Computer 2000 drives reseller recruitment for Microsoft BPOS

Released 03/03/2010

New agreement signed between C2000 and Microsoft

Computer 2000 and Microsoft have signed an agreement that will see the distributor of business software drive a major reseller recruitment and activation campaign for Microsoft Business Productivity Online Standard (BPOS) Suite. In addition, Computer 2000 will create some solutions in conjunction with the Azlan enterprise and Brightstar mobility business units.

The Microsoft BPOS Suite is a set of hosted messaging and collaboration solutions that consists of Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, Office Live Meeting, and Office Communications Online. These web-based services are designed to give small businesses streamlined communication with high availability, comprehensive security, and simplified IT management.

A series of new programmes and resources are being built by Computer 2000 to provide resellers with everything they need to develop their business around BPOS. These will include an online portal for new and existing Microsoft partners, sales and technical enablement training, active marketing, and a range of support tools for BPOS.

Lee Perkins, UK country manager for Computer 2000, said that the company is excited about the prospects and potential that the hosted offering presents.

"We feel BPOS is a great opportunity for our partners to take hosted Microsoft Sharepoint, Office Communication, Exchange and Office Live Meeting solutions into customers that may not have the budget or infrastructure to take advantage of these exciting technologies through the normal licensing programmes. We believe there is a sizeable market out there for BPOS and see this as a major opportunity - for us and for SME resellers. We'll be making significant investments to support partners who share our enthusiasm."

Simon Gautrey, software-plus-services lead, Microsoft UK, stated: "Over the next five years the use of online applications is expected to grow significantly, especially around communication and collaboration products like Microsoft Online Services. With some analysts anticipating 30% annual growth, there are going to be some exciting new opportunities for partners. Microsoft is delighted to see Computer 2000 supporting its channel of resellers by helping them enter this new era of technology, and guiding them to understand the true potential for their businesses offered by cloud applications."

Computer 2000 will continue to support Microsoft resellers whose customers wish to remain on licensing schemes or to purchase software outright, by providing the range of options through its specialist software business unit, Perkins noted. "We've put a tremendous amount of investment into building a team with real expertise and experience in key disciplines such as licensing programmes and the needs of the retail / e-tail sector, as well as the software solutions themselves. Our specialist software business unit will continue to focus on selling the very latest Microsoft product solutions through the most viable and pragmatic route for the end-user customer," he said.

Perkins continued: "SaaS is going to be very significant in the future and by providing a way for them to take Microsoft BPOS to market, Computer 2000 is opening a route into that market for resellers. The hosted option is a compelling one for messaging, collaboration and communications, both in terms of management overhead and total cost of ownership. From the reseller's perspective, it presents an opportunity to start selling hosted applications services and the potential to add a very healthy new and recurring revenue steam to their business."

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