Microsoft signs UK hosting deal for .Net

Microsoft is increasing its commitment to the hosting market in the UK by signing a deal with Host Europe.

Microsoft is increasing its commitment to the hosting market in the UK by signing a deal with Host Europe.

The internet hosting company will offer .Net services to its customers based on Microsoft's Server Appliance Kit and a server hosted by Host Europe's dedicated servers division.

Host Europe sells about half of its offerings through resellers that design and integrate web services. The company is looking to add to its 2500 channel partners.

"Resellers are our most important customers; we are always looking for new ones, which already account for around half of our turnover," said Frank Rejwan, chief operating officer at Host Europe.

The deal came as analyst IDC warned Microsoft resellers that the software giant's focus on a services-based model will force them to change their own businesses.

"Channel players that provide marginal value better get ready to change their business models quickly," IDC said in a report, adding that Microsoft will target accounts of more than 250 users through its own sales force and in partnership with large account resellers.

Also published in Computer Reseller News