In advance of the front lines of hosting SaaS and S+S...

Microsoft's Convergence 2010

2010-05-13T08:15:00.000-07:00

So another Microsoft Convergence has come and gone, this one being held in Atlanta Georgia. As a regular exhibitor and attendee, once again we found value in the experience and time spent at the Microsoft Dynamics event of the year. As usual, we had the pleasure of meeting some of our favorite ISVs, MSB partners who provide the implementation services who find value with our firm for their customers who go hosted or SaaS/S+S delivery for their ERP and other line of business software.

The message...
The message from Microsoft's Stephen Elop, President of the Microsoft Business Division: hosting strategy is strong, product updates make the Dynamics suite an even better value for companies looking for a front to back office solution for their business.

Microsoft is focusing on how peers and partners use Microsoft products to:
• Deliver maximum productivity across PC, phone, and browser
• Enhance IT choice and flexibility
• Leverage a platform for developers to build innovative solutions

Microsoft has been investing in and working hard to empower their Dynamics customers by the offering an updated GP and SharePoint, versions 2010 which has a tighter integration with their CRM product.

The Microsoft Convergence 2010 Expo...
The Expo was quite busy over the three days it was open, with every single booth on the floor filled. Virtually every booth staff member I visited with on the last day complained with a smile of sore feet yet were happy with high turnout and visitor interest. Apparently lines of questioning were quite specific with dialogs focused on qualifying what customers thought they knew and leaned toward sales as opposed to just kicking the tires. Both Microsoft partners and customers alike seemed really quite positive, up-beat and optimistic for the future of the economy and the Microsoft landscape. This was reflected in the high attendance numbers (nearly 10,000) in comparison to the previous 2 years. Convergence 2011 is slated be held in Atlanta as well - we'll look forward to seeing you there.

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2010-03-19T14:23:00.001-07:00

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2010-03-19T12:17:00.000-07:00

As a Microsoft Gold Certified Hosting Solutions and Networking Infrastructure Partner we are are eagerly preparing for Convergence 2010 - and based on the successes of previous years, we are expecting big things in terms of increased SaaS and S+S opportunities! We don't want you to miss out on a chance to meet with us personally to learn how to leverage the increased value these growing delivery methods provide.

Find out why we've increased both our partner and customer base by over 300% in the last year and how we'll help you and (Y)our customers leverage a hosted Micrososft Dynamics strategy to help turn increasingly competitive times to your advantage. Connect with GoIWx to optimize your pipeline, maximize performance, minimize risk, and support users mission-critical operations while broadening your base with increased opportunities.

GoIWx Hosting provides the Dynamics expertise and IT infrastructure that creates a clear competitive advantage for our Partners...
- More Control of Customer's Infrastructure
- Sell a Solution and Start an Implementation Immediately
- License Management and SPLA
- Generate the Highest Recurring Revenues - You set the Margins - Shop us
- Leverage Hosting Strategies to Create Opportunity and Close More Deals
- Customers Realize a faster Return On Investment

And for (Y)our Customers...
- Access Anywhere, At Anytime, and Any Device to Data
- Be Prepared for Audits with Back-Up and Disaster Recovery
- Increased Security of Data
- Conduct Software Upgrades and Updates Rapidly
- Eliminate Expensive PC upgrades of both Hardware and Software
- Utilize inexpensive "Thin" clients

Don't get left behind! I encourage you to set a short meeting with us talk about how we can help you leverage the increased opportunities and competetive edge that offering a hosted Dynamics solution provides. Please feel free to send me an email or call me at 952-258-6321 to lock in a few moments at the show to learn more.

GoIWx Hosting sponsors both AXDecisions and NAVDecisions 2009 expos for Microsoft Dynamics professionals interested in cloud or hosted deployments.

2009-09-15T11:57:00.000-07:00

GoIWx Hosting, a leader in application hosting, Software Plus Service (S+S) and Software as a Service (SaaS) offerings, today announced their sponsorship of AXDecisions and NAVDecisions 2009 presented by MSDynamicsWorld.com.

"AX and NAV Decisions 2009 is a virtual conference and tradeshow for Microsoft Dynamics AX and NAV professionals seeking implementation strategies, thought leadership, and best practices for maximizing the value and effectiveness of their organization's AX or NAV platform and initiatives. We're reaching out to our partners and customers to join us in a new way at this event." says GoIWx President, RJ Burgess.

