https://www.channelfutures.com/wp-content/themes/channelfutures_child/assets/images/logo/footer-new-logo.png
  • Home
  • Technologies
    • Back
    • Analytics
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Cloud
    • Data Centers
    • Desktop
    • IoT
    • Mobility
    • Networking
    • Open Source
    • RMM/PSA
    • Security
    • Virtualization
    • Voice/Connectivity
  • Strategy
    • Back
    • Best Practices
    • Business Models
    • Channel 101
    • Channel Programs
    • Channel Research
    • Digital Transformation
    • Diversity & Inclusion
    • Leadership
    • Mergers and Acquisitions
    • Sales & Marketing
    • Specialty Practices
  • MSSP Insider
    • Back
    • Business of Security
    • Cloud and Edge
    • Endpoint
    • Network
    • People and Careers
    • Training and Policies
  • MSP 501
    • Back
    • 2021 MSP 501 Application
    • 2020 MSP 501 Rankings
    • 2020 Hot 101 Rankings
    • 2020 MSP 501 Report
  • Intelligence
    • Back
    • Our Sponsors
    • From the Industry
    • Content Resources
    • COVID-19 Partner Help
    • Galleries
    • Podcasts
    • Reports
    • Videos
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
  • EMEA
  • Awards
    • Back
    • Excellence in Digital Services
    • 2021 MSP 501
    • Top Gun 51
  • Events
    • Back
    • CP Conference & Expo
    • Channel Partners Evolution
    • Channel Evolution Europe
    • Channel Partners Event Coverage
    • Webinars
  • Channel Mentor
    • Back
    • Channel Market Intelligence
    • Channel Educational Series
Channel Futures
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Home
  • Technologies
    • Back
    • Analytics
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Cloud
    • Data Centers
    • Desktop
    • IoT
    • Mobility
    • Networking
    • Open Source
    • RMM/PSA
    • Security
    • Virtualization
    • Voice/Connectivity
  • Strategy
    • Back
    • Best Practices
    • Business Models
    • Channel 101
    • Channel Programs
    • Channel Research
    • Digital Transformation
    • Diversity & Inclusion
    • Leadership
    • Mergers and Acquisitions
    • Sales & Marketing
    • Specialty Practices
  • MSSP Insider
    • Back
    • Business of Security
    • Cloud and Edge
    • Endpoint
    • Network
    • People and Careers
    • Training and Policies
  • MSP 501
    • Back
    • 2021 MSP 501 Application
    • 2020 MSP 501 Rankings
    • 2020 Hot 101 Rankings
    • 2020 MSP 501 Report
  • Intelligence
    • Back
    • Our Sponsors
    • From the Industry
    • Content Resources
    • COVID-19 Partner Help
    • Galleries
    • Podcasts
    • Reports
    • Videos
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
  • EMEA
  • Awards
    • Back
    • Excellence in Digital Services
    • 2021 MSP 501
    • Top Gun 51
  • Events
    • Back
    • CP Conference & Expo
    • Channel Partners Evolution
    • Channel Evolution Europe
    • Channel Partners Event Coverage
    • Webinars
  • Channel Mentor
    • Back
    • Channel Market Intelligence
    • Channel Educational Series
    • Newsletter
  • REGISTER
  • MSPs
  • VARs / SIs
  • Digital Service Providers
  • Cloud Service Providers
  • CHANNEL PARTNERS ONLINE
 Channel Futures

Channel Programs


SaaS: Microsoft Preparing BPOS Billing for VARs?

  • Written by The VAR Guy 1
  • April 27, 2010
Assuming it's accurate, the grapevine is treating The VAR Guy particularly well this week. One prime example: Our resident blogger hears Microsoft is testing a syndicated BPOS (Business Productivity Online Suite) partner program, which may allow resellers to manage SaaS billing for end-customers. Is this a defining moment for Microsoft's SaaS channel strategy? Or do more hurdles remain? Here's the scoop.

Assuming it’s accurate, the grapevine is treating The VAR Guy particularly well this week. One prime example: Our resident blogger hears Microsoft is testing a syndicated BPOS (Business Productivity Online Suite) partner program, which may allow resellers to manage SaaS billing for end-customers. Is this a defining moment for Microsoft’s SaaS channel strategy? Or do more hurdles remain? Here’s the scoop.

First, The VAR Guy needs to tip his well-worn hat: Contributing Associate Blogger Matt Weinberger nailed this story, before The VAR Guy muscled in to steal Weinberger’s byline. Sure enough, multiple SaaS pundits say Microsoft is about to make a BPOS billing move, potentially empowering partners to better leverage Exchange Online, SharePoint Online and other on-demand applications.

