Is Optus gearing up to get into SaaS?

Stuart Corner
Thursday, 30 July 2009 12:01

Business IT - Technology

Comments by Optus on the findings of its 2009 IP Index survey suggest it could be planning to follow parent SingTel which recently launched a software as a service offering in Singapore based, according to Optus, on Google Apps.

The Optus IP Index is an annual survey, primarily online, of enterprise communications decision-makers. This year 232 organisations (not all Optus customers) were surveyed across a broad ranges of sizes.

According to Optus the survey found "considerable interest in [the SaaS] model with 47 percent [of respondents] currently considering it." Optus added: "Coupled with the current use of thin-client applications by 35 percent of enterprises, this suggests a level of interest in hosted application delivery that can drive cost benefits to enterprises. Larger enterprises (those with over 1,000 employees) are most likely to have already deployed applications via a SaaS model. However, the level of consideration is fairly even across all size segments suggesting that smaller enterprises also see significant benefits in this approach."

Optus went on to emphasis that carrier grade networks, such as Optus Evolve, have a key role to play. "This high level of interest in such a model reinforces the acknowledgement of improvement in the robustness of carrier IP networks to deliver critical applications to end users over the network. Increases in the number and types of applications available for delivery through a SaaS model suggests likely significant growth in this market. Growth in these areas will require robust carrier networks with improved latency and reliability."

Telstra Business is making a big push into this market through the launch of T-Suite and its strategic alliance with Microsoft. Telstra, however, does not see great demand for the provision of SaaS services to larger enterprises, but rather in providing hosting services for larger enterprises own applications.  Paul Geason, then executive director for convergent sales, in Telstra Enterprise & Government, told iTWire in May: "Today, Telstra E&G would not take responsibility for the provision of any application, but I am not discounting it,"

When asked if Optus had any plans to enter the SaaS market, Optus Business marketing director, Scott Mason, said, "We are definitely looking at it." He then drew iTWire's attention to parent SingTel's recent announcement, saying, "They have a done a deal with Google for its office suite. They are targeting SMBs they have some 100,000 SMB customers"

On 14 July SingTel announced a collaboration with the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA), International Enterprise (IE) Singapore, leading technology companies and software developers to establish Singapore as a regional cloud computing hub.

At the same time SingTel launched SingTel Marketplace (mybusiness.singtel.com ) claiming it to be Singapore's first integrated online platform for the delivery of business applications and services on demand. SingTel lists its partners as being Conversant Solutions Pte Ltd; F-Secure Corporation and StarVision IT Pte Ltd and the available applications as being MecWise Accounting; MecWise Customer Relation Management; MecWise Employee Self-Service; and MecWise Inventory. There was no mention of Google or its applications.