SaaS and CRM: 30 Percent Penetration by 2012

Recent research from Gartner analyst Michael Maoz predicts that by the year 2012, 30 percent of investments in CRM will be via software-as-a-service (SaaS). In fact, based on his research, Maoz believes that not only will 30 percent of companies turn to SaaS within the next three years, but startup enterprise-software vendors are finding it difficult to secure funding unless they have a delivery model that is based on cloud computing or SaaS.

"Cloud computing overall -- it continues to gather speed," he says. To illustrate, Maoz talks about a recent trip to Israel to visit with several of the nation's software startups. "Out of five [companies], not one was on-premises software -- not one," he says. "Every one was cloud computing, or software-as-a-service. When I spoke with them, the answer was, 'We cannot conceive a venture capital company giving money to someone who doesn't deliver their software in the cloud.' That's pretty shocking."

Gartner research indicates that the increased deployment of SaaS initiatives might have underwhelming implications for consulting and professional services. Maoz explains that many companies view software-as-a-service applications as plug-and-play. The implementations lack process involvement and merely connect applications in the cloud, rather than looking at the bigger picture of business process management. "CRM is not just the technology," Maoz expels. "It's more an issue of 'How do I interact with my customer?' Using some of these SaaS applications without changing the business process could be just enabling [organizations] to do bad things even worse." In other words, without a bottom-up approach, deploying new applications in the cloud is automating a tired or flawed process. "Using software-as-a-service is not going to help CRM," Maoz states. "We shouldn't be enamored by cloud computing instead of in lieu of process improvement."

Unison Challenges Microsoft, IBM, Google with Free Unified Communications

Unison Technologies delivers a free, ad-supported unified communications software suite for SMBs that includes e-mail, instant messaging, contacts, calendars and VOIP for messaging and collaboration. Unison hopes to pry some seats from Microsoft Exchange, Lotus Domino and Google shops during the lagging economy. SMBs install the platform on-premises and Unison promises it won't snoop on users through its ads.

Unison Technologies has taken the gutsy step of offering its UC software suite free for small and midsize businesses.

Startup Unison hopes to make money by serving business-to-business ads on its unified communications platform.

Unison aims to win over customers tired of paying thousands of dollars per year for the classic Microsoft Exchange and IBM Lotus Notes, or increasingly popular SAAS (software as a service) suites such as Google Apps, Unison CMO Rurik Bradbury told eWEEK Dec. 12. Unison's suite tucks e-mail, contacts, calendar instant messaging and VOIP into a single server and client.

The Linux-based Unison Server powers all text and voice communications. Unison Desktop is a Windows or Linux-based desktop client that lets employees use e-mail, IM, voice mail and telephony from one application.

Unison claims this single-server approach is key to reducing costs because companies doesn't have to purchase and maintain an e-mail server like Exchange or Lotus Domino, a groupware server, a directory server or instant messaging system and a separate PBX system.

"It's really a vision to get unified communications right for SMBs from the beginning because everything so far has been very expensive and difficult to implement," Bradbury said, acknowledging that some small companies don't even have IT shops to install major Microsoft or IBM platforms. "Unison Server takes a half hour to deploy and Unison Desktop is simple to use."

Yet unlike DimDim and so many of the current UCC startups gaining traction in the market by offering their applications on a SAAS (software as a service) model, Unison's software is installed on-premises. Unison plans to offer a SAAS version through partners in 2009.

From a publicity standpoint, this client software approach Microsoft popularized is taking a bath of negative criticism, creating a challenge for Unison to overcome. One way to compete against larger vendors is by offering free software, but that won't pay the bills.

So, how will Unison make money? It will serve ads across its UCC deployments, Bradbury said. Ads delivered on Unison today are from Canonical, the steward for the Ubuntu operating system, and Intermedia, a hosted business applications provider that specializes in Exchange.

The ads appear in the Unison Desktop client server and in the Unison Server control panel. Because Unison plans to eventually deploy an ad server to facilitate pay-per-click ad sales, the temptation is to compare Unison's UC service to those of Google and other vendors, which collect users' personal information to better assign ads for the Web services they deliver.

Yet remember that Unison is sold on-premises and Bradbury promised that Unison won't collect users' information and will not use the Google AdSense program. Ads will be targeted based on information about the company.

Moreover, users don't have to see ads, provided they are willing to subscribe to the Google-popularized price model of $50 per user, per year for the standard version of its UC platform, which has been available since August.

Microsoft and NTT Aim to Create SaaS Over NGN

Microsoft Corporation and Nippon Telegraph and Telephone (NTT) are rumored to be combining efforts to develop services that integrate networks with applications.

