Rhipe has launched its Microsoft cloud solution provider offering, which it says expands the cloud opportunities for resellers.

The new offering sees Rhipe wholesaling Microsoft Office365, Windows InTune and Enterprise Mobility Suite as a Microsoft ‘two-tier' cloud solution provider (CSP). Azure and CRM Online are expected to be added later this year.

Rhipe says the program extends cloud opportunities for its Australian partners, giving them the ability to on-sell the Microsoft public cloud offerings on a monthly ‘pay for what you use' basis, and providing them with marketing and sales enablement, provisioning, direct billing, implantation and support services for the offerings.

As well as the Microsoft cloud products, Rhipe says it is bundling other value-add offerings for service providers, including LiveTiles and SkyKick's Office365 email migration solution.

The distributor is also offering professional services, with resellers able to call on a team of Rhipe staff to assist in the implementation and support of Office365 products, such as SharePoint and Yammer. Rhipe will use the talent acquired through its acquisition of nSynergy late last year to provide the specialist staff.

“Service providers can continue to manage the direct relationship with end-user customers while Rhipe provides the licenses and services capabilities to support its service provider partners,” Rhipe says.

Dominic O'Hanlon, Rhipe chief executive, says the launch is an important milestone for Rhipe and its partners.

“Two Tier CSP is a great fit for our business today, and beyond. Rhipe now offers public, private and hybrid cloud solutions from Microsoft,” he says.

“Our cloud offerings enable partners to deliver and manage the cloud the way they want it. Rhipe is the cloud channel company; we're all about enabling service providers across Australia to harness the cloud opportunity and this is a positive step in our long-term strategy,” O'Hanlon says.

Rhipe and Ingram Micro were both named Microsoft two-tier CSP partners earlier this year. Ingram Micro launched its offering early last month.

Industry analysts IDC have predicted that Australian public cloud spend will increase from $909 million in 2014 to $1.7 billion by 2018, with a compound annual growth rate of 17.2%, while a Telsyte study shows 84% of Australian CIOs intend to increase or maintain cloud spend this year.