There’s more than one way to make Microsoft software ’serviceable’

Yes, let's not forget Microsoft Dynamics when it comes down to software + Services. Mary Jo Foley reports on Convergence 2008 and the things discussed there :

... Microsoft’s Software+Services (S+S) strategy comes in many guises. At its Convergence 2008 conference in Orlando this week for its business-applications customers and partners, Microsoft highlighted yet another one of its S+S forms: Third-party service extensions to its on-premise software.

Microsoft’s business applications include four different ERP suites, plus its Dynamics CRM offering. Microsoft has made noises about delivering versions of its Axapta, Great Plains, Solomon and Navision ERP products that will be multi-tenant and Microsoft-hosted (with no firm due dates so far). And Dynamics CRM 4.0, the latest version of Microsoft’s CRM product, can be deployed by customers in on-premise, partner-hosted and/or Microsoft-hosted configurations. ...

Source: There’s more than one way to make Microsoft software ’serviceable’

Google apps op OLPC en EEEpc?

Hoe kan ik nu het beste en zo simpel mogelijk de voordelen van Software + Services uitleggen ? Nou voor ... 'pure play' SaaS heb je een internetverbinding nodig ... De blogpost van Willem says it all ...

(Sorry Willem, die kans kon ik niet laten lopen :-) )

... Het leukste van mijn bezoek aan de Onderwijs & ICT beurs vandaag (waarover later meer) vond ik wel het feit dat ik de mensen van Edupaper en G-Company met elkaar in contact kon brengen. Ze stonden allebei met een stand op de beurs maar kenden elkaar en elkaars producten niet. Zo breng ik het matchen van trends in de praktijk...
De vraag die ik ze voorlegde was:
Kunnen jullie mij Google apps op deze mini laptops laten zien?
Helaas was de WiFi voorziening op de jaarbeurs weer eens slecht geregeld (onvoorstelbaar!) dus waren beide juweeltjes niet aangesloten op internet. ...

Source: Google apps op OLPC en EEEpc?

Microsoft Online Services - new portal

The new portal is live. It contains, information on the various offerings and lot's of links to trials, etc. If you are a Microsoft Partner (or want to become one) do check out the Partner section.

Please notice that the Microsoft Online offering for companies with less than 5000 seats is still beta only and focused on the US ... If your company has more than 5000 seats there's nothing that should hold you back wherever you are ...

Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc. Announces Migration to Microsoft Collaboration Suite

This is a very cool (ice cold) reference to have. If I am not mistaking Coca Cola is a  Lotus Notes Domino shop ... Now moving 'to the cloud' to Microsoft's new

Business Productivity Online platform

 

 

 

 

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Coca-Cola Enterprises (NYSE: CCE) today announced that it will begin using Microsoft’s integrated communication and collaboration tools across its organization.

The use of Microsoft Office suite, SharePoint Online, Exchange Online, Office Communications Online and Live Meeting for Web and video conferencing will integrate CCE’s communication and collaboration capabilities and improve its speed, flexibility and effectiveness. This integrated platform will combine technologies by connecting software and internet services through Microsoft Online.

“To become the best beverage sales and customer service company, we must drive efficiency and effectiveness throughout our company while significantly increasing opportunities for collaboration among employees, customers and suppliers,” said John F. Brock, president and chief executive officer. “By working with a world-class leader like Microsoft, we can continue to drive innovation throughout our organization and more effectively address the complexities of today’s global business environment.”

“Coca-Cola Enterprises operates in an environment where better collaboration and communication can deliver a real strategic advantage,” said Bill Gates, chairman, Microsoft Corp. “By providing the flexibility to manage software over the Web or from servers managed on-site, Microsoft Online will help Coca-Cola Enterprises drive greater efficiencies and enable employees to connect to each other more effectively than ever before.”

Coca-Cola Enterprises is the world's largest marketer, distributor and producer of bottle and can liquid nonalcoholic refreshment. CCE sells approximately 80 percent of The Coca-Cola Company's bottle and can volume in North America and is the sole licensed bottler for products of The Coca-Cola Company in Belgium, continental France, Great Britain, Luxembourg, Monaco, and the Netherlands.

Source: Businesswire.com

CRN - Microsoft: SaaS-aanbod is niet per se goedkoper

CRN heeft een korte samenvatting van de recente Microsoft Business Productivity Online gepubliceerd

 

... Microsoft onthulde gisteren vergaande plannen om zijn belangrijkste producten als online-dienst aan te bieden vanuit zijn datacenters. De softwareproducent wil enerzijds serverapplicaties als Exchange en Sharepoint Server aanbieden in SaaS-vorm (software as a services), en anderzijds clientapplicaties als Office. Directeur Chris Capossela van de Microsoft-divisie voor kantoorsoftware benadrukt echter dat SaaS niet per se goedkoper is dan reguliere software-aanschaf. ...