 

By working together, the two companies with integrate Microsoft applications with NTT's information and communication technology (ICT) in an effort to create innovative services.

 

Under the terms of the agreement, NTT and Microsoft will both consider the implementation of Software-as-a-Service based businesses on the NTT Group's SaaS platform. For this, Microsoft would participate as an application partner.

 

The NTT Group is currently working on expanding its Next-Generation Network (NGN) and mobile communications-based ICT infrastructure. For this, the company is collaborating with its many partners to realize its new medium-term management strategy, Road to Service Creation Business Group, for the development of new broadband and ubiquitous services.

 

It is also influencing the implementation of SaaS over NGN -- the provision of convenient SaaS using a highly reliable SaaS platform – for users of all kinds, from individuals to businesses and government organizations.

 

Microsoft hopes to create user experiences that all the power of software and Internet services to come together across a world of devices. With the company's software-plus-services model, Microsoft is enhancing customer benefits by combining the functionality of conventional software with the utility of SaaS and cloud-based services.

 

The two companies have created a team of personnel from the NTT Group and Microsoft to jointly discuss the development of SaaS-based businesses with a view to global implementation.

 

"As a company that understands the transformation that is taking place in Japan's network environment and the value and potential of Next-Generation Networks, Microsoft is a valuable partner for us," said Noritaka Uji, senior executive vice president at NTT. "As we enter the age of NGN-based SaaS and cloud computing, we have high expectations that our collaboration will spur the development of powerful applications that make full use of the merits of NGN and produce results that contribute to enhancing the productivity of Japanese businesses and the ICT-driven development of society. We will continue in our efforts to become a Service Creation Business Group through promoting open collaboration with our partners."

 

"Microsoft's services business model enables choice for our customers and partners by combining the rich experience of locally run software and the extensive capability of online services," said Kevin Turner, chief operating officer at Microsoft. "Our vision offers the power of choice to our customers and partners, providing flexibility for where and how the information is stored and utilized -- on-premises, hosted by a partner or hosted by Microsoft. To bring this vision to life, we rely on strong partners, such as NTT, that have the extensive network infrastructure that is imperative to giving customers and partners the best experience with this technology."

Vana Consulting Launches Industries First Workforce Social Networking and Collaboration Consulting Service

Vana Consulting, a leading provider of on-demand HR and Talent Management strategy and technology consulting today announced the availability of the industries first workforce social networking and collaboration consulting service.

"Business innovation and company performance is created largely from the interactions and collaboration within workforce and the extension of those relationships with customers, partners, suppliers, and alumni. At the same time, the workforce of today is increasingly more complex, diverse, globally dispersed, and mobile. Leading organizations are harnessing social networking and collaboration tools to drive innovation and gain competitive advantage in today's global economy," said David Vanheukelom, President and CEO of Vana Consulting

Workforce social networking and collaboration strategies together with the deployment of enabling technologies can deliver measurable and transformational benefits to organizations including:

• Connecting the multi-generational, global, and mobile workforce
• Promoting informal learning to help develop the next generation of leaders
• Increasing sales performance by promoting collaboration and new-hire productivity
• Driving bottom-up innovation across the organization
• Understanding and tapping the expertise within the organization
• Drive workforce performance based on ongoing conversations, contribution and collaboration
• Connect and engage the workforce directly with customers, partners, suppliers, and alumni

"The workforce of today expects and embraces social and collaborative strategies and technologies to build relationships, promote brand awareness, connect and collaborate with expertise, and drive product and service innovation across the organization - those companies that harness social strategies and tools will be the business leaders of tomorrow."

Vana Consulting Workforce Social Networking and Collaboration Services Include:

• Social and Collaboration Strategy and Education Workshops
• Current and Future State Social Networking and Collaboration Roadmap
• Measurable Success Plan Development
• Rapid Vendor Selection
• Project Development, Deployment, and Community Engagement
• On-Demand Advisory and User Engagement Services

For more information, please visit: http://www.vanaconsulting.com.

About Vana Consulting:
Vana Consulting is a global management consulting firm focused on creating a high-performance and engaged workforce by delivering on-demand human resource and talent management strategies, technology, and advisory services. The company enables organizations in defining, creating, and implementing innovative, agile, and fit-for-purpose human resource and talent strategies, supported by the implementation and deployment of enabling technologies to deliver substantial and sustainable competitive advantage from their workforce. Founded in 2008 by senior HR and Technology executives, services include HR and Talent Management strategy and technology consulting, On-Demand subscription based consulting, and the Vana Consulting Community, an exclusive online community where HR, IT and Business Leaders can connect and collaborate with industry peers, network, and receive advice from leading industry experts.

