Microsoft Corp is expected to announce a further move into applications hosting over the internet next week, when it reveals an alliance with USWeb/CKS Inc. The deal is expected to involve hosted services for Office and BackOffice. Formed from the merger of USWeb with the CKS Group at the end of last year, the Santa Clara, California-based professional services firm has already been working with Microsoft on implementation services for Microsoft Exchange.
Qwest Communications Inc became Microsoft’s first web application hoster under Microsoft’s Certified Solution Providers program. Both Qwest and USWeb/CKS are already partners in Microsoft’s Complete Commerce scheme, offering such services as managed Microsoft Exchange messaging, Office 2000 collaboration, corporate purchasing, media streaming and line of business application services. Other partners include Concentric Network Inc, DataReturn, Digex, Exodus Communications Inc, GTE Internetworking, USInternetworking, Interliant, MCIWorldCom and NaviSite.
