Intermedia Launches SaaS Partner Program for Managed Service Providers
Intermedia, which specializes in software as a service (SaaS) and collaboration solutions, has launched a managed service provider (MSP) partner program. The program was announced at the MSPAlliance's Managed Services Summit in Chicago, hosted by organization president Charles Weaver (pictured).
Intermedia, which specializes in software as a service (SaaS) and collaboration solutions, has launched a managed service provider (MSP) partner program. The program was announced at the MSPAlliance’s Managed Services Summit in Chicago, hosted by organization president Charles Weaver (pictured).
Intermedia is among a growing list of companies that are hosting Microsoft Exchange Server, Microsoft Dynamics CRM and SharePoint for managed service providers. And attendees who are at the Managed Services Summit say SaaS is a big theme at the event. But there are some unique twists to Intermedia’s strategy.
According to the Intermedia press release:
MSPs can offer Intermedia’s SaaS solutions either as a co-branded solution or completely under their own brand, using their own company look and feel, according to an Intermedia press release. …
… MSPs can join Intermedia’s Partner Program for free; there are no setup fees or monthly minimums that must be met. Partners simply sign up for the service and only pay Intermedia the wholesale rate when their customers sign up for the SaaS offerings at retail rates.
Plenty of Competition
Intermedia isn’t alone in the hosted Microsoft market. Ingram Micro earlier this year expanded its Seismic managed services program to include Exchange, Dynamics and SharePoint. Roughly 1,000 MSPs are expected to run Ingrams’ various Seismic solutions by the end of this year.
And ConnectWise, the professional services automation (PSA) company, spent roughly $100,000 building a Microsoft Exchange hosting facility — only to worry that the effort would be undermind by Microsoft’s own hosting plans. ConnectWise CEO Arnie Bellini expressed those concerns during last week’s ConnectWise Partner Summit in Orlando, Fla.
Still, Intermedia has been in the hosted Microsoft market far longer than many other IT service providers. The company says it has offered SaaS-driven Exchange since 2000, and has been selling its services through the channel since 2001. Also of note: Intermedia’s SaaS portfolio includes Microsoft’s unified communications platform — Office Communications Server 2007.
Emerging Opportunity
Looking ahead, unified communications appears to be a prime opportunity for MSPs, who will be called upon to manage TelePresence, mobile VoIP and other network-aware applications. TelePresence deployments are expected to grow 400% this year, according to the internal sales targets at Cisco Systems.
But while TelePresence is a niche opportunity today, Intermedia is focused on driving MSPs to broader opportunities like Exchange, Dynamics CRM, SharePoint and Office Communications Server.
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Is anyone using Intermedia that they could give a recommendation? Currently using groupSPARK and less than thrilled with the service.
Cflint: I will let you know if I hear from readers regarding your inquiry. Which MSFT applications are you seeking to offer as SaaS?
Joe-
We’re currently offering Exchange, but there is interest in CRM as well.
-Craig
Craig: I’ve heard rumblings that MSFT’s own hosted Dynamics CRM solution has suffered from delays, but I don’t know that for sure. On the other hand, there are a growing number of MSPs/solutions providers hosting Dynamics on their own. It’s a heck of an opportunity to manage customer data — and keep customers loyal.
But I would also recommend that you explore some of the fast-growing open source CRM solutions out there. SugarCRM has told me that 30 percent of their recent deployments involve SaaS configurations rather than on-site.
MSFT Dynamics CRM and Sharepoint, Office Comm, and Exchange are all part of the BPOS suite MSFT is releasing in Oct or Nov for the partners. I haven’t seen the link posted yet so I can post the outline of the presentation from last Wed on the subject.
Stu
Stu: Here’s a link to the story.
Sorry Joe, I meant a link to the presentation I saw in person last Wed so I can post it for those that missed it 🙂
Hey Stu: Good to see I am confusing you and the rest of our readers today. Sorry about that! Let us know if/when the link shows up.
Best
-jp