With Ray Ozzie at the helm as the new Chief Software Architect, Microsoft, while still anchored to the desktop, is embracing the cloud with a variety of new services. Defining its own Software plus Services strategy, the Redmond company's efforts are not limited to Windows Live and Windows Azure solutions, and a new alliance with Nippon Telegraph and Telephone, designed to bridge networks with applications and create new services, is illustrative in this sense. According to the software giant, the partnership with NTT is focused on delivering Software as a Service over Next-Generation Networks.

“Microsoft’s services business model enables choice for our customers and partners, by combining the rich experience of locally run software and the extensive capability of online services,” Kevin Turner, chief operating officer at Microsoft, revealed.

“Our vision offers the power of choice to our customers and partners, providing flexibility for where and how the information is stored and utilized — on-premises, hosted by a partner, or hosted by Microsoft. To bring this vision to life, we rely on strong partners, such as NTT, that have the extensive network infrastructure that is imperative to giving customers and partners the best experience with this technology.”

Integrating networks with applications involves a marriage between the Redmond company's applications and the NTT’s information and communication technology (ICT). Microsoft indicated that, as an initial step of the collaboration, it would work to bring SaaS-based businesses on the NTT Group’s SaaS platform. At the same time, the duo have put together a joint team, which will explore global implementations of SaaS-based businesses.

“As a company that understands the transformation that is taking place in Japan’s network environment and the value and potential of Next-Generation Networks, Microsoft is a valuable partner for us,” added Noritaka Uji, senior executive vice president at NTT. “As we enter the age of NGN-based SaaS and cloud computing, we have high expectations that our collaboration will spur the development of powerful applications that make full use of the merits of NGN and produce results that contribute to enhancing the productivity of Japanese businesses and the ICT-driven development of society. We will continue in our efforts to become a Service Creation Business Group through promoting open collaboration with our partners.”