Master Mania: Intelisys, TBI, Telarus, Avant Go Big in Q1

**Editor’s Note: Read our list of 20 top UCaaS providers offering products and services via channel partners or click here for our list of 20 top SD-WAN providers.**

The evolution of telecom master agents into distributors of myriad technologies is one of the channel’s most significant stories over the past several years. In fact, many now refer to themselves more often as technology distributors than master agents. The importance they play as a conduit between vendors and the individual agent – or VAR or MSP, for that matter – can’t be overstated.

For that reason, there’s an abundance of news coming from these channel players on a quarterly, monthly — even weekly basis. You see it right here on Channel Partners Online. It might be partnerships with suppliers that provide partners with new services to sell, new hires in key channel-facing roles, acquisitions of other distributors, or national and international expansions. It’s hard to keep up with it all.

That’s why we’ve compiled this one-stop shop of the biggest master-agent news from the first quarter of 2018. Here you’ll find the major players – think Intelisys, TBI, Avant, Telarus and WTG – but also some of the smaller masters that are making big strides with their businesses.

Click through our gallery below to get caught up.

Intelisys

Intelisys introduced ROI Communications as its 15th platinum partner, recognition given to companies generating $1 million in monthly recurring revenue with the master. ROI is Intelisys' first platinum partner from New England.The company also formed a partnership with Talkdesk, the contact-center solutions provider, meaning that Intelisys sales partners get a new portfolio of contact-center-as-a-service (CCaaS) products. Talkdesk expands its market reach in the process.“Talkdesk offers an exciting platform to customers in the market for cloud-based contact center solutions,” said Andrew Pryfogle, senior vice president of cloud transformation for Intelisys.Last but not least, signing vMox to its supplier program gives Intelisys' partners access to vMox's mobility cost-optimization and life-cycle management services.