New Offering from C&W

Cable & Wireless is staying busy on the customer retention front, and will be rolling out a new hosting package offering free managed services next week. The Business Ready Hosting plan combines content delivery, security and storage for the price of colocation. Given C&W's announcement that it is exiting the US hosting business and will sell or close its data centers, the new offering appears designed to make the US business more attractive to suitors, rather than lure large numbers of new customers (who are likely to be wary given C&W's status).

The value will be attractive to colo customers who'd like to add managed services. The offer could also boost the number of C&W customers taking managed services - which would make them more attractive to acquirers. There are no signs a sale is imminent, although UK media reports suggest the company is in early deal discussions with a group including C&W Global executive Simon Cunningham.