November 29, 2005 – (HOSTSEARCH.COM) – In a parallel move to the release of Microsoft Solution for Hosted Messaging and Collaboration Version 3.5, Microsoft Corporation has announced the Microsoft Hosting Program, a service that provides web hosting companies with the technical tools and resources to help them offer and manage Microsoft offerings. Web hosting providers signing up to the program will be able to streamline their operations and ultimately reduce costs by speeding up application and service deployment and improving management of existing systems.
The program provides web hosting providers with access to the Microsoft Solution for Windows-based Hosting and the Microsoft Solution for Hosted Messaging and Collaboration – solutions that provide tools and scripts to enable service providers to deploy hosted offerings and allow providers to offer hosted email and hosted productivity applications to small and midsize businesses. Access to the solutions will be complemented by a monthly newsletter which provides technical information, product updates and case studies to help demonstrate the uses of Microsoft hosting products. In addition, the newsletter will contain marketing resources that will help members target customers more effectively and participants to the program will become eligible for the ‘Services Provider License Agreement’ which enables providers to offer customers Microsoft products, services and hosted applications on a monthly basis.
“Hosting service providers represent an important channel for Microsoft,” said Pascal Martin, general manager of Worldwide Hosting at Microsoft. “We are making strong investments in technical and marketing solutions that help them rapidly deploy and profitably operate offerings that address the needs of their customers. The Microsoft Hosting Program announced today is vital in giving our service provider partners the solutions and additional knowledge, tools and community resources they need to successfully grow their business on the Windows platform.”
As part of a series of moves geared to the hosting industry, Microsoft has also recently announced the Hosting Solutions Specialization in the Microsoft Partner Program – a program designed for partners that develop and market solutions based on Microsoft platforms, provide consulting or technical services on Microsoft systems, or recommend Microsoft technology purchases. To gain certification web hosting providers must meet a number of requirements and those who achieve Hosting Solutions Specialization must prove consistent proficiency in delivering, high-quality hosted or outsourced services built on Microsoft technology. Web hosting providers will be able to differentiate themselves by displaying Microsoft Certified Partner and Gold Certified Partner logos.
