This week Microsoft Corp. announced the expansion of its Online Services program, a set of subscription-based services that enable businesses to access e-mail, calendaring, shared workspaces, webconferencing and videoconferencing over the Web. Softchoice’s services group is responsible for identifying IT management challenges and delivering solutions that reduce the effort and complexity of maintaining an effective technology environment.

    Through hundreds of customer engagements, we often spot trends, opportunities and best practices that have implications for the greater North American IT community. The announcement represents an important step in Microsoft's 'software plus services' strategy and a significant growth opportunity for Microsoft Large Account Resellers like Softchoice.

    According to Lynne Frankel, General Manager of U.S. Reseller Sales, "Our software plus services strategy is about offering greater choice and flexibility in how Microsoft technology is accessed - and that's creating new opportunities for customers and our partners. We are pleased to announce that existing customers with Software Assurance on their Microsoft Client Access Licenses will be able to purchase user subscriptions at a discount from their dedicated LAR. These customers will also have rights to blend both Microsoft Online Services with access to on-premises server software."

    The Company is happy to share these findings in the form of Softchoice authored IT studies. Available free of charge, our goal is to help organizations everywhere find better ways to lower IT costs, improve productivity and reduce exposure to risk. Microsoft Online Services include a subscription-based model for Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 and Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007.

    Access to these programs is managed through a single high-security Web interface, allowing IT professionals to monitor performance, add and configure users, and manage users and licenses. These services entered a limited beta trial this week for business of all sizes and will be generally available through the LAR channel in the second half of this year.

    "By complementing on-premises Microsoft implementations with online services, Microsoft is offering customers the best of both worlds," noted David MacDonald, President and CEO of Softchoice. "The incentives they have put in place for Software Assurance subscribers are compelling. We are looking forward to helping our customers take advantage of this opportunity and to creating integrated software solutions that address their unique requirements."