... Capossela zegt wel dat over tien jaar de helft van Microsofts software online staat. Hij meent dat over vijf jaar al de helft van de Exchange-gebruikers de online-uitvoering gebruikt. De leverancier mikt hiermee vooral op middelgrote en kleine bedrijven die zelf een kleine of geen ict-afdeling hebben. ...

... Een van de grote, niet aan twijfel onderhevige, voordelen van SaaS is namelijk dat het beheerkosten scheelt. Dat is immers voor rekening van de aanbieder (hoster). De Coca Cola Company is alvast gezwicht voor SaaS, van Microsoft. Het frisdrankconcern doet de IBM-software die het zelf draait de deur uit ten gunste van het online-aanbod van Microsoft.

Het gaat om communicatie-, kantoor- en samenwerkingssoftware: Exchange, Office en Sharepoint. Tegen eind mei moeten 20.000 van de 75.000 werknemers al over zijn naar de Online Services van de Office-producent. Cio Esat Sezer van Coca Cola zegt dat het zelf draaien en beheer van dergelijke software geen onderscheidend vermogen is voor het bedrijf en dus geen concurrentievoordeel oplevert. Efficiënte online-samenwerking biedt dat wel, aldus de frisdrankenfabrikant. ...

Source: Microsoft: SaaS-aanbod is niet per se goedkoper

Microsoft Matches Google With SaaS for E-Mail/SharePoint

Gartner has produced a first response to yesterday's announcement. "Matches Google" is really an understatement ...

Responding to the threat from Google, and sensing a significant business opportunity, Microsoft has announced substantial plans for an Exchange and SharePoint software-as-a-service model.

On 2 March 2008, Microsoft announced a beta version of a multitenant server software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform, to be used initially for e-mail and teamware (SharePoint), but expanding, we believe, to other applications, such as Office, over time. Delivery of the platform is planned for 4Q08. Microsoft already offers a dedicated server SaaS platform for companies with over 5,000 seats. This implementation is for organizations with under 5,000 seats. Pricing has not been announced.

The SaaS model is in its infancy, but holds considerable appeal, particularly for small and midsize businesses (SMBs). This is because it offers fixed monthly fees, freedom from most operational management, elimination of upgrade responsibilities and, in some cases, lower costs. The potential of the SaaS delivery model has had a significant impact on vendor dynamics, driving Cisco to acquire WebEx, Yahoo to buy Zimbra, Google to purchase Postini, Dell to buy MessageOne and SAP to invest heavily in its Business ByDesign platform.

We believe the SaaS model will dramatically change the way businesses provision, operate and consume IT services during the next five years. Microsoft's SaaS investment is both an offensive move to capture operational revenue (in addition to the license fees it now collects), and a defensive measure to combat potential incursions from suppliers such as Google.

The challenges Microsoft faces are considerable. While it runs one of the largest public portal sites in the industry, providing large-scale SaaS services for business requires significant expertise in high availability, security, multitenant architectures, network topologies and problem resolution. Furthermore, Microsoft is retrofitting its existing software to the multitenant server model. It won't be until the next version of Exchange (due in 2011) that its core products are better architected to run in a multitenant SaaS model.

Nonetheless, Microsoft's substantial market share in the e-mail and teamware market, particularly among SMBs, and the growing acceptance of SaaS business models create a significant opportunity for Microsoft. We believe that 20% of enterprise e-mail seats will use a SaaS provisioning model by 2012, compared with 1% in 2007.

Recommendations

• Develop a model for evaluating SaaS offerings in preparation for the expected heavy vendor participation in this area during the next several years.
• Pilot Microsoft's SaaS offering in 2008 if appropriate, but deploy it in production only after maturity is demonstrated, which is likely to take 12 to 18 months.

Source : Gartner.com : microsoft_match...pdf

Microsoft met SharePoint en Exchange verder op het online-pad

Arikel in AG :t

... Microsoft schuift ook Exchange en Sharepoint verder naar voren als online-diensten, zo maakt het bedrijf vandaag in Seattle bekend.

Zeven grote bedrijven zijn overgestapt op een door Microsoft gehoste versie van Exchange en/of Sharepoint. Daaronder bevinden zich Coca-Cola, Autodesk, Blockbuster en Ingersoll-Rand. Microsoft vermeldt er expliciet bij dat Coca-Cola is overgestapt van het concurrerende Lotus Notes.

Beide bedrijven laten overigens geen kans onbenut om ter gelegenheid van hun collaboration-conferenties de 'customer wins' ten koste van de tegenpartij breeduit te etaleren.

