Microsoft Office 365 Partners Can Bill Cloud Customers
Microsoft will now allow Office 365 partners to manage end-customer billing for cloud services like Exchange Online, SharePoint Online and Lync Online. The new Office 365 Open Program and customer billing policy surfaced at Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference 2012 (WPC12) in Toronto.
Microsoft will now allow Office 365 partners to manage end-customer billing for cloud services like Exchange Online, SharePoint Online and Lync Online. The new Office 365 Open Program and customer billing policy surfaced at Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference 2012 (WPC12) in Toronto. Cloud computing and cloud services coverage is on Talkin’ Cloud and broader channel partner coverage is on The VAR Guy. Also, stay tuned for some managed services perspectives from WPC12 soon here on MSPmentor.
We at WorkSpace Help-Desk Services are excited to this news of 365 going open. Our outsourced Lync help-desk services can now seamlessly integrate into channel partners providing Office 365 whereas the separate billing will no longer confuse the end-user. Microsoft has it act together on this and reacted to the voice of the channel.
Wow I wonder if the Australian partners will benifit. Joe can you ask the question for the Aussie MSP Mentor followers. Cheers. Tim
Michael: I was impressed with MSFT’s announcement but I’m curious to see how Microsoft executes the billing strategy. Here are 10 questions that come to mind.
Tim: It may take me a few days to get that answer but I’m pursuing it for you and the Aussie readers. Thanks so much for posting the Q.
-jp
This is great news. I second Tim, please find out if this will be valid for Australian partners.
Regards
Vikas
Vikas: Definitely pursuing answer for you.
-jp
Joe,
The new Office 365 Open Program definately opens up some possibilities. Many of your 10 questions also crossed my mind. I’m looking forward to hearing the answers that you learn. Please keep us posted.
Warm Regards,
Lloyd
Tim, Vikas, Lloyd: I got somewhat of an answer from Microsoft here.
In short, Microsoft said Office 365 Open would be available internationally “before July 2013.”
So it sounds like the company wants to complete a worldwide rollout in the next 12 months. But I don’t know if that means changes for the Microsoft-Telstra relationship in Australia…
I will keep digging.
-jp