Colt Technology Services has acquired ThinkGrid, a start-up offering tools for enabling cloud services with turnkey management, for an undisclosed sum.ThinkGrid's three key component offering consists of a state of the art self-service and billing platform, productized cloud services (including Hosted Virtual Desktop, Virtual Server, Unified Communications, Hosted Email) and an enablement and go-to-market program to help partners achieve success.
The tools will allow Colt's channel partners to become cloud providers in their own right.
Colt said the acquisition increases its strength in cloud-based services for the indirect channel and adds approximately 200 resellers and ISV's to its partner community in the UK. ThinkGrid's training programme to facilitate the development of resellers' cloud capabilities will be rolled out to Colt's indirect sales team and channel partners.
"The SME market for managed services is set to grow at 15% annually during the coming years. Colt is well positioned to penetrate this market through our indirect channels. The acquisition of ThinkGrid further strengthens our position with the addition of a complementary range of cloud-based services. We also gain a reseller-oriented management platform and portal which will reduce our time to market across our European markets. This acquisition allows us to extend our channel community to include skilled managed services resellers who will help us to accelerate our growth," stated François Eloy, Executive Vice President at Colt.
"Becoming part of Colt Technology Services supports ThinkGrid's vision to become the world's leading cloud services enablement platform, offering great product and market development opportunities. ThinkGrid will gain access to Colt's 20 state-of-the-art data centre facilities, extended research and development and support resources as well as an opportunity to expand into 22 European countries," said Rob Lovell, CEO of ThinkGrid.
http://www.colt.net
http://www.thinkgrid.com
