Steve Ballmer on Microsoft's SaaS; Microsoft Partner Offers MS Office Through SaaS (Maybe, Sort Of) - SaaS Week

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February 06, 2008
Steve Ballmer on Microsoft's SaaS; Microsoft Partner Offers MS Office Through SaaS (Maybe, Sort Of)

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer offered a little bit more explanation of Microsoft's "Software Plus Services" initiative during a presentation to Wall Street analysts earlier this week, reports InternetNews.com.

In the speech, Ballmer desribed the software-plus-services and reiterated that Microsoft would not transition to a pure SaaS model immediately but would add services to existing offerings.

I'll be interested to see further details as MS fleshes out the strategy. The Software Plus Services idea is interesting as a way to be able to say Microsoft is offering on-demand, subscription-based services but I still do not see how this model would offer any of the core benefits of SaaS, other than being subscription-based.

And in another interesting twist, ZDNet UK's David Meyer is reporting that an ISP and hosting company called Fasthosts appears to be offering Microsoft Office through SaaS. Meyer reports that the software does appear to still need to be downloaded, but that the payment model is "pay as you go." Meyer is attempting to track down more info and reports that the MS Office spokesperson is refusing to comment.