New Services Roundup: Avaya, Intelisys, Windstream
SD-WAN is a hot commodity. But that's not all. Sell these and earn cash.
Windstream Enterprise and Riverbed Technology made major tweaks to their SD-WAN portfolios last month.
Software-defined wide area networking (SD-WAN) stories comprise about half of our latest new services roundup. Our monthly recap helps us spot industry trends, and we couldn’t help but notice a flurry of SD-WAN announcements this time around.
They differ in nature. Windstream, Intelisys and Riverbed added platforms via partnership, with the intention of giving customers a second choice. A couple of companies, including CloudGenix, introduced new branch solutions. Cato Networks expanded its network backbone, building two points of presence in one North American country.
Our 13 stories, however, include more than just SD-WAN. Our editors covered other topics, such as contact centers, storage and IT management. Kick the workweek off with our monthly update of the channel’s new products and services.
Missed last month’s gallery? Here’s our May services roundup.
Avaya
Avaya enhanced its contact center platform with AI and machine learning thanks to a partnership with Afiniti.
Afiniti provides “enterprise behavioral pairing,” in which the system intelligently assigns customer callers to the best fitting contact-center agent. Avaya's platform will enjoy faster call resolutions and lower costs if the partnership goes according to plan.
Learn more about Avaya's call center solution.
Avaya enhanced its contact center platform with AI and machine learning thanks to a partnership with Afiniti.
Afiniti provides “enterprise behavioral pairing,” in which the system intelligently assigns customer callers to the best fitting contact-center agent. Avaya's platform will enjoy faster call resolutions and lower costs if the partnership goes according to plan.
Learn more about Avaya's call center solution.
Intelisys
An early SD-WAN adopter is lending its solution set to Intelisys.
The ScanSource-owned company signed a supplier agreement with QOS Networks, which designs, deploys and manages various network services. It's a major step in the history of QOS, which was a Sandler Partners subagent just seven years ago and recently has been increasing its number of master agent partnerships.
Learn more about QOS Networks and its SD-WAN love affair.
Learn more about QOS Networks and its SD-WAN love affair.
Windstream
The carrier gave partners and customers a second SD-WAN option.
Windstream Enterprise teamed up with Fortinet, which has been touting its new platform in the last year. The major benefit of the partnership is Fortinet's close marriage of SD-WAN and a next-generation firewall.
Windstream already was partnering with VeloCloud.
The carrier gave partners and customers a second SD-WAN option.
Windstream Enterprise teamed up with Fortinet, which has been touting its new platform in the last year. The major benefit of the partnership is Fortinet's close marriage of SD-WAN and a next-generation firewall.
Windstream already was partnering with VeloCloud.
Fortinet
Speaking of Fortinet, the vendor launched a software-defined branch office solution.
Secure SD-Branch combines network access, WAN and security into a single platform, the company said. Fortinet expanded its firewall security into the access layer as part of the update.
"We don’t know anyone else in the market that can deliver the SD-WAN, the security, the switching, the wireless and the [network access control] (NAC), all in an integrated and easy-to-use fashion,” an executive told Channel Futures.
Lynn Haber covered Fortinet for our sister site.
Speaking of Fortinet, the vendor launched a software-defined branch office solution.
Secure SD-Branch combines network access, WAN and security into a single platform, the company said. Fortinet expanded its firewall security into the access layer as part of the update.
"We don’t know anyone else in the market that can deliver the SD-WAN, the security, the switching, the wireless and the [network access control] (NAC), all in an integrated and easy-to-use fashion,” an executive told Channel Futures.
Lynn Haber covered Fortinet for our sister site.
HPE
HPE Primera harnessed the strengths two existing solutions to upgrade its "mission-critical" storage platform.
The platform uses HPE Nimble storage and HPE Infosight's artificial intelligence, which together simplify the user experience and provide 100% availability, according to HPE. Primera replaces the 3PAR storage system. Some customers describe Primera as having less configuration than its predecessor, but HPE executives say the upgrade removes the customer's complex array setup choices.
Check out Channel Futures to read another Lynn Haber ditty.
HPE Primera harnessed the strengths two existing solutions to upgrade its "mission-critical" storage platform.