Een nieuwe zet is de beschikbaarheid van het drietal Exchange Server, Sharepoint Server en Office Communications Server voor bedrijven  van elke omvang. Tot dusver konden alleen bedrijven met minimaal 5000 medewerkers de online-optie uitproberen. In de nieuwe opzet hoeft er niet per se sprake te zijn van afzonderlijke virtuele servers in het datacentrum van Microsoft. De softwareleverancier zegt vooral te mikken op bedrijven met tussen de 200 en 500 medewerkers, die over weinig IT-ondersteuning beschikken. ...

Source: Microsoft met SharePoint en Exchange verder op het online-pad

Office Live Workspace beta open voor Nederland

De Office Live Workspace beta is nu internationaal beschikbaar voor een aantal landen, waardonder Nederland. De beta is  nu alleen nog in het Engels beschikbaar is en zal uiteraard later dit jaar ook in het Nederlands beschikbaar komen.

Inschrijven kan met een bestaande of nieuw te creeeren Windows Live ID binnen 30 sec. Zoals ik in een eerdere blogpost al vermeldde is de functionaliteit recentelijk nog uitgebreid en gebruikers kunnen ook met enige regelmaat nieuwe updates verwachten.

O ja ... het is gratis ...

Microsoft to Expand Microsoft Online Services for Businesses of All Sizes

Microsoft is expanding the Business Productivity Online offering for all businesses ... SharePoint and/or Exchange "from the cloud" ....

Monday from the annual Microsoft Office SharePoint Conference, Bill Gates, chairman of Microsoft Corp., will announce that the company will offer Microsoft Online Services to businesses of all sizes. This announcement marks a significant step for Microsoft toward expanding its software plus services strategy.

“The combination of software plus services gives customers advanced choice and flexibility in how they access and manage software,” Gates said. “With Microsoft Online Services, businesses can deploy software as a subscription service, from servers they manage on-site, or a combination of the two, depending on their specific needs. In the future, customers and partners should expect to see this kind of choice and flexibility for all of Microsoft’s software and server products.”

Today Microsoft also opened a limited beta trial of the new services; U.S.-based companies can register for the trial at http://www.mosbeta.com. The new services are scheduled to be generally available to businesses of all sizes in the second half of the year.

Based on the proven, business-class software available in Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 and Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007, the new services enable businesses to access e-mail, calendaring, contacts, shared workspaces, and webconferencing and videoconferencing over the Web. The new services are managed through a single Web-based interface, designed to meet the needs of IT professionals. Through this security-enhanced interface, IT professionals can monitor the performance of the services, add and configure users, submit and track support requests, and manage users and licenses.

Enterprise Foundation

In September (http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2007/sep07/09-30RoadmapForBusinessPR.mspx), Microsoft announced the worldwide availability of Microsoft Online Services for businesses with more than 5,000 users. Today’s announcement extends the same performance, scalability, security and service level capabilities to all businesses.

Autodesk Inc., Blockbuster Inc., Ceridian Corp., Coca-Cola Enterprises, Energizer Holdings Inc., Ingersoll-Rand Company Ltd., PFT-Medway and XL Capital group of companies are among the first companies moving their communications and collaborations solutions to Microsoft Online Services.

“To become the best beverage sales and customer service company, we must drive efficiency and effectiveness throughout our company while significantly increasing opportunities for collaboration among employees, customers and suppliers,” said John Brock, president and chief executive officer, Coca-Cola Enterprises. “By working with a world-class leader like Microsoft to leverage the power of software plus services, we can continue to drive innovation throughout our organization and more effectively address the complexities of today’s global business environment.”

Flexible Licensing Model

To help companies take advantage of Microsoft Online Services, Microsoft introduced a new licensing model with flexible options for customers.

New customers and customers without Microsoft Software Assurance can purchase Microsoft Online Services as a per-user subscription. Existing customers with Software Assurance on their Microsoft Client Access Licenses can purchase a user subscription at a discount, enabling them to maximize their existing Microsoft software investments. Customers with a subscription have rights to both Microsoft Online Services and to access on-premises server software, giving them the ability to blend Web-based services with on-premises software.

Microsoft will offer Exchange Online and SharePoint Online together with Office Communications Online and Office Live Meeting as a suite of services or as individual service offerings.

Expanding Partner Opportunities

Microsoft Online Services create new opportunities for partners to resell, customize and provide consulting, migration and managed services for customers. Atos Origin S.A., BT, Ceryx Inc., Evolve Partners Inc., Getronics NV, HCL Technologies Ltd., and Unisys Corp. are among the first partners to announce they will support Microsoft Online Services and provide offerings based on the new services.

“Microsoft Online Services provide partners with opportunities to expand reach, grow revenue and increase speed to sales and implementation,” said Chris Capossela, senior vice president of the Information Worker Product Management Group at Microsoft. “By extending our enterprise software offerings as a subscription service, our partners have the ability to develop and deliver new services with little overhead but maximum revenue potential.”

