May 12, 2010

2 Min Read
Master Agents Form Cloud Services Group

By Khali Henderson

Master agencies Concierge Communications, Tempe, Ariz., and Terrapin Solutions, San Ramon, Calif., announced Wednesday they have formed a cloud services roundtable group to organize master agencies focused on managed services, cloud computing and hosted services.

According to the companies, the group will share best practices, evaluate emerging technology, invite provider presentations and explore collaborative opportunities.

The group will meet regularly via phone and in person at the Channel Partners Conference & Expo, the twice-annual event for the communications industry channel.

Master agencies can apply for membership to the group by completing the form at www.cloudroundtable.com. Applications will be reviewed for potential contribution to other master agencies focused on managed services, cloud-based computing or hosted service offerings.

Clark Atwood, vice president of Concierge Communications, will be the initial chairman for the group. Atwood has been involved with hosted VoIP since 2003 and claims direct involvement in the successful design and sale of more $10 million of contract value hosted services.

“This number of managed service providers is growing. Few have the financing and national reach so it is important at this stage to form a group that has visibility to providers around the country,” said Atwood in a press statement. “We don’t know who will ultimately emerge as the dominant players, but this group will be watching and embracing the ones that are performing. We will be evaluating the proven disruptive technologies that will benefit our diverse client bases.”

Andrew Pryfogle, CEO of Terrapin-Solutions, said the cloud roundtable group is not just another “care and share” group. “This is about a fundamental shift in the communications and technology industries,” he explained in a press statement. “There will always be a place for transactional-oriented agencies, but there is a growing demand for agencies that understand the cloud. There is a unique set of master agencies that really get that. The roundtable group ensures we keep tabs on the industry so we can offer our agent communities the best options to fulfill their client’s cloud-based initiatives.”

The roundtable will serve master agents that want to add cloud computing, server and desktop virtualization, cloud infrastructure, cloud telephony (hosted VoIP), cloud mobility, remote management solutions, managed desktop/server/security, managed LAN, managed WAN (including managed MPLS/CoS), managed server, managed firewall and other cloud services.

Read more about:

Agents
Free Newsletters for the Channel
Register for Your Free Newsletter Now

You May Also Like