Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Google picks local IT firm to resell Google Apps

By Mass High Tech staff

Google Inc. is preparing to launch a new service that allows information technology firms to resell Google Apps to enterprise customers, and Westborough-based Horizon Info Services LLC reports it is the only New England company chosen by Google so far to participate in the program.

According to officials at California-based Google (Nasdaq: GOOG), the authorized resellers will be able to sell, customize and support Google Apps Premier Edition for customers. Google will provide resellers with training, support and tools for sales and marketing, as well as access to business integration tools that will help them merge Google Apps into their customers’ operations.

Resellers can also bundle additional services and support with Google Apps, and Google will provide them with APIs to allow for integration with legacy software and systems.

Horizon will provide services around the full suite of Google Apps messaging and collaboration solutions, with a focus on small and midsize businesses, officials said. Horizon already sells Google Apps Security and Compliance solutions, which was formerly known as Postini e-mail security.

Google says it piloted the program with more than 50 partners worldwide. Authorized resellers will be able to begin selling Google Apps by the end of March.