WOLF Frameworks Partners with Jamcracker to Offer WOLF Business Applications Platform-as-a-Service

WOLF Frameworks a leading SaaS designing platform for Business Users, and Jamcracker, the on-demand services delivery pioneer, today announced the availability of WOLF code free Platform-as-a-Service for designing interoperable SaaS business applications through the Jamcracker Services Delivery Network (JSDN).

JSDN allows service providers, resellers and vendors to quickly and efficiently deliver on-demand services to businesses and consumers. This partnership will enable Jamcracker to offer WOLF Platform through its global services-delivery network to resellers including communications and IT services companies across the world.

"Our partnership with Jamcracker will make it possible for us to leverage their global network of Telecom service providers, IT service providers, ISV's and resellers," said Mr Sunny Ghosh, CEO, WOLF Frameworks. "This strategic partnership is an important channel for service providers to offer our ready-to-use SaaS solutions, and in turn, we believe will increase our SaaS subscriber base and empower CIO's & Business Managers to create sophisticated services using our PaaS which works across existing software systems and helps to embed technology with Business processes in real time, driving greater efficiency and faster response to changes."

"Jamcracker enables communications and IT services providers to create their own branded marketplaces and offer "best-of-breed" SaaS applications to their small business customers. We are pleased to add the WOLF On-Demand SaaS Development framework in our services portfolio" said Mr. Steve Crawford, VP Marketing, Jamcracker Inc. "

Wolf is a 100% XML and AJAX based Business Application Designing and Development Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) for creating cross platform SaaS Business Applications on the internet. Founded in 2006, the company has developed a disruptive platform which delivers technical code free software application designing environment without the hassles of creating a database, middleware, ready English like business rules, separates the business definition from its code counterpart, making the business application survive beyond current technologies with options to save data across different cloud networks.


About JSDN
JSDN enables communication service providers, resellers, and software vendors to deliver on-demand applications to businesses and consumers without complex, costly technology investments. The JSDN streamlines all of the operational processes required to offer private labeled application services including a hosted services-delivery platform, content/ISV wholesale distribution agreements, help desk services, billing, collections, settlement, and infrastructure management. JSDN seamlessly integrates with reseller and service provider web sites and networks. Customers can choose from a catalogue of hundreds of leading software services in the JSDN catalogue.
About WOLF
Founded in 2006, Wolf Platform-as-a-Service is a direct wholly owned product/service venture with full development-distribution-Intellectual Property rights held by Wolf Frameworks India Pvt. Ltd. Privately held, developed by a team of industry experts & passionate entrepreneurs, targeted to extend the power of designing business software services to business managers, tapping into large market opportunities, Wolf PaaS plans to bring many partner driven customer centric Interoperable SaaS applications to the market. The company also offers the online business applications solutions gallery – where partners can showcase their Wolf based business applications and customers can click & install demo versions, review and select applications for their own use at a per user/monthly fee. For more information please visit: http://www.wolfframeworks.com



About Jamcracker
The Jamcracker Services Delivery Network enables Telcos, Internet Service Providers, VARs, and SaaS vendors to profitably deliver on-demand services to businesses of all sizes. Founded in 1999 by K.B. "Chandra" Chandrasekhar, the founder of Exodus Communications and chairman of e4e Services and Aztec Software, Jamcracker's mission is to enable on-demand service delivery on a global scale. Jamcracker is a privately held company with headquarters in Santa Clara, California, and offices in Bangalore, India. For more information, visit www.jamcracker.com.

PR Contact:
Jamcracker: Marc Gendron, marc@mgpr.net

MyEclipse 7.0: AJAX, SOA

Genuitec has announced the production release of MyEclipse Enterprise Workbench 7.0. The new release, built upon Eclipse 3.4.1/Ganymede, delivers a comprehensive environment for AJAX and Web Services in the Eclipse space.

In addition, MyEclipse 7.0 is delivered on top of the Pulse Eclipse Management Platform. This platform allows users to customize and maintain their MyEclipse environments both at the individual and corporate level.

MyEclipse users will also note enhanced support and delivery of Maven. As an enhancement of the Maven4MyEclipse tooling found in 6.5, users can now choose between using Maven in its raw format or the fully-integrated Maven4MyEclipse solution. This allows fuller customization of Maven tool capabilities dictated by user needs.

New users can try MyEclipse 7.0 for a free 30-day trial, and as always, current subscribers can utilize the update at no charge. MyEclipse Standard and Professional Editions are $30 and $60 per year, respectively. They are available at www.myeclipseide.com.