More information on Microsoft Online Services can be found at the following resources:

• Microsoft Online Services home page: http://www.microsoft.com/online/default.mspx

•Feature story: Partners Embrace Huge Opportunities in Software plus Services Era

• TechNet Edge video: http://edge.technet.com/Media/Introducing-Microsoft-Online-Services

• Partner reaction: http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/misc/AllSizeBusinessesQS.mspx

Source: Microsoft to Expand Microsoft Online Services for Businesses of All Sizes

Microsoft levert software vaker via internet

Goed artikel over Microsoft's Software + Services ...

... REDMOND - Net als Google richt ook Microsoft zich steeds meer op het leveren van software via internet. Behalve op de consumentenmarkt, waar gebruikers bijvoorbeeld steeds meer van hun documentatie online kunnen opslaan, zorgt dit ook voor een verschuiving op de zakelijke markt.

Microsoft is hier veruit de grootste speler. "Over tien jaar staat de helft van onze software online", aldus directeur Chris Capossela van de kantoorsoftwaredivisie van Microsoft dit weekeinde tijdens een internationale persconferentie over de toekomst van bedrijfssoftware in Redmond.

Steeds meer klanten willen een vast bedrag per maand betalen voor software, zodat ze weten waar ze aan toe zijn. Bovendien hoeven ze de software niet meer te beheren.

Aan deze zogenoemde 'software as a service' (Saas) kleven echter ook nadelen. Capossela: "Het hoeft niet goedkoper te zijn, want bij het ouderwetse licensie-model hoef je maar één keer te betalen en ben je voor altijd eigenaar van de software."

Nadeel

Een ander nadeel van online software is dat je altijd een internetverbinding moet hebben om het te gebruiken. Microsoft denkt dan ook, in tegenstelling tot Google, dat een deel van de software altijd op de computer zal blijven staan.

"Niet alles is geschikt om online te zetten. Wat heb je er bijvoorbeeld aan om het internet op te moeten om een tekst te kunnen tikken?", vraagt Capossela zich hardop af. ...

 

... Markt

Toch denkt Risse dat de markt voor Saas de komende tijd met 80 tot 150 procent per jaar groeit. Microsoft investeert daarom flink in datacentra, waar alle online software kan worden beheerd.

In 2007 stak Microsoft 2,3 miljard dollar in deze opslagplaatsen van digitale informatie. Ter vergelijking: Google investeerde zo'n 2 miljard dollar.  ...

Source: Microsoft levert software vaker via internet

Office Live Workspace - first feature update goes live

Office Live Workspace get's its first update ...

In case you didn't know, Office Live Workspace is bases on SharePoint, integrated with Office XP and newer version and .. free :-)

A new Activity pane to help you keep track of what’s happening in your workspaces and email notifications so you always know when the people you share with make updates. This feature is a lot of fun and makes it easy to see at glance the changes happening in your workspace and in individual documents. Now you’ll know when someone comments on your document, adds a note, or updates an important list.

New support for adding multiple documents to your workspaces. The Add multiple documents button makes it is easier than ever to bring your documents into a workspace by browsing and selecting files from your computer or dragging and dropping files on the document uploader.

New permalinks for sharing direct hyperlinks to your workspaces and documents. Now you can bookmark individual workspaces and items in your workspace using the “add to favorites” tool in your web browser or copy the address bar and paste those links into emails to share with others.

A new Share workspace UI to easily invite others to your workspace. With the improved address book buttons you can quickly add people from your Windows Live addresses book (contacts from Windows Live Hotmail and Windows Live Messenger) and people you have shared with before. You can also include more details in your invitation with the larger message box and choose to CC yourself on the invitation.

Besides these, other fixes and improvements have been made and the Office Live add-in has been updated.

Office Live Workspace

Office Live Workspace update. I can recommend the video, as it explains the capabilities in a nutshell ..

Hello Valued Customer,
Thank you for your interest in Microsoft Office Live Workspace beta. We haven’t forgotten about your pre-registration and appreciate your patience. We’re still gathering feedback from thousands of early testers in the United States to fine-tune the user experience before releasing the service worldwide.
Over the next few months you should receive an e-mail invitation to the English version of Office Live Workspace, and later this year we will make other languages available too.
In the meantime, please visit our team blog to get updates on the service, learn why we created Office Live Workspace, and watch interviews with the team. Also, check out our new video (below) to get a preview of what you will be able to do with your workspace.

InfoWorld: 'Office 14' to be more Web-friendly, Gates says

 

InfoWorld ran an article about the speech of Bill Gates at the Office Developer Conference. A lot of interest ofcourse on what the next version of Office System will bring and ofcourse the strategy also there is Software + Services ...

... Microsoft envisions the next version of Office to have partial online functionality similar to how Outlook Web Access works

Microsoft chairman Bill Gates talked publicly for the first time on Monday about the next big Office release, code-named Office 14, which he said will give users new ways to access their applications online.

