Vodafone Microsoft's global partnership: not for Australia?

Stuart Corner
Monday, 02 March 2009 01:30

IT Industry - Strategy

Vodafone has formed a global partnership with Microsoft to offer businesses a single communications and collaboration solution composed of fixed and mobile voice and data, customer equipment and handsets, and Microsoft Online Services.

Vodafone is talking about offering the service in every country where it operates. However, the combined offering is remarkably similar to what Telstra plans to offer under a partnership with Microsoft announced in November 2008 that it claims gives it exclusivity in Australia.

The Vodafone-Microsoft services, described as "enterprise-class communications and collaboration software as subscription services [for] businesses of all sizes," will be hosted by Microsoft and available through Vodafone and will include: Microsoft Exchange Online; Microsoft SharePoint Online; Microsoft Office Communications Online and Microsoft Office Live Meeting.

The services are available today in the US and will be available in Germany and Spain later in 2009. Following the German and Spanish launches, Vodafone says it will offer the solution in additional markets but has given no details. Giovanni Strocchi, Vodafone's director of product management for global business services, said: "This is a global partnership so we will offer this in all our countries."

Greg Spear, head of corporate communications for Vodafone Australia, told ITWire: "Vodafone has engaged in a local dialogue with Microsoft Australia on the extent of this deal and opportunities for us to work closely to provide these sorts of services to Australian small businesses." (Vodafone on 10 February announced plans to merge its Australian operations with those of 3 in a 50:50 JV).

A successful outcome would put the two in head to head competition with the Telstra-Microsoft alliance. In November 2008 Telstra and Microsoft announcedtheir intention to enter into "a broad strategic alliance to bring together business software applications, mobile services and devices, and integrated computer and telephone services over Telstra's Next IP and Next G networks." The first offerings are not due to appear until mid 2009.

Telstra claims exclusive deal with Microsoft
However Deena Shiff, group managing director of Telstra Business, told ITWire: "We have an exclusive for Australia, so there must be a territory carve out in the agreement between Microsoft and Vodafone."

CONTINUED