In what may be a sign of Microsoft’s strategy for partnerships going
forward, the beta version of Office 11 released to
testers Tuesday showcases the software titan’s first implementation of
functionality in one of its applications derived from a strategic
relationship.
Through its partnership with online postage service Stamps.com , Microsoft
has integrated “enhanced
electronic postage printing functionality” in the Office 11 beta. When
printing envelopes using the new version of Word 11, users will be able to
check a box in the print menu to add electronic postage. Stamps.com will
power the service, allowing the user to print the address and postage on
the envelope within the Word interface.
The new functionality Microsoft has added to Office 11 through the
relationship also includes:
- Adding graphics or company logos
- The ability to track postage use through reports and accounting codes
- Automatic address correction and verification
- Automatic calculation of postage rates based on mail class and
weight.
Exchanging strategic relationships to give end-users added functionality is
not a new strategy for Microsoft, points out Gartner Dataquest Vice
President and Research Director Michael Silver. However, what is new is the
tight, seamless integration within the application, making the added
functionality transparent to the end-user.
“I think they’ll continue to pursue it and it will get more aggressive as
time goes on,” Silver said. He added, “One has to wonder if there comes a
point where Microsoft will make more money from some of these services than
from the products themselves.”
Separately, Stamps.com expanded its relationship with Microsoft, sealing a
new three-year strategic relationship.
The expanded deal comes on the heels of Microsoft’s announcement Tuesday
that it will acquire
Vicinity , a creator and integrator of location-based
services, for about $96 million cash.