"With NAV/AX Decisions 2009, it's FREE, it's virtual, and has most of the benefits of an in-person expo including a keynote presentation, educational sessions, networking and exhibitor booths. It should make learning about SaaS, S+S, and cloud hosting from your home or office PC easy." Michael Swan, GoIWx Marketing and Communications Director continues, "This particular event is focused on Microsoft Dynamics AX and NAV but we will be offering additional examples about benefits hosting provides for Microsoft products as well as other line of business application integrations."

As a Microsoft certified SPLA Partner, a Micrsoft BizSpark Hosting Partner and a Gold Certified Microsoft Hosting Solutions and Network Infrastructure certified. GoIWx will showcase winning hosting strategies that all these programs provide both partners and customers.

Attend AX Decisions 2009 / NAV Decisions 2009 from the convenience of your desktop to:
- Get up to speed on the latest trends, technologies and strategies for Dynamics AX and NAV
- Listen to real-world customer success stories
- Discover the secrets to establishing priorities and gaining commitment across the organization for your AX / NAV strategy
- Explore which AX / NAV tools will bring you the most success
- Learn how to navigate your way through a successful AX / NAV deployment, upgrade or shift to the Cloud
- Drive greater efficiency and productivity from your dynamics system during tough times

For more details on how to reduce deployment time and costs, lower total cost of ownership and increase your ROI with hosting for NAV or AX, visit GoIWx on October 14 at http://axdecisions.com/ or http://navdecisions.com/

PALS, (Professional Assisted Living Software) provides predictable turnkey S + S (Software+Services) solutions the Health Care Industy

2009-09-03T11:28:00.000-07:00

PALS, (Professional Assisted Living Software) provides predictable turnkey S + S (Software + Services) solutions for customers in the Health Care Industry by leveraging Hosting Expertise and Infrastructure with the GoIWx partnership.

PALS has been a long time GoIWx Software Development Partner. During a call with our Customer Support Manager, Kosol Sre discussed the new pocket PC with Tom Patten, owner and programmer of PALS. Kosol introduced Tom to some of the new technology and features of the Pocket PC including models such as HTC Touch and IPaq with the Windows Mobile 6 OS. After discussing some of the possibilities of leveraging the OS for PAL's applications on portable devices, they went out and purchased an IPaq Pocket PC running Windows Mobile 6, which is the recommended version.

Why Windows mobile 6 and not Palm or Blackberry? Because the remote desktop client is free for Windows Mobile 6. Tom decided he wants to be a part of the mobile community and quickly designed and programmed a mobile version of PALS. In short time GoIWx and Tom were testing the BETA and was able to get a demo for one of their potential customers. The ability of GoIWx to help partners realize new opportunities is invaluable. Resources that partners can rely on for service and support is one thing, to help drive and expand their business is something else.

Today GoIWx is setting up a demo server for PALS to run on Windows 2008 as a remote application, new technology and connection path. Users will be able to connect to their PALS application via an icon on the desktop creating a true Software + Services offering. 

The ability to work with partners is a mutual benefit. By adding new offerings of existing PALS software, PAL's is able to help their customer get more from the solution. By helping PALS build their customer base, GoIWx is able to extend their hosting base.

Read the original 2007 partnership press release here.

Learn more about PALS Software here.

With Microsoft's Dynamics CRM 5 comes a whole new slew of features Aside from the predictable updates and improvements...

2009-08-10T11:29:00.000-07:00

Aside from the predictable updates and improvements to Dynamics CRM 5.0 interface with visualization features and enhanced marketing and sales capabilities, CRM 5 will also sport tighter integration to Microsoft's SharePoint Server platform (MOSS).

One of the most exciting features we think is tighter integration with Social Media applications such as Twitter. According to the CRN article here, a new social media networking accelerator lets companies link Dynamics CRM 5 to Twitter to monitor what customers are saying about it's business, products and services.

Another feature cited in the interview with Brad Wilson, GM of Dynamics CRM is that Microsoft conducted a benchmark test with Intel which showed that it can scale up to 50,000 concurrent users.

Some partners can expect to get our hands on the updated version some time around 90 days. Stay tuned for more details!

