"In the Hosting Group we have a unique set of expertise and experience in utilizing the Microsoft platform and tools to help our industry partners enable such solutions and offerings," says Pascal Martin, GM of Worldwide Hosting at Microsoft. "Windows-based Hosting for Applications provides ISVs and service providers with tools and guidance to maximize the software-as-a-service opportunity."

Windows-based Hosting for Applications provides ISVs with the tools and guidance to design service-enabled software applications and facilitate user provisioning, performance monitoring, usage tracking and reporting and service aggregation.

Also available is the monthly subscription-based licensing model Services Provider License Agreement, which requires no upfront investment or commitment from the ISV. Service providers and ISVs only pay for the software they use in a given time period, while Web hosting providers are given a set of modular and tightly integrated components, scripts and guidance to deliver environments suited for offering SaaS.