Solution Enables Service Providers of All Sizes to Significantly Reduce
Operational Costs and Create New Revenue Opportunities
REDMOND, Wash., Nov. 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Microsoft Corp.
(Nasdaq: MSFT) today announced the general availability of the Microsoft(R)
Solution for Windows(R)-based Hosting Version 3.0. The Microsoft Solution for
Windows-based Hosting Version 3.0 offers a flexible, modular management
platform and features new out-of-the-box services that enable service
providers to more rapidly and cost-effectively deploy hosted offerings.
(Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000822/MSFTLOGO )
"According to our customers, operational efficiency and the ability to
increase average revenue per user are must-haves in today's highly competitive
Web-hosting environment," said Pascal Martin, general manager for Hosting
Solutions at Microsoft. "We designed the Microsoft Solution for Windows-based
Hosting Version 3.0 with these critical goals in mind, and we are extremely
excited to be delivering the latest version of our proven Microsoft hosting
tools and tested best practices to service providers of all sizes."
The Microsoft Solution for Windows-based Hosting Version 3.0 comprises
eight modular components, including infrastructure components to handle
building, provisioning, patching and monitoring servers. Each component is
designed to easily integrate with existing environments, preserving
investments while providing the flexibility to add new components as needed.
With the three new service components introduced in the Microsoft Solution for
Windows-based Hosting Version 3.0, hosting providers can more quickly launch
new value-add services to increase revenue.
"Windows-based hosting is a vibrant and growing business," said Andrew
Schroepfer, founder and president of Tier 1 Research. "We consistently hear
from hosting service providers and hosting automation ISVs that they are
working to better address this market demand. With Windows-based Hosting
Version 3.0, Microsoft further enables hosters to tap into this burgeoning
market."
"With the Microsoft Solution for Windows-based Hosting Version 3.0, we've
been able to keep our staffing levels low and streamline operations," said
David Sipes, chief technology officer of iPowerWeb Inc. "Moreover, we've been
able to improve our customer experience across all servers, and that really
helps us reduce customer churn and build loyalty."
New Features of Microsoft Solution for Windows-Based Hosting Version 3.0
Faster and Easier to Deploy
The Microsoft Solution for Windows-based Hosting Version 3.0 leverages
Automated Deployment Services (ADS), resulting in shorter server building
times and lower total cost of ownership (TCO) per server. The Microsoft
Provisioning System now includes a new deployment tool that automates 85
percent of installation and maintenance tasks.
Allows Service Providers to Add New Hosting Services Quickly and Easily
Service providers will benefit from three new out-of-the-box hosted
services components:
-- Windows SharePoint(R) Services hosting enables customers to create
team-oriented Web sites for information sharing and document
collaboration.
-- Data hosting with SQL Server(TM) offers customers shared or dedicated
database services to power their Web sites and applications.
-- Web hosting with Internet Information Services (IIS) provides a variety
of Web hosting services including support for ASP.NET, SSL, FTP, e-mail
and FrontPage(R) Server Extensions.
Shorter Building Times and Lower TCO per Server
In addition to image-based installations, the Microsoft Solution for
Windows-based Hosting Version 3.0 now provides the scripts and framework
necessary to perform an unattended installation using ADS.
Commitment to Community Support
Microsoft is committed to hosting and offers a fast-growing number of
technical programs and resources that enable service providers to launch and
grow their Windows-based hosting operations. For example, the Microsoft
Windows Web Hoster Program provides service providers of all sizes with free
access to resources such as webcasts, live seminars and an online information
library. In addition, service providers can receive free technical assistance
from Windows-based hosting experts at Microsoft's Windows Hosting Forums on
the ASP.NET forums.
"We got answers from the online forums extremely fast, often in a few
hours," said Mike Palmer, chief technology officer of Xiolink LLC. "Those
quick answers together with the solution documentation helped us get the
Microsoft Solution for Windows-based Hosting Version 3.0 deployed quickly, in
just 20 hours. Now, instead of it taking 12 to 18 hours to deploy each system,
we can use ADS to achieve deployment in less than one hour."
"We want to be seen as the best hosting provider out there," said John
Brown, Hosting and Security products manager for PIPEX Communications Hosting
Limited. "To accomplish this, we needed a shared hosting platform based on
Microsoft Windows. The Microsoft Solution for Windows-based Hosting Version
3.0 allowed us to quickly deliver compelling and affordable offerings to our
customers."
Availability
The Microsoft Solution for Windows-based Hosting Version 3.0 is
commercially available today. Additional information about the Microsoft
Solution for Windows-based Hosting Version 3.0 is available at
http://www.microsoft.com/hosting .
Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software, services
and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
NOTE: Microsoft, Windows, SharePoint and FrontPage are either registered
trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other
countries.
The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the
trademarks of their respective owners.
SOURCE Microsoft Corp.
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Related links:
http://www.microsoft.com
Photo Notes:
NewsCom:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000822/MSFTLOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
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or dglier@webershandwick.com, or International, Helen Murphy,
+44-0-20-7067-0531, or hmurphy@webershandwick.com, both of Weber
Shandwick, for Microsoft Corp.
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