The VAR Guy isn’t surprised. In March 2010, Microsoft Channel Chief Allison Watson told The VAR Guy that the software giant would continue to refine BPOS, based on partner feedback. Watson shared her SaaS and cloud channel thoughts in this video.

What’s the Story — Today?

Fast forward to the present and a Microsoft spokesperson declines to comment about the alleged BPOS billing news. Here’s what The VAR Guy knows — or claims to know.

Exact details are expected to surface at the Microsoft Hosting Summit on April 28. As part of the announcement, specific BPOS partners will be allowed to manage their own billing for end-customers, according to multiple sources. That’s a key move, since many initial BPOS partners complained that Microsoft controlled all pricing and billing.

Now for the tricky part. In order to differentiate from rival BPOS partners, Microsoft will require each partner to deliver at least one additional bundled service with BPOS.

Remaining Holes?

Sounds intriguing. But plenty of questions and challenges remain. Some VARs remain very upbeat about BPOS, because it provides easy access into the SaaS and recurring revenue markets.

Still, skeptics remain. One source says Microsoft has been beta testing the new service with at least two partners. Another skeptical source says BPOS still involves some key negatives for hosting partners.

The source says: “The reseller, while maintaining a billing relationship with the customer, the reseller still has no control over the offering, support or product differentiation. So in effect, the reseller gets all the responsibility for billing and support — but none of the authority to make a better mousetrap.”

Hmmm… Those are solid points that Microsoft partners will need to consider. Also of note: Microsoft will need to balance the world of BPOS with the world of third-party hosted Exchange providers, where companies like Apptix and Intermedia are showing considerable momentum.

Back to Our Originally Scheduled Program

Meanwhile, The VAR Guy just landed in San Francisco for the Cisco Partner Summit. Stay tuned for plenty of Cisco chatter. And our resident blogger will provide a BPOS update if/when Microsoft makes official announcements on April 28.

Sign up for The VAR Guy’s Newsletter; Webcasts and Resource Center; and via RSS; Facebook; Identi.ca; Twitter and VARtweet.


Tags: Cloud Service Providers Digital Service Providers MSPs VARs/SIs Channel Programs Cloud Leadership

Related


  • VDI
    IGEL Integrates Amazon WorkSpaces DaaS with Its Virtual Endpoint OS
    Also, the new Arm-based Raspberry Pi, co-developed by Citrix, IGEL and NComputing, is generally available.
  • Job cuts
    Latest VMware Job Cuts Impact More Workers in California
    The layoffs will begin March 30.
  • Hottest Ticket in Town
    Channel Partners Virtual 2021 Is the Hottest Ticket in Town
    And that means any town, since it’s 100% online. Will you be there?
  • Partner Program Update
    Palo Alto Networks Rolls Out Latest NextWave Partner Program
    NextWave 3.0 will help partners differentiate their services.

2 comments

  1. Avatar Smith September 8, 2010 @ 6:05 am
    Reply

    Whose challenge is this ? Marketing team is coming up with innovative price plans, Sales is aggressive in acquiring customers, Technical team is provisioning services, Customer is availing every option of service extensively but end of the month, usage metering , calculation and invoicing !…..How do we do this? Is this a concern for every cloud computing provider ?

    To have competitive edge and sustain in the cloud market place, cloud service providers are flexible in terms of their services, price plans or pricing structure which introduced the concept of Pay Per Use (PPU). But, one must not ignore the pains of a cloud service provider in tracking, collating and calculating the usage of each and every customer, applying respective rate plan, and generating a bill.

    In addition to the usage based pricing parameters such as storage space, bandwidth consumption, computing cycles, number of users, modules, services, instances, downloads, alerts, hours etc, every cloud service provider has its own vertical specific usage based pricing charges e.g. in SaaS HRM vertical , they charge based on number of employees, or per month per user, Now the challenge here is cloud service provider has to have a continuous watch on the usage consumption of its customer(s) which may prevent from significant revenue loss. Alerting and allowing a customer on the usage limit (threshold) is again one such crucial business process. Cloud service provider follow a manual process or they have a tool in house developed to track such things. This exercise involves additional human resource or efforts to their operations .

