Microsoft assesses its hosting business

Microsoft has undertaken an assessment of its hosting businesses,  focusing specifically on the reach and capabilities of the SPLA (Service Provider Licensing Agreements) reseller channel in the UK.

As part of the assessment, Microsoft has now added two new partners – Westcoast and Ingram Micro – to its SPLA channel through an RFP process for UK Distributors.

The move is part of a wider review by the company and as a response to the cloud market opportunities in the UK.

Clare Barclay, Director of SMB at Microsoft UK, who lead the assessment, said: “We have seen incredibly strong growth in the cloud services market over the past five years and the SPLA hosting business in the UK now is worth over $100 million.

“We believe the addition of distributors into the SPLA channel will drive new business and support VARs wanting to offer highly personalised cloud solutions to their customers.”

Matt Sanderson, Ingram Micro (UK) Managing Director added: “We are delighted to have this important licensing methodology as part of our line card. It broadens our product offering to hosting providers that want to offer software and services to their customers. This in turn reinforces the strength of our leading cloud services business and our mature datacentre infrastructure business.

“Our appointment and the recent announcement of the Office 365 Open subscription billing model clearly demonstrate Microsoft’s commitment to and investment in the UK channel.”

Microsoft claims it is fully committed to working with partners to recognise, develop and drive new business in the channel and Microsoft UK’s SPLA resellers remain an important part of Microsoft’s hosting business strategy now and in the future.