Heavyweight contest
UK telco giant BT has announced it will be the first telecommunications and network IT services provider to resell Microsoft's Business Productivity Online Suite (BPOS) to enterprise customers.
BPOS was launched worldwide back in March of this year and is Microsoft's ‘software plus services' offering for enterprise, allowing businesses to access cloud based services like Exchange Online, SharePoint Online and Office Communications Online via the monthly subscription model.
Neil Sutton VP of global portfolio at BT Global Services, said: "This agreement enables BT and Microsoft to provide large organisations with fully integrated cloud-based business collaboration tools, while reducing their overall networked IT and infrastructure costs. The services will also allow customers to build on existing legacy systems, while integrating voice and data applications."
This agreement represents a step forward for Microsoft as it attempts to establish its cloud computing and unified communications offerings in the face of competition from fellow tech giants including Google and Cisco.
"Today's agreement marks a significant step forward in our relationship with BT," said Ron Markezich, corporate VP of Microsoft Online. "Through our work with BT, Microsoft will be better enabled to deliver productivity solutions for a growing number of businesses worldwide that are looking for new ways to control costs and do more with less."
