Microsoft announces Software + Services Incubation Center Program momentum: ISV enrollment growth, new Incubation Centers. HOUSTON, July 9
HOUSTON, July 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Today at the Microsoft Worldwide
Partner Conference 2008, Microsoft Corp. announced that more than 550
independent software vendors (ISVs) have enrolled in the Microsoft Software +
Services Incubation Center Program since its launch in October 2006. As part
of this announcement, the Microsoft Software + Services Incubation Center
Program, formerly the SaaS Incubation Center Program, was renamed to better
align with the company's comprehensive software-plus-services vision.
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The Microsoft Software + Services Incubation Center Program provides
hosting providers with the tools, guidance and licensing model to help ISVs
successfully transition to a service-based delivery model. Through the
Incubation Centers, ISVs are guided through a structured series of business
and architectural consulting sessions with the support of an established
hosting provider to help ensure their business models and applications are
ready to address the challenges of service-based delivery.
"Microsoft realizes that the evolution of the software industry will reach
far beyond just bringing software to the browser," said John Zanni, general
manager of Worldwide Hosting at Microsoft. "Instead, Microsoft envisions a
world of software plus services that consists of a unique blend of traditional
applications and services available over the Internet. With the launch of the
Incubation Center Program, Microsoft recognized that partnerships would be
critical in order for ISVs to be successful in the new world of software plus
services. Now through the tremendous success of this program, there is no
doubt that building an integrated ecosystem plays an integral role in helping
ISVs deploy service-based applications."
To help ISVs embrace the software-plus-services opportunity, hosting
providers are able to merge their core expertise in managing infrastructure
and delivering services with business and design guidance through the Software
+ Services Incubation Center Program. Building on the Windows hosting platform
with the support of Windows Server Hosting Guidance, the Software + Services
Incubation Center Program helps bring together the infrastructure, licensing,
consulting services and partnerships that ISVs need to be successful.
"As a software company that develops record-management systems for schools
and construction companies, we saw a golden opportunity to expand our software
by helping schools comply with Dutch government legislation for managing
student records electronically," said Rens Drent, commercial director,
Kooijman Software. "The Incubation Center operated by SaaSPlaza has helped us
reduce the obstacles typically associated with delivering service-based
applications, enabling us to better focus on our customers and our business."
Microsoft Announces New Incubation Centers
The Microsoft Software + Services Incubation Center Program is composed of
20 Incubation Centers globally, including 10 in Europe, eight in North America
and two in Asia. In the past year, Microsoft has seen the participation in its
Software + Services Incubation Center Program grow significantly, with new
Incubation Centers offered by such hosting providers as PEER 1 Network
Enterprises Inc. in the United States, YouSaaS in France, Mondo A/S in Denmark
and NetSourcing in the Netherlands. In fact, NetSourcing is the first
application hosting provider to deploy Microsoft Connected Services Framework,
a service enablement platform designed to simplify the creation, integration
and deployment of value-added services, as part of its Incubation Center. The
solution provides the foundation for delivering a variety of services and
applications from ISVs, as well as Microsoft's own value-added services, such
as the Microsoft Solution for Hosted Messaging and Collaboration and hosted
Microsoft Dynamics CRM.
Microsoft's Software + Services Incubation Center Program also recently
expanded into Asia, with Incubation Centers now available to ISVs through NTT
PC Communications Inc. and Fujitsu in Japan. In addition, KDDI Corp. and GMO
Hosting & Security Inc. are also expected to launch Incubation Centers in
Japan shortly
"As a leading provider of online IT infrastructure in North America, PEER
1 recognizes that ISVs that want to start offering software plus services to
reach new markets must learn to operate differently than they're used to as a
traditional ISV. This introduces many potential challenges without the proper
resources," said Robert Miggins, vice president of business development for
PEER 1. "Through our SaaS3 Incubation Center on the Microsoft Windows
platform, PEER 1 has assisted many small to midsize ISVs to test, deploy and
manage their Web 2.0, enterprise and SaaS applications throughout the entire
product lifecycle. By working closely with the ISV community, Microsoft's
Software + Services Incubation Center Program has also enabled us to develop
key partnerships, expanding our customer base and driving revenue."
Attendees of the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference can obtain
additional information about the Microsoft Software + Services Incubation
Center Program, as well as Incubation Centers operated by PEER 1, OpSource and
visionapp A.G. by visiting the Microsoft Software-Plus-Services Partner Hosted
Pavilion, booth 875. YouSaaS will also be present at the conference and
located at booth 618.
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) is the worldwide leader in
software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their
full potential.
SOURCE Microsoft Corp.
