Intermedia: trusted Microsoft Exchange Hosting solutions

How Intermedia Stacks Up

Learn about how Intermedia’s partner program and cloud services compare to the competition. Before making a decision it’s important to get the facts.

What's the difference?

Program Structure & Economics

Intermedia
Private Label Model

OFFICE 365

Google Apps

Ownership of Customer Billing and Pricing

check-green

Partner owns relationship with their customer including billing and pricing

cross-red

Microsoft sets prices and bills customer directly

orange circle

Partner owns billing and sets pricing, but – because service isn’t private label – retail pricing and partner discount are accessible to end customers
Private Label Service Delivery and Management

check-green

  • Brandable portal for partners and their end customers to use to set up services
  • Full API package to access control panel from external sources
  • Integration into Merchant Processing for credit card billing (support for
  • authorize.net and Pay Flow Pro by PayPal)

cross-red

No private label capability

cross-red

No private label capability
Partner Portal

check-green

Provision and manage Intermedia’s proprietary services, Microsoft-based services, and third-party services under partner brand

check-green

Provision and manage Microsoft services

check-green

Provision and manage Google Apps
Economics

check-green

Partners set prices and can bundle Intermedia’s private label services or their own – often earning 40% or greater margins

orange circle

Commission on customers’ first year payments to Microsoft; renewal fee every year as long as customer keeps subscribing and maintains original partner as Partner of Record1

orange circle

Discount off retail price; margin opportunity limited because service isn’t private label – retail pricing and partner discount are accessible to end customers
Program Fees and Subscription Duration

check-green

No fees, no subscriptions, no commitments; all services are month to month

orange circle

No fees; annual subscription duration

check-green

No fees, no subscriptions, no commitments; month-to-month or annual duration available

Partner support provided

Intermedia
Private Label Model

OFFICE 365

Google Apps

Brandable Sales and Marketing Collateral

check-green

Suite of brandable (customizable) marketing materials and contracts available

cross-red

Materials not brandable

check-green

Brandable (customizable) materials available
Migration Support

check-green

  • Free migration for any account with 25+ seats with Intermedia operating behind the scenes
  • Custom migration tools for sub-25 seat accounts
  • Online and phone support
  • Dedicated L2 technician

orange circle

Online migration toolkit and phone support

orange circle

Online migration toolkit and discussion forum
Tech Support

check-green

  • 24/7 phone support with average hold time of less than one minute
  • Built in support ticketing system in Intermedia Partner Portal
  • Microsoft certified support specialists
  • Online Knowledge Base

orange circle

  • 24/7 phone support; phone response time undocumented
  • Microsoft certified support specialists
  • Online forum

cross-red

Self-service online support and email support; phone support for critical issues only
Partner Sales Support

check-green

  • Dedicated partner development executive to provide one-on-one deal support and counsel
  • Online tools and training available

orange circle

Online tools and training available

orange circle

Online tools and training available

Services offered

Intermedia
Private Label Model

OFFICE 365

Google Apps

Mobility

check-green

Support for full range of smartphones and tablets, including ActiveSync (iPhone, iPad, Android, Windows 7) and BlackBerry

orange circle

Support for ActiveSync devices; BlackBerry support through separate service by RIM (separate control panel & user management, separate support)

orange circle

Support for ActiveSync devices; BlackBerry support requires BES or downloadable apps from Google
Microsoft Outlook

check-green

  • Exchange 2010 enables full support of Microsoft Outlook® 2010 features such as improved calendaring and conversation view
  • Outlook Web App (enhanced web access available with Exchange 2010)
  • Microsoft Outlook® 2011 for MAC available

check-green

  • Exchange 2010 enables full support of Microsoft Outlook® 2010 features such as improved calendaring and conversation view
  • Outlook Web App (enhanced web access available with Exchange 2010)
  • Microsoft Outlook® 2011 for MAC available