Read more about Dynamics CRM 5... http://www.crn.com/software/218500733

GoIWx Hosting addresses Todays Top IT Challenges

2009-03-26T14:30:00.000-07:00

Garnter, Forrester Research, IDC and more are outlining the top trends in IT challenges in today's business landscape. These include IT wanting the latest versions or technology in their business applications but don't want to spend the money or tie up the resource time. Also wishing they could free up IT to focus more on strategy versus maintenance. IT is looking for predictable costs to report to management and executives. And, they also want to provide more capabilities to the user community, however don't have the time to spend implementing and training. Core issues facing IT professionals today. Most companies are more hesitant than ever when considering a major IT spend. I was recently at a Microsoft partner briefing event in the North Central area and was so glad to hear these trends, this is exactly what our hosting services speak to in today's down economy. Research statistics presented included a study by IDC that by 2001 the hosting or 'cloud' computing industry will be a $20 billion industry...and predictions of 32% market growth from years 2007-2011.....Beautiful!!!

Convergence 2009 - more validation SaaS and S+S is the future.

2009-03-13T15:07:00.000-07:00

Convergence 2009 brought many great messages this year, one of particular 'picking up speed' interest in today's business world "SaaS" and "S+S". The keynote opener touched on the importance of technology evolution and how more and more businesses will be moving to a cloud model in the next few years. The other keynote focused on 'exploring' and illustrated how their R&D areas are constantly evolving, gathering and changing. Both of these topics - constant technology evolution and exploration tie perfectly into what Businesses need to focus on today. Especially in our economy. Being forward moving, evolving and thinking is going to be key for businesses now and in the future. I had the chance to network with business owners at all levels; software users, ISV's, Developers, and VAR partners and the interest in hosting services and offering subscription based offerings is very prevalent.
The conference also outlined excellent new technologies including surface, Microsoft Tag, World telescope (Microsoft) and more. The world is changing by the minute it seems ... hosting services are going to quickly become an 'adoptive' way of doing business!

Future of Cloud Computing...Hybrid.

2009-02-24T11:56:00.000-08:00

As the economy continues to be turbulent and somewhat challenging for businesses of all sizes today, IT infrastructure is forging to an even more important business consideration and strategy. Critical back up and recovery processes, compliance, security and overall optimization of business applications systems is in the forefront of all C-Level executives in today's business market.

While businesses realize that they need to look at more options to optimize business capital cash flow and IT strategies, they still hesitate to completely 'let go'of their infrastructure. There is more and more buzz about a Hybrid model for businesses today.. a mix of systems in their own data centers on site and in the 'cloud' or in a hosted data center. This model in my opinion relieves some of the fear today's businesses have on letting go of their IT infrastructure and putting it in the 'cloud.' The trending clearly states that this model will forge ahead in the coming months, and businesses will realize that hosting in the cloud is not a complication but a total compliment to their current and fore casted IT investments.

GOIWX, Inc. - Business Development Manager, Molly Burgess, SIP Global Markets Microsoft Partners

Some help introducing the Hosting option in the sales cycle

2009-02-24T08:07:00.000-08:00

"The most aggressive SaaS adopters are small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs)." - Saugatuck Technology, market strategy consultancy

"Saas has an element of being recession proof." - Forrester Research

As we bring on new partners, many of their sales staff are finding that with a new offering there are differences in selling a Hosted version of an ERP or CRM product. Not because of software application product value proposition, but learning to introduce the concept of hosting. Having deep knowledge and confidence can be a challenge without having the practical experience. Often these folks are a bit unfamiliar with the off-premise or "In-the-Cloud" options concerning deployment or even presenting Hosting. Hopefully the following perspectives may help you overcome breeching the conversation.

You can introduce Hosting into your business conversations quite easily. Start by using these points when talking to your clients or prospects:

- "What is your IT strategy over the next 3-5 years?" "90% of companies are planning to maintain or increase their investment in SaaS." -Gartner

- "What are your IT Priorities & Initiatives?" By leveraging hosting you can help them meet their goals which are typically "lower our hardware investment" or "get more for less IT dollars" and "lower Cap-Ex investments."

