SugarCRM, NetSuite get boost from BT deal
BT said Tuesday it will sell enterprise software products from NetSuite
and SugarCRM to its
small and medium-sized business (SMB) customers.
NetSuite is available now, while SugarCRM will be "in the near future,"
according to BT.
SugarCRM is an open-source CRM (customer relationship management) offering
available in on-premise and hosted forms. NetSuite sells an on-demand ERP (enterprise
resource planning) suite.
NetSuite has been available in Europe, the Middle East and Africa since 2002,
but the BT deal represents the company's first "strategic partnership"
geared toward driving business in that region, according to a spokeswoman.
Meanwhile, one observer focused on SugarCRM's role in the pact.
"It's deals like this that can really take open source software to the
masses," noted 451
Group analyst Matthew Aslett, in a blog post Tuesday.
Another 451 Group analyst, China Martens, said via e-mail Tuesday that the
deal is "an important validation for SugarCRM as it builds up a presence
in Europe. Given BT's operations elsewhere in the world, particularly Asia and
Africa, we wonder how the relationship may be extended over time."
"On the other hand, this is still SMB -- SugarCRM's core market -- and
the company does nurse enterprise ambitions," she added. "The relationship
with BT will definitely help SugarCRM get more notice in the U.K., but probably
not from enterprises."
BT plans to build out a broader set of business applications, saying it is
looking at products from other vendors and will make additional announcements
soon. Martens said she expects the telecom to form a pact with Salesforce.
Another industry observer echoed Martens, calling the agreement "a major
validation for both SugarCRM and Netsuite," but also cited its significance
for BT.
The telecom "is in a period of surprisingly agile innovation," said
James Governor, a UK-based analyst with Redmonk. "It's trying a lot of
things out and being prepared to fast fail. .... Could BT break out as the first
real net-savvy telco? That is, the first telco of the 21st century? Its beginning
to look like it."
BT could not immediately be reached for comment Tuesday.
IDG News Service
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Just a quick update that
Just a quick update that this deal has gone through and BT are listed as a reseller on the SugarCRM web site. This has got to be a good move for SME business who can really benefit from this software.The Sugar Refiner