Looking to tap a market of companies eager to move to XML-based Web services, Fort Lauderdale-based TeleComputing (Oslo Stock Exchange: TCO), a veteran ASP and ASP-enabler, announced today a strategic alliance with Wayne, Pa-based Safeguard Scientfics (NYSE:SFE) and its technology management practice subsidiary aligne, inc.
The companies say the alliance will help independent software vendors (ISVs), enterprises and service providers build and manage applications based on the Microsoft .Net Framework.
Under the alliance, aligne will provide professional services and offer TeleComputing’s private-label hosted applications solution based on TECOS, its operational support system (OSS) designed to automate the provisioning, management and delivery of application services.
Using aligne and TECOS technology, for example, an ISV would, in theory, be able to distribute its software quickly and with minimum effort over the Internet as an XML-based Web service.
“This alliance will help accelerate a company’s ability to take advantage of XML Web services-based business opportunities,” said Jason Donahue, president and CEO of TeleComputing. “We are pleased that Safeguard and aligne have selected our TECOS platform and our managed service capabilities as the platform for providing Microsoft .NET “Instant Infrastructure” services to ISVs.”
Safeguard’s aligne will offer professional services to companies wanting to upgrade existing Microsoft platforms to .Net and deploy “Instant Infrastructure” Web services for messaging, business productivity and financial management/accounting. In addition, aligne says it will offer related management-consulting services designed to reduce long-term investment risks when building based upon the .NET Framework.
“By building TeleComputing’s XML-based TECOS technology on the .NET Framework and aligne’s strategic and solution-focused professional services, we will be able to accelerate a company’s ability to build a solid technology foundation that will allow them to take advantage of new business opportunities,” said Larry Olson, principal of aligne Inc.
As part of the alliance, all three companies (TeleComputing, Safeguard and aligne) will be invited to participate in Microsoft’s Quarterly Business Feedback Roundtables and an executive-level Advisory Group for key program customers. TeleComputing and aligne report that they will also develop a joint marketing plan, identify dedicated Alliance Managers and create the Alliance Advisory Council.
TeleComputing is one of seven Microsoft Gold Certified Partner for Hosting and Application Services (see TeleComputing Get the Gold).