"We are putting together a group for accountants specifically for Sage One," says Mike Savory, manager of product management for the Internet-based product. While Sage has long had the Sage Accountants Network, there will be a new group, although it will operation within SAN.

Savory says that with the cloud application, "This is just another example where we need to look at another type of accountant, who is more progressive in some ways.

Sage is looking other ways in connecting with accountants via this product. It is considering allowing firms to co-brand the product or to buy licenses for their clients. "We are considering all of those things. The Accountants Edition is a first step," he says.

The Accountants Edition itself is aimed at supporting collaboration between accountants and clients. Accountants can access client data through the portal. Savory also notes that additional functions are on the way. Sage recently introduced Sage One Accounts Extra in the United Kingdom. The product has features such as multi-currency, support for multiple languages and users and additional security.

Designed for companies with up to 20 employees, the more robust version debuted first in the U.K. because Sage One has been on the market about a year longer there than it has in the United States. Savory did not disclose how soon a U.S. version might be released. However, he notes that the product effort has been unified so that the U.S. can take advantage of features and functions developed elsewhere.