Westcon Lets Resellers Test Hosted Solutions
Networking solutions provider Westcon has announced the opening of their “virtual demonstration lab,” which lets resellers and their customers test F5 Networks-delivered hosted solutions in a virtualized network environment. Here’s the scoop.
The idea is that Westcon’s reseller partners can now do a test deployment of hosted applications from F5’s product line — up to and including a hosted Microsoft Sharepoint solution — and show off to customers the virtues of software as a service (SaaS). And, of course, the fact that this “lab” is accessible from anywhere with an Internet connection means that costly in-person demonstrations aren’t necessary.
“This is a tremendous resource that organizations can take advantage of now—regardless of their physical location,” said Dean Darwin, VP of Worldwide Channel Sales for F5.
Anything that can show off the power and flexibility of SaaS is going to help resellers. Frankly, I’m surprised it’s taken a company this long to think of this kind of setup – hosted applications always need better PR. Building a better mousetrap is fine, but if no one knows just how much better, then what’s the point?