Richardson RFPD adds Microsoft Azure to IoT portfolio

The Microsoft Cloud Solution Provider program is designed to enable device makers to build cloud-enabled products with ease.

The program simplifies the process of buying, managing and integrating Microsoft cloud services to create new business models and revenue opportunities.

Microsoft Azure, part of the program, is an ever-expanding set of cloud services that facilitate the building, management and deployment of applications on a massive, global network. Azure IoT Central is an IoT-specific application platform that reduces the burden and cost of developing, managing and maintaining enterprise-grade SaaS IoT solutions.

By creating bundled hardware and connectivity solutions with Microsoft Azure and Azure IoT Central, Richardson RFPD gives customers the opportunity to focus time, money and energy on quickly developing and deploying IoT, cloud-connected solutions, rather than just maintaining and updating a complex and continually evolving IoT infrastructure.

“Richardson RFPD’s broad offering of IoT wireless connectivity products makes it a natural partner for Microsoft, our cloud solution provider program and, specifically, our Microsoft Azure services,” said Michael Kuptz, general manager, IoT sales in the Americas at Microsoft. “We look forward to working with their global teams to offer Azure IoT advantages to their customers.”

“The bundled solutions with Microsoft Azure and Azure IoT Central will greatly accelerate our customers’ IoT projects from ideas to reality,” said Rafael R. Salmi, Ph.D., Richardson RFPD’s president.

Additional benefits to Richardson RFPD customers include:

• No long-term contracts: option to cancel any time, no fixed agreements
• Minimal upfront investment: pay-as-you-go model, monthly invoicing based on usage
• Local sales and FAE support: priority access to escalations within Microsoft
• Self-management portal: proactively manage consumption, get detailed billing, set budget alerts