Microsoft won't provide the full functionality of Office online, but it will offer limited capabilities to view and edit the data in Office applications. It already does this for its Outlook e-mail client with a product called Outlook Web Access, and it will offer similar capabilities for other applications in Office 14, Gates said in a speech at the Microsoft Office System Developer Conference in San Jose, Calif.

"Outlook Web Access is not the full version of Office, but if you want to go into a kiosk or an Internet cafe and browse and connect, it gives you plenty of functionality," he said. "As we look at all the modules [in Office 14], we have in mind the equivalent of Outlook Web Access," Gates said.

It was the first time Microsoft had confirmed the "Office 14" moniker for the next release, although the Windows enthusiast Web site AeroXperience reported that fact recently, citing an internal Microsoft document. It also reported that a beta of Office 14 would appear this year with commercial release planned for 2009. ...

Source: InfoWorld.com

Fasthosts offers pay-as-you-go Office 2007

Webhoster Fasthosts is offering a downloadable Microsoft Office suite starting at prices little under 7 Euro per month for the Student version

Check out their full proposition : Fasthosts.co.uk

... Web hosting firm Fasthosts is offering Microsoft's Office 2007 suite using a software-as-a-service delivery model.

Customers can obtain the productivity suite as a download direct to their PC for £4.99 to £19.99 per month, avoiding the upfront costs and discs involved with the boxed product.

The downloadable Office suite is exactly the same in appearance and functionality as the boxed product, but runs locally on a user's PC and is verified with Fasthosts when the PC goes online.

Users have to be online every time they use the product at this stage, although an 'offline version' is in the works.

Mark Jeffries, chief technology officer at Fasthosts, said: "Our Office package is an excellent way to obtain the latest versions of the software we all need on a pay-as-you-go basis. Its low monthly cost and easy installation will suit a great many home and business users."

Fasthosts is offering four versions of the productivity suite. Office Standard includes Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint, while Office Professional Plus adds Publisher, Access and Infopath.

Households with a user engaged in educational activities qualify for the Student Edition, and can opt either for the Standard edition at £4.99 per month or the Professional Plus version for £6.99 per month.

Users without a dedicated student on the premises can lease the Standard edition for £14.99 a month and the Professional version for £19.99 a month.

The software-as-a-service concept allows the provision of software by a vendor for delivery or use over the internet. This means that customers do not pay for owning the software but rather for using it.

This enables users to pay for software gradually, and benefit from service benefits such as free updates and any support provided by the vendor. ...

Source : VNUnet.com

Important update (11-2-2008) :

Apparently the new service provided by Fasthosts is not in agreement with Microsoft and incompliant with regards to the licensing regulations : 

Microsoft: Streaming Office 'infringes licence'

... Microsoft has said that the internet service provider Fasthosts, which has started offering a subscription-based version of Microsoft Office 2007, is infringing on the software giant's licence regulations — but Fasthosts has denied this claim.

Earlier this week, the UK-based ISP and hosting company started selling a version of Microsoft Office which it advertised as being "streamed to your PC". However, unlike true hosted software, or software as a service (SaaS), it requires the user to download software to their client PC.

"Fasthosts' Microsoft Office product uses the SaaS model in that it is delivered and managed via the internet," explained Mark Jeffries, Fasthosts' chief technology officer, on Thursday. Speaking with ZDNet.co.uk via email, Jeffries said that a "full version Microsoft Office, identical to the boxed product, is downloaded using a streaming service and saved locally on a user's PC".

"After one initial download, further small downloads are made for additional features and updates. When functions are used for the first time, features are seamlessly streamed in the background. The software is validated when connected to the internet," explained Jeffries.

Jeffries claimed that Fasthosts' version of Office was the result of a partnership "with Microsoft and established market-leading experts in the field of software streaming". However, Microsoft has disagreed with this claim. ...

Source : ZDnet.co.uk

Software+Services: Microsoft BizTalk

Microsoft BizTalk 2006 whitepaper outling the role of BizTalk in Software + Services scenrio's ..

Software + Services in the Microsoft World: A Technology Overview for IT Decision Makers

One of the most important changes in the technology world today is the shift within enterprises from relying solely on local software to a world of software plus services (S+S). This overview describes S+S, focusing on what Microsoft is doing in this area. While not everyone uses the same terms, the entire industry has embraced the idea of S+S under various headings and while the move to S+S certainly affects consumers, this description focuses on S+S for business users. S+S isn’t a futuristic idea; it’s a reality today. Yet the full impact of this transition is still years away. Understanding what that impact will look like requires thinking about the effect on applications—packages as well as custom software—and on the platforms those applications depend on. This overview describes both.

Microsoft Exchange Hosted Services (EHS) Archive Datasheet

This datasheet provides an overview of Exchange Hosted Archive.

