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Microsoft's cloud push could be scuppered by billing

by on02 March 2011


Channel partners muttering
While Microsoft is hoping for great things from its Cloud offerings, its channel partners are worried that Redmond might have killed the whole thing off with its bizarre licensing policy.

According to CRN Microsoft's channel partners are looking forward to the March 23 launch of the software giant's Windows Intune cloud-based desktop management service. But some are worried about the billing methods. Many think that the service is technically very solid, but are concerned that it is in direct conflict with managed service providers.

Dave Sobel, CEO of Evolve Technologies is quoted as warning that if your business model is designed around being a 'trusted advisor' offloading IT responsibility from a small business and delivering vendor management, a model in which Microsoft only allows direct billing is incompatible. Redmond handles the bills directly with the customer and leaves the customer relationships to its partners. This means that while managed service providers are interested in Windows Intune's ability to manage customer network they are unable to deliver Windows Intune as part of a larger service.

Microsoft is targeting Windows Intune toward small, midsize and large companies and it's charging $11 per PC, per month for the service.

More here.

 

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