At its Worldwide Partner Conference in July, Microsoft unveiled a pricing structure through which VARs can offer hosted, subscription-based versions of Exchange, SharePoint, Office Communications Server, and Office LiveMeeting.
Some solution providers that had built vibrant businesses around selling and installing these products thought the pricing was too low, while others cried foul over Microsoft's plan to take over control of customer billing. But Stephen Elop, president of the Microsoft Business Division, urged partners to consider the long-term benefits of the recurring revenue model, and has continued to bring home the message that services are the future for Microsoft and its partners.
