Apptix rolls out Microsoft-based hosted messaging service

Apptix, the Sterling, VA-based solutions provider for private label hosted messaging applications formerly knows as TeleComputing launched its High Volume Messaging service this week for consumer and small business service provider customers.

Alex Hawkinson, promoted from COO to CEO at Apptix at the end of August when Jason Donahue departed, said HVM grew from the need to support service providers using Microsoft’s MCIS (Microsoft Commercial Internet Server), which Microsoft will no longer support at the end of this year.

“Microsoft wanted to give those MCIS service providers an [inexpensive] path forward that retained its business value over time,” Hawkinson said.

Apptix has won business with several service providers since launching the private label hosting solution for the Microsoft Exchange 2000 messaging application it built using the .NET-based TECOS OSS platform. New service provider customers include XO Communications, Globix and Jamcracker, which use the platform to serve their business customers. However, Apptix sees market opportunity emanating from the smaller customers of Tier 1 providers as well.

“The business messaging effort we have has really been focused on the small- to medium-sized businesses and up, but many service providers have a consumer and SOHO customer base that the business solution is a bit much for,” Hawkinson said. “So this enhancement with Microsoft adds an HVM tier targeted at those consumer and SOHO mail boxes.”

Apptix relies on its partnership with Microsoft to market and sell its hosting solution to service providers. And earlier this summer Apptix added sales and marketing support for service providers themselves.

“We realized over the last year that its not just technology that service providers need. They also need a tremendous amount of go-to-market assistance. It’s still a fairly complex sale,” Hawkinson said.

Apptix’ High Volume Messaging solution is available now and includes POP3 customized Web mail, personal Web pages, instant messaging and short message service. Apptix can deploy its TECOSS OSS platform in the service provider data center and have HVM in service within 30 days.

The economics are hard to refute, said Hawkinson. “Most of the people we talk to don’t have much of an appetite for large up front capital expenditures and hiring additional headcount when for 50 cents to $1 per user they can get all the hardware, software and operational expertise required.”