By samdizzy

Where is the next big opportunity for Hewlett-Packard and its channel partners? Perhaps the answer will come from Meaghan Kelly, VP of SMB and channels at Hewlett-Packard. In a TalkinCloud FastChat Video, Kelly explains how the HP Startup and Venture Capital Council promotes technology startups and cloud computing companies to channel partners — particularly in the SMB space.

Among Kelly’s first finds: Axcient, a cloud-centric backup and disaster recovery company. More than 200 HP channel partners have embraced Axcient’s hybrid cloud solution in recent months. Plus, Axcient CEO Justin Moore is now active on the HP council.

Still, finding channel-centric cloud startups isn’t easy. Many cloud companies are pursuing direct sales engagements. And Kelly also has her hands full promoting HP’s own product lineup to SMB channel partners.

Among Kelly’s key priorities for mid- to late-2011: Successfully promoting HP tablets running WebOS to channel partners. Kelly predicts that all HP salespeople will carry the HP tablets by mid-2011. The embedded WebOS operating system comes from HP’s buyout of Palm.

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