Microsoft Unveils Pricing and Partner Model for Web-Based Collaboration Services

Microsoft announced new pricing, packaging and partner compensation details for Microsoft Online Services. Specifically, the is introducing two new suites of subscription services as part of the Microsoft Online Services family: Exchange Online Deskless Worker and SharePoint Online Deskless Worker. A Deskless Worker Suite, including Exchange Online Deskless Worker and SharePoint Online Deskless Worker, will be available for $3 (U.S.) per user, per month. Customers can also subscribe to each service independently.


Exchange Online Deskless Worker will provide e-mail, calendars, global address lists, anti-virus and anti-spam filters, as well as Outlook Web Access Light for access to company e-mail.


SharePoint Online Deskless Worker will provide easy access to SharePoint portal and team sites and search functionality, giving employees read-only access to important information such as company policies, training and benefits.


Microsoft Online Services is open to resale partners, who will will receive a recurring revenue stream for as long as their customer subscribes to the services. Partners that sell the Microsoft Business Productivity Online Suite, Deskless Worker Suite or any of their components receive 12 percent of the first-year contract price and 6 percent of the subscription fee ongoing. This can translate into 18 percent of the subscription value in the first year of the partner's relationship with the customer.


Microsoft announced a number of partners who have already become authorized resellers of Microsoft Online Services, including Accenture, Ascentium , Atos Origin. BT Group, CDW, Evolve Partners, , Getronics, HCL Technologies, K2, M3 Technology Group, Mamut Software Ltd., Neudesic, PointBridge, Susquehanna Technologies, ThoughtBridge and Unisys Corp. http://www.microsoft.comhttp://www.quickstartonlineservices.com/