    Manual usage tracking is not much of a painful process for start-ups with less customers. However usage tracking process would become a challenging and painful process for the service providers with Large customer base. Hence cloud service provider should automate its usage tracking process and keep a weather eye on the individual customer’s usage consumption. This will reduce the revenue loss occurred in manual process.

    eVapt has proven experience in collecting the usage records for cloud subscription service providers across the globe. eVapt has deployed its solution along with it’s Metering module which integrates with cloud service providers database servers / control panel /virtualization platform to collect the usage detailed records (UDRs). This will collect data that is in logfiles, databases or can run scripts written in Java to collect data. The Metering component in eVapt allows collections of multiple usage type and accurate processing of the same. This will plug the loss of revenues through accurate usage collection and processing

  2. Avatar The VAR Guy September 8, 2010 @ 11:22 am
    Reply

    Smith: So, um, is it safe to say you’re affiliated with eVapt?
    -TVG

Leave a comment Cancel reply

-or-

Log in with your Channel Futures account

Alternatively, post a comment by completing the form below:

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Content

  • Devo Technology Unveils First Partner Program for Resellers, MSSPs, SIs
  • Infoblox Cloud Specialization to Help Partners with SaaS Sales
  • New Commvault EMEA Channel Exec Outlines Plans for Channel
  • Productivity During ‘Work from Wherever’: Choosing the Right Back-Office Tools for a Distributed Workforce

Galleries

View all

From The Second City: How to Use Improv as a Business Tool

March 3, 2021

Industry Perspectives

View all

5 Ways XDR Can Improve Operational Efficiency for MSPs

March 4, 2021

Multi-Cloud: Strategy or Inevitable Outcome? (or both?)

March 3, 2021

Backup Vulnerability: 4 Targets Hackers Might Utilize to Infiltrate Your Backup Solution

March 2, 2021

Webinars

View all

A Partner’s Perspective on Channel Success in 2021

March 23, 2021

XDR and Why it Matters to MSPs

March 24, 2021

Top Security Trends Impacting Technology Security Providers In 2021

March 25, 2021

White Papers

View all

Why Fortinet for my MSSP?

March 2, 2021

Small and Mid-Size Business Security: 4 Steps to Success

March 2, 2021

How SMBs Can Secure Endpoints and Remote Workers for the Long Haul

March 2, 2021

Upcoming Events

View all

Channel Partners Conference & Expo

November 1, 2021 - November 4, 2021

Videos and Fastchats

View all

FASTCHAT: How SOAR Eliminates Security Challenges and Elevates Service Provider Revenues

January 6, 2021

Happy Holidays from Channel Partners & Channel Futures!

December 21, 2020

FASTCHAT: How Old, Unpatched Technologies Are Creating New Security Threats for MSPs and Their Customers

December 3, 2020

Twitter

ChannelFutures

.@okta acquiring rival @auth0 in $6.5 billion all-stock transaction. #security dlvr.it/Rtzwdp https://t.co/4LvHCJuwsR

March 4, 2021
ChannelFutures

.@MicrosoftTeams features are coming to @MSFTDynamics365, the company announced at @MS_Ignite. #MicrosoftIgnite… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

March 4, 2021
ChannelFutures

.@PreciselyData acquired by Clearlake Capital, @TAAssociates. #digitaltransformation dlvr.it/RtzbKg https://t.co/1rNYnTScxq

March 4, 2021
ChannelFutures

Thanks for attending #CPVirtual. Here's a Day 3 wrap and a look ahead to #CPExpo Homecoming in November!… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

March 4, 2021
ChannelFutures

.@Veeam announces six annual Impact Partner Awards, with @SHI_Intl, @LogicalisUS, more. #cloud… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

March 4, 2021
ChannelFutures

#XDR can improve operational efficiency for #MSPs. @TrendMicro #security #endpoint #AI #threatintelligence… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

March 4, 2021
ChannelFutures

.@IBM adds two senior execs to leadership team at infrastructure IT spinoff, NewCo. @IBMNews @IBMPartners… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

March 4, 2021
ChannelFutures

RT @ChannelEurope: Craving more #EMEA news? Get the latest headlines, insights and commentary in EMEA directly to your inbox. Subscribe to…

March 4, 2021

MSSP Insider

Newsletters and Updates

Sign up for The Channel Report, Channel Futures Update, MSP 501 Newsletter and more.

Live Channel Events

Get the latest information on the next industry-leading Channel Partners event.

Channel Partners Online

Want more? Find more channel news and analysis on our sister site, Channel Partners.

Media Kit And Advertising

Want to reach our audience? Access our media kit

DISCOVER MORE FROM INFORMA TECH

  • Channel Partners Online
  • Channel Partners Events
  • MSP 501
  • MSSP Insider
  • IoT World Today
  • Webhostingtalk

WORKING WITH US

  • Contact
  • About us
  • Advertise
  • Newsletter

FOLLOW Channel Futures ON SOCIAL

  • Privacy
  • CCPA: “Do Not Sell My Data”
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms
Copyright © 2021 Informa PLC. Informa PLC is registered in England and Wales with company number 8860726 whose registered and Head office is 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.
This website uses cookies, including third party ones, to allow for analysis of how people use our website in order to improve your experience and our services. By continuing to use our website, you agree to the use of such cookies. Click here for more information on our Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy.
X