- "Have you considered a pure or hybrid Hosted model to leverage your existing IT?" When utilizing a Hosted solution, IT staff are often concerned about the security of their role within the company. Actually with hosting comes opportunity for IT. A hosted software delivery model (or Hybrid Cloud Computing) allows them to focus on the actual use of the software, user community training and support, and helping the organization actually get more return on software investment.

Remember, as a GoIWx Partner, you can call on us to act as your firms Sales Engineer and help address questions or concerns in a non-competitive way. We are Partners in the truest sense of the word, we don't provide Professional Services and with a SaaS offering, we all win. You get your Professional Services revenue, our shared customer gets more IT for less, and we can focus on providing the best Hosting experience possible!

What . . .SFC had 40 minutes of dark time

2009-01-12T15:20:00.001-08:00

I couldnt believe it when I read the artical on friday. SFC had 40 minutes of dark time. Not good. They have bragged for years that they dont go down, plus they charge a premium for thier services. Will the giant be able to handle the stumble??

Partners jumping on Technology Wave

2008-09-24T13:05:00.000-07:00

Microsoft has verified that Software plus Service (S+S) and Software as a Service (SaaS) is proliferating into the market. Many Analysts are considering the IT Industry to be at an inflexion point. Internet/web and it's 'computing' generation are transforming the way businesses are doing IT. Digital lifestyles are changing our lives as consumers. We hear more and more from our partners that customers want accessibility and usability and they want it fast and easy. Technology trending indicates that businesses are losing confidence in their backup and recovery systems. Also slow downs in growth are producing less capital infusion. They're concerned more than ever about ROI. I talk to many many partners every day and it's encouraging that more of them are stepping up and educating themselves on Hosting Services to present their customers not only with options, but technological expertise. With Microsoft driving this forward in the industry, hosting and having that option for our partners will create more wins and trust in the relationship. Working in Business Development for a hosting services provider, I feel it's my duty to educate our partners and arm them with what they will need going forward to win more business, maintain existing business and keep customer relationships strong. It's encouraging to me to see that partners are starting to catch on to this.

Molly Burgess
GoIWx, Inc.
Business Development Manager - SIP Global Markets

SharePoint 2007 (MOSS) IIS SMTP Fix

2008-09-24T07:49:00.000-07:00

Ever since I deployed Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 in our hosted environment, here at GOIWX, I have been dealing with an IIS 6.0 error that was causing multiple issues. I was receiving many repetitive event log ID's 6398, 6482, and 7076. The IIS Manager snap in would also not function correctly. Through trial and error i learned to reset IIS because there wasn't an available hotfix to address this problem at that time. In August 2008, a hot fix was available to address this problem, [http://support.microsoft.com/kb/946517]. After installing this hotfix, everything was working fine... No more event log errors and the IIS manager was working all the time! Yay! Life as a Microsoft Office SharePoint Server Admin just got a little bit easier. However, behind the scenes another problem was arising. I began to notice that the limited number of SharePoint document libraries and lists that I had mail enabled were no longer receiving mail. After rechecking all my SharePoint configurations and Active Directory permissions, i turned to the SMTP service installed on my MOSS server. Immediately, I noticed that Access tab of the properties page to the default SMTP server, was no longer configurable. I searched and search for answers and placed a call to Microsoft, but nothing was available at the time. I noticed many other people that installed KB946517 for their SharePoint Servers were having the exact same issues with their SMTP service. So i placed this issue on the back burner because as I mentioned earlier, I only had a limited number of document libraries and lists that actually had incoming mail. Recently, I revisited this issue and found a blog post [http://www.developersdex.com/asp/message.asp?p=2676&r=6218385] which addresses the secondary issue of the SMTP server that occurred from installing KB946517. It pointed to a hotfix [http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950426]. Now with that installed SMTP and MOSS are happy!!

As with anything in IT you never know fully what can occur when patching a bug. Hopefully someone can benefit from my experiences. If you have to install KB946517 on your SharePoint Server, be prepared to also install KB950426.

Hopefully this is the end of this particular issue.

Ben Harwood
SharePoint Server Administrator
GOIWX

Partner Opinions

2008-09-19T14:22:00.000-07:00

I have been talking with prospective partners of our model since 2007. The interest is overwhelming. Nobody has disagreed with Microsofts strategy that the world is going into the cloud. Partners have a range of educational questions, but at the end of the day most of them agree end customers will preserve cash, reduce costs and have improved service.

RJ Burgess