Posts Tagged ‘Microsoft Office’

Ingram Micro is launching a hardware-as-a-service program aimed at bolstering recurring channel revenue and broadening partners’ service options. Partners, on the other hand, balk at the potential financial risks.

Ingram Micro is putting weight behind its services and cloud channel push with new hardware and telecom service programs, coupled with a slew of new cloud alliances. Why? More organizations are dealing with increasing cloud complexity, and they’re looking to the channel for help.

Microsoft’s corporate vice president for the worldwide partner group insists the vendor is not forcing customers over to Office 365 by making on-premise Office 2013 licenses non-transferable between machines.

Cisco Systems Inc. launches a full-on assault against Microsoft Corp.’s Lync communication strategy, arguing that a single-vendor multi-device approach is more aligned with future needs than the Windows and PC-centric approach Microsoft has taken with Lync.

Microsoft unleashes Office 365 Home Premium to the consumer market, giving users access to Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Skype and Skydrive on up to five devices for $99 a year. With more competitive pricing for students, Microsoft may be looking to create consumer demand that catalyzes the business world. Success is critical, as Office may be Microsoft’s last shining star.

Good Technology is bulking up its portfolio of productivity offerings with the biggest differentiator: security. For the channel, that indicates security will be an inherent value-add as the MDM race becomes increasingly competitive.

Microsoft has inked a major contract worth $617 million to supply the U.S. Department of Defense through one of its biggest partners, Insight Enterprises.

Google believes it can capture 90 percent of Microsoft Office users paying a premium for features they don’t use. The overt goal: a direct assault on Microsoft’s cash generator and potential future business cornerstone, as Windows 8 continues to struggle.

Where does a talented tech executive with a reputation for smug autocracy go after he leaves Microsoft with a reputation for, among other things, being less than collegial? To Cambridge, Mass., of course.

Google will no longer offer businesses with fewer than 10 employees free Google Apps service. They will pay the same rate as all other businesses subscribing to the online productivity suite. While this opens a huge pool of potential customers to the channel, it does come with the challenge of convincing small business owners they need professional support.