cross-red

Google Apps Sync for Microsoft Outlook® is a plug-in for Outlook 2003, 2007, or 2010; however, there are limitations and synchronization issues between the two
Supported Mail Platform

check-green

  • 25 GB or unlimited storage options
  • Enterprise version of Exchange 2010 (latest version) including SharePoint 2010 Foundation and Outlook 2010
  • Public folders available

orange circle

  • Storage max 25 GB
  • Hosted version of Exchange 2010 (latest version) including SharePoint Server 2010 and Outlook 2010
  • Public folders not available

orange circle

  • Storage max 25 GB
  • Gmail connects with basic Pop or IMAP connection for mobile and Outlook; Gmail Business is based off the same free Gmail service
  • Public folders supported via Google Groups
Collaboration and File Management

check-green

Lync Secure Instant Messaging and desktop sharing, SharePoint document management and PC Backup

check-green

Lync Secure Instant Messaging, SharePoint document management

check-green

Google IM, Docs and Cloud Connect services
Archiving

check-green

Archiving available (basic and compliant)

check-green

Archiving available

check-green

Archiving available
Voice/Unified Communications Offering

check-green

  • Hosted PBX VoIP-based telephone offering with full Unified Communications option
  • Conference Bridges

cross-red

No voice offering

orange circle

Google Voice, a consumer-oriented service
Microsoft Office Web Apps

cross-red

Not available; customers use their own Microsoft Office software

check-green

Available; expires upon contract termination

cross-red

Not available; customers use Google Docs or their own Microsoft Office software
Active Directory Synchronization

check-green

Sync solution with advance management capabilities

orange circle

Sync solution with limited management capabilities

check-green

Sync solution with advanced management capabilities

Reliability and Security

Intermedia
Private Label Model

OFFICE 365

Google Apps

Security

check-green

  • Policy-based Encryption add-on available; includes templates for HIPAA compliance
  • Wipe ActiveSync and BlackBerry mobile devices in case of lost or theft

check-green

  • Policy-based Encryption add-on available
  • Wipe ActiveSync devices only

check-green

  • Google Message Encryption service available
  • Wipe ActiveSync devices; BlackBerry device wipe requires BES
Operations: SLA and Location of Customer Data

check-green

  • 7 US-based datacenters; 1 datacenter in UK for EU customers
  • SOC 2 Type II Audited, 99.999% uptime SLA

orange circle

  • Uses several independent datacenters located in different parts of the world
  • SaS 70 Type II Audited, 99.9% uptime SLA

orange circle

  • Does not reveal which of its global datacenters are used
  • 99.9% uptime SLA

1Redmond Channel Partner, Office 365 Billing

Compare Intermedia's direct offering to the competition.

What's the difference?

Program Structure & Economics

Intermedia
Advisor Model

OFFICE 365

Google Apps

Partner Portal

check-green

Provision and manage Intermedia’s proprietary services, Microsoft-based services, and third-party services

orange circle

Provision and manage Microsoft services

orange circle

Provision and manage Google Apps
Economics

check-green

Partners earn a recurring monthly commission over the life of the account

orange circle

Commission on customers’ first year payments to Microsoft; renewal fee every year as long as customer keeps subscribing and maintains original partner as Partner of Record1

check-green

Partners get a discount off retail price and set customer price
Program Fees and Subscription Duration

check-green

No fees, no subscriptions, no commitments; month-to-month or annual duration available

orange circle

No fees; annual subscription duration

check-green

No fees, no subscriptions, no commitments; month-to-month or annual duration available

