The convergence of the managed services and software-as-a-service (SaaS) markets came into focus again recently when Everdream and Verizon unveiled new offerings and alliances aimed at covering customers’ desktop management needs.

As I’ve suggested previously on this blog, the line of demarcation between managed services and SaaS can be fuzzy. In fact, there are many who use the terms interchangeably. I tend to differentiate them this way–managed services are those offerings in which vendors/providers assume responsibility for performing a management function, while SaaS gives the customers the functionality to perform a management task themselves.

This distinction becomes blurred when the vendor/provider offers both options to its customers. BMC is an example of a vendor offering both managed services and SaaS solutions to its customers in addition to its traditional packaged software.

Everdream illustrated how the managed services and SaaS worlds are rapidly converging by announcing a new alliance with Salesforce.com at the Dreamforce conference. Under the new alliance, Everdream’s Asset and Desktop Management capabilities will be available via Salesforce.com’s AppExchange, the company’s online/on-demand clearinghouse of fully integrated third-party applications.

The alliance gives Salesforce.com’s customers and partners real-time, one-click access to hardware and software asset information to more rapidly troubleshoot and resolve IT incidents. It also gives them greater visibility and control over their desktop and laptop computers, regardless of location. Users will be able to more easily perform remote access, patch management, software distribution, virus protection, and online backup management.

While Everdream extended the reach of its desktop management SaaS solution via its alliance with Salesforce.com, Verizon announced it is extending the scope of its managed services to cover desktops and peripherals. The new desktop services are an extension of Verizon’s managed infrastructure and application services. The new services include remote and on-site hardware repair; operating systems and software application support; hardware/software moves, adds and changes; hardware imaging; asset management and recovery; patch management; antivirus updates and anti-spyware.

Verizon claims its new management services have been established in response to growing demand from customers seeking strategic sourcing companies that can cover their infrastructure, application and desktop management needs. Cognizant made a similar claim when it acquired Aimnet Solutions in September.

Verizon also admitted to me that its desktop management services will not be the “lead” into new accounts, but a method of expanding its footprint within existing accounts or as an added weapon in competitive bid situations with companies such as IBM, CSC, EDS, Getronics and other major IT outsourcers.

Everdream and Verizon’s moves demonstrate that the desktop, along with related peripherals and mobile devices, is becoming an important battleground for both managed service providers (MSPs) and SaaS vendors.