Microsoft prepares new model of sale of software in Russia

As TAdviser knew, Microsoft in Russia is going to start the affiliate program for telecom operators within which they will be able to provide the main services together with some software of Microsoft.

Work of the similar scheme can be explained on the example of antivirus software which is offered now by most Internet service providers together with Internet access. The company provider concludes the special arrangement with vendor of anti-virus solutions and then provides software for protection against Internet threats to the subscribers free of charge.

On this model in Russia Dr.Web actively works. For example, it is offered to the home users by MTS, VimpelCom, ER-Telecom and many other operators.

In Microsoft Russia this information was not denied, but big details concerning work of the new affiliate program in local market did not provide. Respondents of TAdviser telecom operators including "the big three" did not confirm the fact participation in negotiations concerning participation in the program such.

However about how the program can be implemented at us, it is possible to judge by foreign experience. First of all, regarding own software of Microsoft actively works with mobile operators, but it concerns the Microsoft Windows Phone 7 mobile operating system more.

América Móvil operators, AT&T, Deutsche Telekom AG, Movistar, O2, to Orange, SFR, SingTel, Telstra, TELUS, T-Mobile of USA and Vodafone sell the devices from the preset Windows Phone 7 OS. Some add to it an option: for example, Orange has an option on connection of e-mail from Microsoft for 4.5 euros a month, but it is even not so much about it.

One of striking examples of implementation of the model of cooperation of Microsoft and telecom operators described above is the BPOS Syndication Partner program. In particular, it works in Great Britain.BPOS provides access to "cloud" versions of Microsoft Exchange, Sharepoint, Office Live Meeting and Office Communications.

Within the program partners (VAR) of Microsoft selling "cloud" BPOS cooperate directly with hosting provider, receiving from it complete billing. Microsoft does not obtain any data on clients at all and practically does not participate in this process.

The first in Europe the status BPOS Syndication Partner was received last summer by the Bristol provider intY. Service allows provider to provide agreements with vendor to the partners essentially new, and those, in turn, can combine BPOS with other cloud solutions.

Approximately in the same time the director of Microsoft of strategy Clare Barclay said that intY will become only one of many providers who will be connected to the program. Separately she noted an opportunity for providers to integrate BPOS into their own offer.

Depending on a set of software, such offer can be interesting not only to corporate users (as in a case with BPOS), but also to house subscribers.

Operators in Russia do not reject possibility of this sort of cooperation with Microsoft and even express interest. In particular, in MTS of TAdviser said that the company "is open for new projects with participation of partners and is always ready to consider the possibility of providing to subscribers of the additional services directed to formation of the best client experience and providing a maximum of opportunities for subscribers". In a similar key also other market participants expressed.