Microsoft Exchange Hosted Services are an extension of Microsoft Exchange, operating over the Internet as a service. The complete line of services includes hosted filtering for spam and virus protection; hosted archiving to support compliance requirements and internal policies; hosted encryption to preserve e-mail confidentiality; and, hosted continuity for ongoing access to e-mail during and after disasters. Microsoft Exchange Hosted Services provide value to corporate customers by eliminating upfront capital investment, freeing up IT resources, and removing incoming e-mail threats before they reach the corporate firewall. For more information, visit http://www.microsoft.com/exchange/services

Source: EHS Archive Datasheet
Date Published: Tue, 29 Jan 2008 23:06:17 GMT

EHS Filtering Datasheet

Microsoft Exchange Hosted Services :

Introduction

Electronic messaging is mission critical, but it remains vulnerable to a growing array of threats. Viruses, worms, denial-of-service attacks, spam, and the need to satisfy a growing set of government regulations and legal actions all make effective messaging security and management increasingly difficult.

Microsoft Exchange Hosted Services for messaging security and management is composed of four distinct services that help organizations protect themselves from e-mail-borne malware, satisfy retention requirements for compliance, encrypt data to preserve confidentiality, and preserve access to e-mail during and after emergency situations. The services are deployed over the Internet using a “Software as a Service” model which helps minimize additional capital investment, free up IT resources to focus on other value-producing initiatives, and mitigate messaging risks before they reach the corporate firewall.

How It Works

With just a simple mail exchange (MX) record configuration change, Exchange Hosted Services can be up and running quickly. There is no additional hardware to provision; no additional software to buy, install, or configure; and no expensive training required for your IT staff.

Furthermore, there is no need for you to change or modify your existing e-mail infrastructure, nor to install and maintain any new hardware or software. The heart of Exchange Hosted Services is a distributed network of data centers located at key sites along the Internet backbone. Each data center contains fault-tolerant servers that are load-balanced from site to site and from server to server. In the unlikely event that one data center is unavailable, traffic can be easily routed to another data center, minimizing the chances of interruption to the service. Microsoft algorithms analyze and route message traffic between data centers to help ensure secure and timely delivery.

This datasheet outlines the Filtering service from Exchange Hosted Services.

Source: EHS Filtering Datasheet
Date Published: Fri, 01 Feb 2008

One Collaboration Platform to Rule Them All?

Cathing up on some news of earlier this month.

CMSWire published an article quoting some of the findings from a recent report by Osterman Research. Let's go straight to the quotes ...

... SharePoint is a big topic these days. With the release of SharePoint Server 2007, analysts everywhere are trying to get a grasp on its reach into the enterprise and the issues surrounding its implementation.

According to the latest from Osterman Research, SharePoint is becoming the de facto collaboration platform for many organizations today. ...

Strong confirmation on the uptake of SharePoint ...

... The Osterman study sought to determine trends in the use of SharePoint over the next 12 months. Results of the study indicate that in organizations that deployed Microsoft Exchange, more than half are currently using SharePoint and 12 percent plan to deploy it in the next 12 months.

The number of organizations that employ SharePoint for mission-critical applications is less than 20 percent, a figure expected to double over the next year. Meanwhile, the number of SharePoint applications will quadruple. ...

Good detail on the level of application into 'mission-critical' area's and a strong confirmation of the level of trust companies have with regards to SharePoint, as the mission critical application of SharePoint will double over the next year ...

... The study also noted that most deployments are hosted by third-party hosting providers. Organizations for the most part don’t have plans in place for hosting SharePoint applications. ...

This is one I didn't expect to be the case already. The fact that the majority of the surveyed companies uses a hosted SharePoint environment shows also a high level of confidence in the partner ecosystem around the Microsoft platform and in hosted (SaaS) solutions ...

... To many IT managers, implementing SharePoint is a no-brainer. ..

... At the end of the day, SharePoint is still a lot cheaper than many other enterprise CMS systems. Thus it makes sense that organizations want to take advantage of it for content management and collaboration.

However, with great power comes great responsibility.

Organizations looking to implement SharePoint just need to remember this one word: governance. It’s not a big word, but it carries a big stick. ...

Be sure to read the whole article for the full perspective : CMSWire.com

Microsoft Announces New E-Government Platform to Put Technology to Work for Governments and Citizens

Good development in the government space :

Microsoft Corp. today announced a new strategy that will make it easier for governments to interact with citizens, streamline processes and, as a result, save time and taxpayer dollars. At the Government Leaders Forum—Europe in Berlin, Microsoft unveiled the Citizen Service Platform (CSP), an approach to help governments of all sizes more responsively deliver services to citizens via the Internet.

