How can I get SharePoint Server 2010 Now?

The Fpweb.net team is back in action from SharePoint Conference 2009 in Las Vegas, October 19-22. First and foremost, I’d like to thank the 1500 plus visitors who stopped by our booth (voted best in show).

Much to our surprise, the most common question we received in Vegas wasn’t “which way to the crab leg buffet”.  It wasn’t even “What is SharePoint hosting?” It was “how can I get SharePoint Server 2010… hosted right now?” Well, we’ve got 2 options for you.

OPTION 1- Exclusive Hosted SharePoint 2010 Beta

Fpweb.net is currently in talks with Microsoft about offering a SharePoint 2010 Hosting beta to the public. Exclusive to Fpweb.net, all SharePoint 2010 beta customers will be able to access the new platform to troubleshoot and code 3rd party web parts early. With this plan, licensing and adoption uptake will skyrocket when the final product is released to market.

OPTION 2- Hosted SharePoint 2010 Sandbox

Once the beta is released in November, we’ll give companies a SharePoint 2010 sandbox environment in our SharePoint hosting cloud. Pricing and support will be the same as current MOSS hosting plans, giving users the chance to start testing their web parts, apps and custom code for compatibility and build new solutions for SharePoint Server 2010.

Why will Fpweb.net have the exclusive hosted SharePoint 2010 Beta?

It’s simple – Microsoft will be able to absorb priceless feedback from the ever growing Fpweb.net SharePoint user community, right now sitting at about 1.2 million users worldwide (doubling every 6 months). With no signs of stopping, our user base is predicted to reach a phenomenal 3-5 million users by SharePoint 2010’s release with this exclusive beta. Other effects could lead to an immediate rush for SharePoint 2010 licensing once it’s released.

We also have three advantages that will boost Microsoft’s launch of SharePoint 2010. We’re going to channel partners to include large global service providers with our SharePoint white label reseller program and develop a massive SharePoint dev community (with the help of our friends all over the World like Mark Miller) to increase collaboration. By releasing apps on SharePoint with our new QuickStart Business Suites, dev costs and failed adoption will reduce. ISVs can put their SharePoint based solution in our cloud and go to market now with SaaS.

After chatting with over 20 high level Microsoft folks at SPC09, including the strategic director for Microsoft Online Services (BPOS), everyone agreed that Fpweb.net is in an excellent position to host this offering.  With a tsunami of activity around the SharePoint community and Fpweb.net, the next 60 days are poised to prove our status as the global leader and champion of Microsoft SharePoint Hosting. Go ahead and cue that Queen song…