Inty unleashes Office 365 to the channel

Aggregator one of five global firms to allow partners to resell service on subscription basis

Microsoft has opened up Office 365 even wider to the channel by allowing five global aggregators to offer their partners the chance to resell the service for the first time.

UK firm Inty is among the handful of partners to take Office 365 to its partners from Friday. The firm claimed the move is "game changing" and something for which the channel has been screaming out.

Since the service launched, Microsoft has kept its go-to-market route narrow, with resellers initially allowed to recommend the service only in exchange for a commission payment from the vendor. Later on, it put one of the service's SKUs on its Open licensing programme – which meant partners could own the billing – and later extended this to cover all SKUs.

From Friday, Inty – which offers resellers the chance to combine tech from a range of vendors – will be able to sell VARs Office 365 at a trade price so they can then sell the service on at any price they wish.

Initially, Inty will offer just 15 chosen partners access to the service, but is looking to quickly open it up to others.

IntY boss Baldock added that he hopes the news will see new resellers flock to Inty for access to Office 365.

"We're expecting... experienced partners who are already recommdending Office 365 but wish to actually resell it [to partner with us]," he said.

"I genuinely believe this is game changing, it really is – it's a major change. The partner community has been screaming out for this."