Apptix Spins Out Of TeleComputing

TeleComputing Apptix

Apptix targets companies interested in using its TECOS application-provisioning system to host applications and private-label Apptix's hosted messaging, communications and collaboration solutions.

TECOS supports XML interfaces and is built with Microsoft Visual Studio .Net and the .Net framework. It also uses Microsoft's BizTalk Server as its enterprise application integration (EAI) platform.

Apptix is in talks with 15 to 20 Microsoft network service provider (NSP) partners interested in working with the new company. Microsoft this week plans to sign a three-year agreement with Apptix to market Apptix's Microsoft-centric private-label services to Microsoft NSP partners.

"Microsoft had several NSP partners asking them to help them get into the hosted services business, and now these partners will be directed to us," said Jason Donahue, president and CEO of Apptix and former president and CEO of TeleComputing.

The first solution to be marketed by Microsoft and Apptix is an Exchange 2000 Server and integrated collaboration, unified messaging and realtime communications services solution.

Apptix and TeleComputing are Gold Certified Microsoft partners, which is one of the reasons Microsoft is pointing partners Apptix's way, said Charley Pitcher, solution unit manager of Web Services and Application Hosting for Microsoft's NSP group.

"TeleComputing's $40 million investment in TECOS for automating operational and business support processes makes them extremely capable and uniquely positioned to provide the private-label solution," Pitcher said. "Also, as one of five Microsoft Gold Certified ASPs, and the only Gold Certified partner that provides this service, TeleComputing/Apptix is a great candidate to lead the charge delivering Microsoft-based business messaging and collaboration services."

TeleComputing will remain an ASP, offering mainly Microsoft hosted solutions to the European market. The companies now have separate management structures and will run as independent organizations.

Apptix this week also announced its first win as an independent company with Netscalibur, an ISP in London.

The multimillion deal allows Netscalibur to private-label Apptix's hosted business messaging and collaboration solutions. In the next two years, Netscalibur plans to offer Microsoft Exchange 2000-based messaging and collaboration services to businesses in Italy, the United Kingdom and Germany.

The offering will be available to Netscalibur's base of 15,000 customers within the next 90 days, Apptix said.

The full breadth of Apptix services available for service providers includes business messaging services such as hosted exchange and VPN access, mobile services using WAP/SMS and PDA synchronization, collaboration services such as SharePoint Team services and data conferencing and administrative services such as a branded management portal and storage and security services.