From London to Stockholm, from Porto, Portugal, to Aalter, Belgium, governments of all sizes are communicating with citizens in a variety of new and innovative ways. Even with the diverse needs of these cities, many of their government agencies deliver a common set of services to citizens. A culmination of Microsoft’s partnerships, programs and projects conducted with governments over several years, the CSP has been developed to answer the needs seen across diverse government offices and help deliver the best of these services across different regions worldwide. Initial offerings include a suite of online services that will be available for customization and integration into existing government solutions for their citizens later this year.

Governments need to respond to the growing needs of their constituencies and modernize the way they conduct business and engage with their stakeholders, said Jean-Philippe Courtois, president of Microsoft International.

“Technology can help local and regional governments increase efficiency levels and offer modernized services, but many are ill-equipped to meet citizens’ needs due to a lack of funding, technical expertise or other resources,” Courtois said. “CSP arose from a series of projects among Microsoft, our partners, and local and regional governments. By incorporating past lessons and achievements, we will be able to provide these governments with technologies they can cost-effectively and easily deploy for the direct benefit of their citizens.”

Source: Microsoft Announces New E-Government Platform to Put Technology to Work for Governments and Citizens
Date Published: Tue, 22 Jan 2008 08:15:00 GMT

Computable: Commentaar: Softwaredienst

Artikel in Computable over SaaS en de verwachtte uptake in 2008.

... De meest gebruikte ict-term van 2007 is Software-as-a-Service. Het Computable Panel verwacht dat ook 2008 in het teken zal staan van SaaS. Dit jaar zullen alle voordelen van SaaS duidelijk worden. Bijvoorbeeld dat applicaties makkelijker gekoppeld kunnen worden, of dat bedrijven flexibeler zijn. Een logische ontwikkeling in de groei naar volwassenheid.
Het SaaS-model zorgt er voor dat gerenommeerde softwaremakers overstappen op een nieuw softwaremodel. Je ziet bedrijven, zoals Microsoft, al wel applicaties via het internet aanbieden, maar van harte gaat het nog niet.

Verkopen van een pakket biedt een fabrikant zekerheid. Bij de verkoop van een pakket aan de klant staat in één keer, na een aantal verkoopgesprekken, een mooi bedrag bijgeschreven op de bankrekening. ...

... SaaS biedt vooral klanten veel voordelen. Daarom overwegen steeds meer bedrijven in 2008 een hosted applicatie. Of dat betekent dat we over een tijdje af zijn van de hele rij consultants die een softwarepakket voor veel geld binnendragen en weer naar huis gaan als het draait? Ik denk het niet. Daar zullen de 'oude' softwareleveranciers erg blij mee zijn. ..

Source: Commentaar: Softwaredienst
Date Published: Mon, 07 Jan 2008

Het artikel bevat een in mijn optiek enigszins misplaatst statement over Microsoft. Het suggereert dat Microsoft SaaS (of Software + Services zoals Microsoft het noemt) niet serieus neemt. Toeggeven dat alle sluizen nog niet opengaan, maar de visie staat en er zijn al een aantal diensten beschikbaar.

• Microsoft "Live" services. Designed primarily for individuals, small businesses, and virtual work groups, Microsoft's Live offerings span entertainment, communication, and personal productivity. These services emphasize ease of use, simplicity of access, and flexibility, and are ideally suited for situations where you either don't have access to professional technical expertise or don't require high levels of system management. Live offerings enhance many of the products you already use—Windows, Office, and Xbox—with more to come.
• Online services from Microsoft. Designed for businesses with more advanced needs, online services provide security-enhanced, reliable, and scalable hosted communication and collaboration solutions. By choosing online services hosted by Microsoft, you ensure you'll always have the latest technologies, without the burden of managing hardware, deploying patches, monitoring performance, and deploying upgrades. The Online family of services offerings provides access for all your business needs—messaging, management, security, and conferencing—without straining your IT resources.

Er volgt zeker meer  .. stay tuned ...

2008, a new year a new job ...

January 1, 2008 I will start in my new role : Online Strategy Manager for Microsoft Netherlands

I work for Microsoft Netherlands for almost 4 years now and since the start I have worked in and led the Information Worker Team, focused on large enterprise clients. I joined Microsoft shortly after the launch of the 2003 Office System; the first wave of solutions that combined Microsoft Office as you know it with Server products, such as SharePoint Server and Live Communications Server. All of these server products have entered the 3rd generation now that the 2007 Office System was launched a year ago.

For me a new challenge lies ahead as Microsoft enters a new business; that of Software + Services and I am very fortunate to be part of this new wave right from the start.

Microsoft is very well positioned to take advantage of all the new dimensions Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) has to offer; especially in combination with the current platform and its capabilities. The focus for Software + Services will be in 2 area's :

• Microsoft "Live" services. Designed primarily for individuals, small businesses, and virtual work groups, Microsoft's Live offerings span entertainment, communication, and personal productivity. These services emphasize ease of use, simplicity of access, and flexibility, and are ideally suited for situations where you either don't have access to professional technical expertise or don't require high levels of system management. Live offerings enhance many of the products you already use—Windows, Office, and Xbox—with more to come.
  
