Hosting model for Dynamics GP

As you may know Rose Business Solutions has a sister company called Rose ASP. This is a company that hosts all things Dynamics GP and SL and products that tie into those systems. The company works with Microsoft Partners to provide a solution for those customers that don't want to have the huge outlay in buying servers, finding IT resources to maintain the GP install etc. (For a good overview of hosting here's a demo from our own Rock/Movie Star Linda Rose.)



Hosting is a pretty big buzz word now a days. While at Convergence this year I heard several people say "We host" or "We'd like to host". I heard several approaches as to how people host as well.

Here are some of the wide ranging approaches to hosting that I've heard:

• "We provide the hardware, the partner does everything else"
  
• "We only host for our GP clients"
  
• "We can host anything you want. Any module, any application"
  
• "We only host Dynamics products no 3rd party products"
  
• "We offer SPLA pricing"

It will be interesting to see where hosting Dynamics evolves to in the long term. I personally think things are going to get easier with GP and hosting. Right now there are particular challenges with hosting an application that is not necessarily built for an in the cloud delivery model. I'm assuming MBS will catch up with technology and make it easier to host the application.

The advantages of hosting are great for most customers. As my good buddy Jason Young of RoseASP put it:


"What you really get out of hosting is an infrastructure and connectivity that is out of reach for most companies. It's like buying an airplane ticket. Owning a 747 is waaaay beyond most people. But buying one seat and using its facilities is well within reach."


I see hosting or more specific how Dynamics is deployed in the future effecting many Dynamics partners and customers.

Where do you thing hosting is going for the Dynamics product line?