Services firms boost Microsoft's SaaS

Microsoft Corp.'s late move into the hosted software business gained some headway this month when two outsourcers -- Computer Sciences Corp. and Azaleos Corp. -- agreed to resell its Business Productivity Online Suite (BPOS). "BPOS is clearly picking up steam, and I think we'll see more hybrid messaging vendors in the fairly near future," said Michael Osterman, an analyst at Osterman Research Inc.

GoAnimate Adopts SaaS Model for its User-Generated Animation Platform

GoAnimate, a company offering an online platform for creating animations announced that it is making its platform available via a SaaS model, so that companies can deploy its animation capabilities on their own Web sites in order to increase "brand interaction. "Cartoon Network's Toon Creator, built on GoAnimate's SaaS platform, gives kids the unique opportunity to create their own animation using some of the network's most popular characters. For the first time ever, kids can step into the shoes of a Cartoon Network animator while being able to interact with their favorite toons like never before." Said Benjamin Grubbs, regional director of Turner Entertainment Interactive Media.

Imaginatik Joins IBM's SaaS Specialty

Imaginatik PLC has announced that it has joined the IBM SaaS Specialty partner program within IBM PartnerWorld. "We are pleased that IBM has accepted our company into its SaaS Specialty," said Mark Turrell, CEO of Imaginatik. "Our SaaS strategy has been central to the way we deliver our collaborative innovation and enterprise crowdsourcing solutions, combining cloud computing with the 'human cloud.'"

F-Secure grabs online storage firm in cloud security push

Net security firm F-Secure has bought privately-held online storage and data management firm Steek in a deal designed to improve its sales to telcos. The agreement, announced Friday, is valued at € 27.5m ($38.4m), with the possibility of a further performance-based payment of up to €2.5m next year. F-Secure reckons the acquisition will bring in between €2-3m during the remainder of 2009.

Cryptzone enters the SaaS market with its first customer

TeleComputing Norway and TeleComputing Group has recently announced that they have signed an agreement on sales cooperation. “With this agreement, we will get a head start. We evaluate the SaaS market to be globally significant and we will start a marketing campaign directed towards the European market during the fall.” says Peter Davin, CEO of Cryptzone.

Fox Latin American Channels Launches Online VOD Service With Brightcove Online Video Platform

Brightcove Inc. has announced that Fox Latin American Channels has chosen to build its online VOD service on the Brightcove platform. "This is not about just publishing videos online. Our long-term goal is to become one of the most popular and profitable video destinations in our markets, propelled by our flagship TV properties and brands as well as platforms such as Brightcove." said Pablo Silva, vice president of global online publishing of Fox International Channels.