2008, a new year a new job …

January 1, 2008 I will start in my new role : Online Strategy Manager for Microsoft Netherlands

I work for Microsoft Netherlands for almost 4 years now and since the start I have worked in and led the Information Worker Team, focused on large enterprise clients. I joined Microsoft shortly after the launch of the 2003 Office System; the first wave of solutions that combined Microsoft Office as you know it with Server products, such as SharePoint Server and Live Communications Server. All of these server products have entered the 3rd generation now that the 2007 Office System was launched a year ago.

For me a new challenge lies ahead as Microsoft enters a new business; that of Software + Services and I am very fortunate to be part of this new wave right from the start.

Microsoft is very well positioned to take advantage of all the new dimensions Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) has to offer; especially in combination with the current platform and its capabilities. The focus for Software + Services will be in 2 area’s :

• Microsoft “Live” services. Designed primarily for individuals, small businesses, and virtual work groups, Microsoft’s Live offerings span entertainment, communication, and personal productivity. These services emphasize ease of use, simplicity of access, and flexibility, and are ideally suited for situations where you either don’t have access to professional technical expertise or don’t require high levels of system management. Live offerings enhance many of the products you already use—Windows, Office, and Xbox—with more to come.
  
• Online services from Microsoft. Designed for businesses with more advanced needs, online services provide security-enhanced, reliable, and scalable hosted communication and collaboration solutions. By choosing online services hosted by Microsoft, you ensure you’ll always have the latest technologies, without the burden of managing hardware, deploying patches, monitoring performance, and deploying upgrades. The Online family of services offerings provides access for all your business needs—messaging, management, security, and conferencing—without straining your IT resources.

Over the last 3,5 years or so blogging has helped me tremendously in gaining knowledge and insight into the communication and collaboration business, the competition, the market, etc.

As my focus now shifts a bit I have decided to start an new blog alongside peterdehaas.net called SaaSology.net. This new blog is intended to provide information and interaction on SaaS related topics / companies, etc. I hope you’ll subscribe to the RSS feed and frequent the site every now and then to comment.

SaaS is a very exciting development which will have / has (depending where you’re coming from) a major impact on the software business. This means there’s more than enough to blog about.