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Telstra launches T-Suite without Salesforce |
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Telstra launches T-Suite without SalesforceMitchell Bingemann
| April 01, 2009
TELSTRA today unveiled its long-awaited
software-as-a-service platform T-suite, announcing a bevy of launch
partners from Microsoft to McAfee but conspicuously absent from the
roster was SaaS pioneer, Salesforce.com. Aimed at small to
medium sized businesses low on cash reserves, T-Suite will offer a
range of software-as-a-service (SAAS) products, such as email, customer
relationship management, collaboration, financial applications and
security products, as well as online storage, for a subscription fee
starting from $4 a month.
Telstra
has been trialling T-Suite since late last year with select customers
but is now ready with the full launch which will see the telco offer
nine online applications including Microsoft’s Exchange Mail and
Sharepoint programs, security products from MessageLabs and McAfee and
Workforce Guardian , an industrial relations tool to help manage human
resources.
Although SaaS-style software has been around for a
while in Australia from outlets such as Salesforce.com, SAP and local
operators such as PK Business Advantage, it has yet achieved mass
penetration.
But as the global financial crisis continues to
wreak havoc on financial markets, the tide for SaaS has started to turn
as businesses look to cut capital costs in favour of relying more on
outsourced computer and telecommunications services.
Leading
the charge in SaaS popularity has been Salesforce.com which was
surprisingly absent from Telstra’s raft of T-Suite launch partners.
Although Telstra has been in discussions with Salesforce since October last year, but no deal has yet emerged from the talks.
A
Telstra spokesperson said there was no plan to include Salesforce
products into T-Suite but that discussions were continuing with the
company.
Telstra Business group managing director Deena Shiff
also said Telstra was in discussions with more than 50 local and
multinational software developers who could offer their technology
through T-Suite.
Ms Shiff said Telstra was positioning T-Suite
as an affordable service for businesses eager to avoid laying down big
investments for new hardware and upfront software licensing fees.
“It’s something that can help you stay in front without burning your balance sheet ,” Ms Shiff said.
"In
the current economic climate, those small businesses are looking for
ways to improve cash flow and better manage risks and compliance
obligations and we believe the T-Suite service provides a cost
effective answer at the right time.
“We didn’t foresee the
global economic crisis and now is a difficult time for all business
owners specifically and especially small business. It’s become terribly
relevant to use tools with no or very low up front costs.”
Telstra said it would be engaging in a revenue sharing model with its T-Suite partners.
Source: http://www.australianit.news.com.au/
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