Microsoft unveils new cloud tools to assist its business partners

Thursday, July 15, 2010

At the recent Worldwide Partner Conference, Microsoft unveiled new programs allowing its business partners free access to its cloud computing software. In addition, its partners can also receive training on the new technology through these programs.

Said Microsoft’s Corporate Vice President Jon Roskill “we're going to provide a wide array of tools to help partners both drive the deals and once they get the deals, then manage the customers from the support and deployment aspect.”

One of the software giant’s new packages, called Microsoft Cloud Essentials Pack, provides 250 free licenses for its Microsoft Business Productivity Online Suite and Microsoft Dynamics Online. In addition, the company will also soon provide an unknown number of these licenses for its InTune and newly released Azure platforms.

Roskill added “we believe [these programs] will allow partners to quickly and effectively position BPOS solutions and resolve any issues that come up while they are going through the trial and deployment phases.”

This announcement from Microsoft comes soon after its CEO Steve Ballmer explained the virtues of the company’s cloud partner services to WPC attendees.