UXC Eclipse joins forces to clinch Apple Isle deal

Two solutions providers have collaborated to win over the Tasmanian state government as the first customer for their Microsoft software-as-a-service offering.

Infrastructure and communications provider TasmaNet and Microsoft ERP partner UXC Eclipse announced that a "substantial Tasmanian government department" has been signed up for their new solution.

While TasmaNet contributed the hardware, UXC Eclipse developed the software layer, including Sharepoint, Microsoft Dynamics ERP and CRM applications.

"They have the skills and the applications, while we provide the infrastructure and backup facilities," said TasmaNet managing director Joel Harris.

Moore said that TasmaNet brought it "better access" to the Tasmanian public sector: "Our first government engagement wanted a seamless relationship with a single supplier, and TasmaNet partnership provides this as they are known and trusted in government."

Although the maiden client is specifically a government department on the Apple Isle, both companies are hoping the offering has wider geographic and vertical appeal.

"The SaaS partnership will also generate general business and revenue in Tasmania and on the mainland, underpinned by TasmaNet’s secure cloud services," said UXC's enterprise solutions and services senior executive William Moore.

Harris said that outside of the public sector, most companies in Tasmania "lack sufficient depth of skills and resources" to manage their own IT. "And our partnership with UXC Eclipse supplies these… Customers no longer need to worry about managing their public-facing web sites, instead they can focus on business. Our customers now have a single vendor to deal with [UXC Eclipse] and a single invoice."

A statement from the two providers said that the state government is encouraging businesses to use local suppliers and that TasmaNet is Tasmanian-owned and operated, while UXC Eclipse has a branch in Hobart.

UXC Eclipse is a Microsoft Dynamics gold partner with offices in Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Fiji, and Canada. TasmaNet operates a data centre in the Hobart Technology Park.