• Online services from Microsoft. Designed for businesses with more advanced needs, online services provide security-enhanced, reliable, and scalable hosted communication and collaboration solutions. By choosing online services hosted by Microsoft, you ensure you'll always have the latest technologies, without the burden of managing hardware, deploying patches, monitoring performance, and deploying upgrades. The Online family of services offerings provides access for all your business needs—messaging, management, security, and conferencing—without straining your IT resources.

Over the last 3,5 years or so blogging has helped me tremendously in gaining knowledge and insight into the communication and collaboration business, the competition, the market, etc.

As my focus now shifts a bit I have decided to start an new blog alongside peterdehaas.net called SaaSology.net. This new blog is intended to provide information and interaction on SaaS related topics / companies, etc. I hope you'll subscribe to the RSS feed and frequent the site every now and then to comment.

SaaS is a very exciting development which will have / has (depending where you're coming from) a major impact on the software business. This means there's more than enough to blog about.

System Center: Online Services Help Simplify Software Inventory

Software + Services solution for Software Asset Inventory as part of 'MDOP':

Meeting the needs of business both large and small is one of the driving influences behind the concept of software as a service (SaaS). The Microsoft "Software plus Services" strategy encompasses efforts to develop service-based solutions to assist customers in managing software assets effectively. One of the first of these services, Microsoft Asset Inventory Service, is being released to Software Assurance customers as part of the Desktop Optimization Pack for Software Assurance.

Source: System Center: Online Services Help Simplify Software Inventory
Paul Bourgeau
Date Published: Tue, 01 Jan 2008 12:00:00 GMT

LiveSide: Our first look at Office Live Workspaces

I enrolled today for Windows Live Workspaces. LiveSide's Kip Kniskern posted a very good overview of the functionality last week. Follow the link for all the details:

... Well it took a few days, and I actually got an email saying it would be a few more, and hey watch this video while you're waiting, but then an invite was waiting for me in another account this evening.  I had already installed the Office Live Workspaces plug-in to Office 2007, so signing up was a simple matter of logging in via the plug-in and signing up for Office Live, which only took a few clicks.  After that, preparing the workspace only took less than a minute, and I was in:

(click on the pictures for larger views)

...

Source: Our first look at Office Live Workspaces
Kip Kniskern
Date Published: Fri, 14 Dec 2007 06:35:00 GMT

A Cost-Effective Software and Services Solution Boosts Funds Automation (Presented by WeathCraft)

A Cost-Effective Software and Services Solution Boosts Funds Automation, follow link to download (registration required)

Source: A Cost-Effective Software and Services Solution Boosts Funds Automation (Presented by WeathCraft)
Date Published: Mon, 17 Dec 2007 09:13:31 GMT

Microsoft Delivers Office Live Workspace Beta

The next step in the live of Microsoft Office Live Workspace. I need to chaeck what can and can not be shared at this moment and will certainly do some demos using my Office Live Workspace.

The beta is not available in The Netherlands but in the coming quarter it will we expanded ...

 

Microsoft Office Director of Consumer and Small Business Product Management Kirk Gregersen discusses the public beta of Office Live Workspace, an online extension to Office that provides new Web storage and collaboration capabilities. Microsoft today is beginning roll-out of the public beta of Office Live Workspace, a secure online workspace to which Office users can post Word, PowerPoint, Excel or PDF files directly from Office applications to work on remotely from virtually any web-connected PC and collaborate on with others.

... To learn more about Office Live Workspace, PressPass spoke with Kirk Gregersen, Office Director of Consumer and Small Business Product Management.

PressPass: So, what are you announcing today?

Gregersen: We’re announcing that the public beta of Microsoft Office Live Workspace is going live for the first set of people in the United States who pre-registered for the service at www.officelive.com.

We’re also introducing community discussion forums on the Office Live Workspace Community site, which should provide a great way for our early beta users to share their experiences, tell us what we can improve and ask any questions they might have.

PressPass: What is Office Live Workspace and how does it try to help Office users?

Gregersen: Office Live Workspace is the first Office Live service for all Office users. It provides an easy way for people to save their Office documents and other files to the web, and then to share their work and collaborate with others. We think that Office Live Workspace will be important for our 500 million Office customers because it’s one of the first tightly integrated web-based sharing and collaboration services designed to give a seamless experience for Office users.

The service also responds to some of the top requests that we’ve gotten from Office customers, which require a combination of the web and great integration with Office on the desktop to really solve. The way that Office Live Workspace extends Office on the desktop is a good example of what Steve Ballmer, Bill Gates and Ray Ozzie refer to as our “software plus services” approach. ...

Source: Microsoft Delivers Office Live Workspace Beta
Date Published: Mon, 10 Dec 2007 14:00:00 GMT