Partner support provided

Intermedia
Advisor Model

OFFICE 365

Google Apps

Migration Support

check-green

Free migration for any account handled by Intermedia’s expert Cloud Concierge team

orange circle

Online migration toolkit and phone support

orange circle

Online migration toolkit and discussion forum
Tech Support

check-green

24/7 phone support with average hold time of less than one minute, online knowledge base

orange circle

  • 24/7 phone support; phone response time undocumented
  • Online forum

cross-red

Self-service online support and email support; phone support for critical issues only
Partner Sales Support

check-green

  • Dedicated partner development executive to provide one-on-one deal support and counsel
  • Online tools and training available

orange circle

Online tools and training available

orange circle

Online tools and training available

Services offered

Intermedia
Advisor Model

OFFICE 365

Google Apps

Mobility

check-green

Support for full range of smartphones and tablets, including ActiveSync (iPhone, iPad, Android, Windows 7) and BlackBerry

orange circle

Support for ActiveSync devices; BlackBerry support through separate service by RIM (separate control panel & user management, separate support)

orange circle

Support for ActiveSync devices; BlackBerry support requires BES or downloadable apps from Google
Microsoft Outlook

check-green

  • Exchange 2010 enables full support of Microsoft Outlook® 2010 features such as improved calendaring and conversation view
  • Outlook Web App (enhanced web access available with Exchange 2010)
  • Microsoft Outlook® 2011 for MAC available

check-green

  • Exchange 2010 enables full support of Microsoft Outlook® 2010 features such as improved calendaring and conversation view
  • Outlook Web App (enhanced web access available with Exchange 2010)
  • Microsoft Outlook® 2011 for MAC available

cross-red

Google Apps Sync for Microsoft Outlook® is a plug-in for Outlook 2003, 2007, or 2010; however, there are limitations and synchronization issues between the two
Supported Mail Platform

check-green

  • 25 GB or unlimited storage options
  • Enterprise version of Exchange 2010 (latest version) including SharePoint 2010 Foundation and Outlook 2010
  • Public folders available

orange circle

  • Storage max 25 GB
  • Hosted version of Exchange 2010 (latest version) including SharePoint Server 2010 and Outlook 2010
  • Public folders not available

orange circle

  • Storage max 25 GB
  • Gmail connects with basic Pop or IMAP connection for mobile and Outlook; Gmail Business is based off the same free Gmail service
  • Public folders supported via Google Groups
Collaboration and File Management

check-green

Lync Secure Instant Messaging, SharePoint document management and PC Backup

check-green

Lync Secure Instant messaging, SharePoint document management

check-green

Google IM, Docs and Cloud Connect services
Archiving

check-green

Archiving available; supports all third part cloud archiving providers

check-green

Archiving available

check-green

Archiving available
Voice/Unified Communications Offering

check-green

  • Hosted PBX VoIP-based telephone offering with full Unified Communications option
  • Conference Bridges

cross-red

No voice offering

orange circle

Google Voice, a consumer-oriented service
Microsoft Office Web Apps

cross-red

Not available; customers use their own Microsoft Office software

check-green

Available; expires upon contract termination

cross-red

Not available; customers use Google Docs or their own Microsoft Office software
Active Directory Synchronization

check-green

Sync soluton with advance management capabilities

orange circle

Sync solution with limited management capabilities

check-green

Sync solution with advanced management capabilities

Reliability and Security

Intermedia
Advisor Model

OFFICE 365

Google Apps

Security

check-green

  • Policy-based Encryption add-on available; includes templates for HIPAA compliance
  • Wipe ActiveSync and BlackBerry mobile devices in case of lost or theft

check-green

  • Policy-based Encryption add-on available
  • Wipe ActiveSync devices only

check-green

  • Google Message Encryption service available
  • Wipe ActiveSync devices; BlackBerry device wipe requires BES
Operations: SLA and Location of Customer Data

check-green

  • 7 US-based datacenters; 1 datacenter in UK for EU customers
  • SOC 2 Type II Audited, 99.999% uptime SLA

orange circle

  • Uses several independent datacenters located in different parts of the world
  • SaS 70 Type II Audited, 99.9% uptime SLA

orange circle

  • Does not reveal which of its global datacenters are used
  • 99.9% uptime SLA

1Redmond Channel Partner, Office 365 Billing

Compare Intermedia's direct offering to the competition.

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