Microsoft Monday launched a new software package aimed at enabling independent software vendors (ISVs) to offer their software on a hosted basis in a move to take advantage of the growing software-as-a-service (SAAS) market.The Microsoft Solution for Windows-based Hosting for Applications Version 1.0 is available now. It is designed not only for ISVs that want to offer their wares as services on their own, but also for hosting providers that offer environments on which companies can host their software.The SAAS enablement package includes Microsoft Operations Manager 2005, which can identify and resolve problems in a hosted environment to ensure service-level agreements are met, and Microsoft Provisioning System, which automates administrative tasks such as adding new users, updating directory entries, and provisioning applications and services, the company said. The package also offers other tools and systems for automating patch and update management as well as centralizing management of the IT environment.In addition, Microsoft is providing a monthly subscription-based licensing model, Services Provider License Agreement, which allows ISVs and hosting providers to pay only for the software they use in a given time period. Pricing information was not immediately available.SAAS is becoming an increasingly popular way for companies to offer their software to customers who don’t want to make a big investment in IT infrastructure. Research firm IDC estimates that spending in the SAAS market will reach US$10.7 billion worldwide by 2009. Companies that also offer SAAS enablement programs and software include Oracle and IBM, as well as pure-play SAAS enablement companies such as OpSource.For related content, read A Win for Microsoft in Massachusetts?This article is posted on our Microsoft Informer page. For more news on the Redmond, Wash.-based powerhouse, keep checking in.Check out our CIO News Alerts and Tech Informer pages for more updated news coverage.— Elizabeth Montalbano, IDG News Service Related content feature Key IT initiatives reshape the CIO agenda While cloud, cybersecurity, and analytics remain top of mind for IT leaders, a shift toward delivering business value is altering how CIOs approach key priorities, pushing transformative projects to the next phase. By Mary Pratt May 30, 2023 10 mins IT Strategy IT Leadership opinion Managing IT right starts with rightsizing IT for value While there are few universals when it comes to saying unambiguously what ‘managing IT right’ looks like, knowing how to navigate the limitless possibilities of IT is surely one. By Thornton May May 30, 2023 6 mins Digital Transformation IT Strategy IT Leadership brandpost Designing the campus of the future starts with high-quality 10Gbps connectivity By Huawei May 30, 2023 4 mins Network Architect Networking Devices Networking feature Red Hat embraces hybrid cloud for internal IT The maker of OpenShift has leveraged its own open container offering to migrate business-critical apps to AWS as part of a strategy to move beyond facilitating hybrid cloud for others and capitalize on the model for itself. By Paula Rooney May 29, 2023 5 mins CIO 100 Technology Industry Hybrid Cloud Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe