By William Fellows
New York application service provider Mi8 Corp is cashing in on companies’ unwillingness to spend $5,000 a time on Microsoft Corp software for handling email and messaging, providing what it claims is the first ASP services for Redmond’s software.
It’s looking forward to the opportunity that Microsoft will provide ASPs as it builds out its outsourcing strategy in line with SVP Steve Ballmer’s recent comments about Microsoft applications being available any place, anywhere.
Mi8 says it has 50 customers with a total of 300 seats, mostly for Microsoft Outlook/Exchange. It is aiming at small to medium- sized companies with from 10 to 100 seats. It will pass on web hosting and other IT outsourcing requirements to partners. It also offers a Goldmine sales and customer management program as well as Lotus Notes services. It boasts Deutsche Bank’s Frankfurt headquarters uses Mi8 for its Notes requirement.
The one-year-old company launched four months ago after a period developing its two data centers kitted with Compaq servers. It’s planning to open a European site soon. It has already raised $2m venture funding and is looking for $5m in a second round this fall. An IPO beckons thereafter.
