Microsoft VARs set for Vista services bonanza
Software giant claims arrival of new operating system will have ‘a massive economic impact for the channel'
Microsoft has claimed that for every dollar it earns on its flagship Vista operating system, its partners can generate an additional $15 in services and support around the product.
Last week saw the fanfare launch of Vista and Microsoft Office 2007, Microsoft’s first major launch in five years since XP hit the shops.
Speaking to CRN, Karl Noakes, director of partner development at Microsoft, claimed the sales and margin opportunities were huge for the channel.
“Analysts have claimed Vista will be the fastest adopted version of Windows ever,” he said. “There is a massive economic impact for the channel in terms of the demand Vista will create. VARs can sell services and consultancy around it and then there are the hardware sales on top of that for our system builders, and the development possibilities for our ISV and developer channel.”
Noakes said the vendor had also seen ‘record numbers’ of people looking to be trained on the operating system already and that its recent UK Vista roadshows were sold out around the country.
“We are very optimistic that the channel is ready for Vista,” he said. “We are confident about adoption from both consumer and corporate customers because it is faster and cheaper to deploy than any previous Windows release.”
Ross Miller, managing director of VAR Trustmarque Solutions, was equally bullish.
“The market seems to have responded well to the initial launch,” he said. “The consumer market is going to be where Vista is purchased initially; I believe the corporate take-up is around 12 months away. But we are confident that it is going to do very well. A major software launch such as Vista is good for the channel because it stimulates interest in the market.”
David Gould, commercial director at PC World Business, said: “There are clearly some parts of the market that will be quicker to adopt Vista than others. We have been focusing on SMEs as well as some corporate areas ahead of public sector organisations that will probably take longer to adopt because of their IT strategy and longer timescales. However, we are feeling confident and the initial signs are good.”
Clive Longbottom, services director at Quocirca, said businesses will be slightly more cautious in Vista adoption than consumers.
“Once the initial spike of sales following the launch trails off, then it will be down to the channel to start the hard slog of selling it to the business community,” he said.