Software as a service (SaaS) is defined as the delivery of fully functional, outsourced and centrally hosted applications through the Web. SaaS offers the availability of feature rich applications at lower cost allowing enterprises to leverage off a "pay-for-use-only" cost model.

Internet Solutions (IS), a leading converged communications services provider, offers its clients the latest SaaS solutions, and has recently upgraded to Microsoft Hosted Messaging and Collaboration 3.5 - the first Microsoft Partner worldwide to do so.

"There is an increasing demand, growing acceptance and recognition within South Africa of the benefits of SaaS," says Hayden Lamberti, manager, IS Applications Solutions. "More and more businesses today are in the market for hosted messaging solutions. IS Application Solution division has been providing HMC as a business tool to its client base for more than five years so we have a good track record and extensive skills in-house for our clients to utilise - from large enterprises to SMEs."