Cloud Service Providers

Cisco: Small Acquisition, Big Software Strategy

• September 27, 2007

Sometimes, small acquisitions are big deals. For instance, Cisco Systems today acquired Latigent, a privately held company that sells Web-based software for call centers. The deal was so small that Cisco did not disclose financial details. However, The VAR Guy believes the Latigent deal is a sign of things to come from Cisco. Simply put, […]

Ubuntu Backlash Begins

• September 26, 2007

Take a niche operating system. Put it in the spotlight vs. Microsoft’s disappointing Windows Vista. Hype the niche operating system for a few months. Win a business deal with Dell. And at some point all that wonderful buzz will produce expectations that you can’t meet. Such is the case, apparently, with Ubuntu.

Low-cost Solutions Debut at SMB Nation Event

• September 26, 2007

Okay, I was a little bit off with my dates. Last week, I suggested that a few low-cost managed service provider solutions would debut this week at the MSP Alliance conference in San Jose. I was half-right. Untangle, an open source network security company, unveiled an MSP program with no up-front costs for solutions providers. […]

Lenovo’s Latest SMB Move

• September 26, 2007

If you’re a Lenovo reseller, membership will soon have its privileges. The PC giant has rolled our Club Lenovo, a new loyalty rewards program for Lenovo SMB resellers in the U.S. and Canada. Beginning in October, the program rewards solutions providers and their sales force for selling Lenovo PCs, monitors, peripherals and services. Hmmm. The […]

Five Disruptive Technologies for MSPs

• September 25, 2007

I lifted the headline for this blog entry from a presentation David Strom delivered this morning at the MSP Alliance conference in San Jose. So, what were the five disruptive technologies? Three of them were obvious, but David caught my ear with his analysis of the other two — and some timely perspective on Microsoft […]

Memo to Cisco, Symantec

• September 25, 2007

The buzz is loud here at the MSP Alliance conference in San Jose. Up-and-coming MSP platform providers are inking partnerships with each other, and networking with more than 200 VARs and integrators. Clearly, the MSP ecosystem is maturing rapidly. Still, big vendors like Cisco Systems and Symantec are noticeably absent from this small but growing […]

Third Brigade Makes First Service Provider Move

• September 25, 2007

Third Brigade, a security software company led by former Entrust Technologies executives, is opening its arms to managed service providers. During the MSP Alliance conference in San Jose, Third Brigade announced that it has expanded its partner program to support service providers. I’ve got to admit: Third Brigade wasn’t on my radar until I spotted […]

Specialization: Don’t Believe the Hype?

• September 25, 2007

You’ve got to specialize, specialize, specialize to succeed as a managed service provider. That’s been the key message from vendors for more than a year now. But the vendors are wrong, according to Ziff Davis Enterprise Editorial Director Mike Vizard. Instead, MSPs need to offer a broader range of services. Confused? Don’t be. I worked […]

Talkdesk personnel

• September 24, 2007

Do IT Smarter VP Says “Partner or Perish”

• September 24, 2007

As a general rule, our team holds a lot of business meetings at Starbucks. But today the business chatter started in Kinkos — when I bumped into Todd McKendrick, VP of sales at Do IT Smarter. McKendrick shared several pieces of news about the company, which is working closely with Xerox, MXLogic, SonicWall, Silverback and […]

Five Trends At MSP Alliance Conference

• September 24, 2007

I’m in San Jose for the MSP Alliance Fall Managed Services Conference. It’s my first time at an MSP Alliance event. And frankly, I’m not sure what to see. But I do expect to hear about five key trends at the event. Here’s the rundown.

Ingram, Best Buy Get Cozy

• September 24, 2007

Ingram Micro and Best Buy’s Geek Squad are teaming up to offer on-site IT services for select Best Buy business customers. The move calls for the Ingram Micro Services Network to be the “premier” on site service providers for select participants in the Best Buy for Business program in the US. The Ingram-Best Buy relationship […]

Live From MSP Alliance Conference

• September 24, 2007

The VAR Guy landed in San Jose Sunday night. No, not to attend the Justin Timberlake concert. Rather, he’s in town to attend the MSP Alliance Fall Managed Services Conference. The VAR Guy will be blogging throughout the day, and is particularly interest to hear messaging from Dell at the event. Here’s why. This conference […]

Dell Set to Invade Silicon Valley With Managed Services

• September 21, 2007

Few people realize it, but Dell is sending a Trojan Horse into Silicon Valley next week.

Can Ubuntu Run Your Small Business?

• September 20, 2007

I’ve written about Microsoft Small Business Server and other software suites that are marketed to small business owners. But curiosity about Ubuntu as a small business server and desktop seems to be growing. Back in August, Canonical hinted to me that they are working on a small business server software suite. Now mainstream websites are […]