The platform uses HPE Nimble storage and HPE Infosight's artificial intelligence, which together simplify the user experience and provide 100% availability, according to HPE. Primera replaces the 3PAR storage system. Some customers describe Primera as having less configuration than its predecessor, but HPE executives say the upgrade removes the customer's complex array setup choices.
Check out Channel Futures to read another Lynn Haber ditty.
Equinix
The new set of Equinix virtual network services integrates into the company's software-defined interconnection service.
The new network-edge services exist to help the wave of customers that are requesting the ability to connect to the interconnection services virtually through a cloud exchange. Cisco, Juniper Networks and other vendors created network function virtualizations (VNFs) in partnership with Equinix Network Edge.
“We believe this is going to become bigger and bigger over the next few months and years,” a Cisco executive told us.
Learn about the "next phase" of the Equinix data center platform.
The new set of Equinix virtual network services integrates into the company's software-defined interconnection service.
The new network-edge services exist to help the wave of customers that are requesting the ability to connect to the interconnection services virtually through a cloud exchange. Cisco, Juniper Networks and other vendors created network function virtualizations (VNFs) in partnership with Equinix Network Edge.
“We believe this is going to become bigger and bigger over the next few months and years,” a Cisco executive told us.
Learn about the "next phase" of the Equinix data center platform.
Talkdesk
The contact center vendor launched a new hybrid deployment model last month.
Talkdesk said its Hybrid Spaces offering uses public cloud processing to "streamline the transition" for on-premises or first-generation cloud systems into private Talkdesk storage. The company's senior vice president of product and product marketing said channel partners gain a competitive advantage to serve customers that need additional control over their data.
Edward Gately has the scoop.
The contact center vendor launched a new hybrid deployment model last month.
Talkdesk said its Hybrid Spaces offering uses public cloud processing to "streamline the transition" for on-premises or first-generation cloud systems into private Talkdesk storage. The company's senior vice president of product and product marketing said channel partners gain a competitive advantage to serve customers that need additional control over their data.
Edward Gately has the scoop.
Vonage
The communications provider now offers email on its Nexmo API platform.
Vonage's vice president of global channel told us that the email communications has transformed from a "siloed channel" to "one of many within a rich set of channels." He said customers are demanding a wider set of messaging options delivered through an all-in-one platform.
The company partnered with Sendinblue, which is known for GDPR-compliant marketing and sales tools, to make the addition.
Learn about why email is an important component for channel partners.
The communications provider now offers email on its Nexmo API platform.
Vonage's vice president of global channel told us that the email communications has transformed from a "siloed channel" to "one of many within a rich set of channels." He said customers are demanding a wider set of messaging options delivered through an all-in-one platform.
The company partnered with Sendinblue, which is known for GDPR-compliant marketing and sales tools, to make the addition.
Learn about why email is an important component for channel partners.
Microsoft
Microsoft partnered with another manufacturer to enhance its new video conferencing digital whiteboard platform.
The Surface Hub 2S provides huddle rooms that customers can move from room to room. Office furniture maker Steelcase is working with Microsoft to create a wheeled cart for the Surface.
Steelcase built a partner portal and is working on a demo program to accommodate the indirect channel.
Jeffrey Schwartz wrote about the update.
Microsoft partnered with another manufacturer to enhance its new video conferencing digital whiteboard platform.
The Surface Hub 2S provides huddle rooms that customers can move from room to room. Office furniture maker Steelcase is working with Microsoft to create a wheeled cart for the Surface.
Steelcase built a partner portal and is working on a demo program to accommodate the indirect channel.
Jeffrey Schwartz wrote about the update.
CloudGenix
A new CloudGenix platform launches cloud-based SD-WAN and other infrastructure at branch offices.
CloudBlades, which is independent of the AppFabric SD-WAN platform, can "spin up" integrations from Palo Alto, Equinix, Microsoft and other vendors without needing new hardware or software. The goal is to replace traditional hardware blades that are historically used as part of multifunction routers.
“We’ve seen that while the hardware-blades approach has dominated the industry, it definitely feels like it needs to give way,” the company's CEO told us.
We wrote about CloudGenix as part of our SD-WAN Roundup.
A new CloudGenix platform launches cloud-based SD-WAN and other infrastructure at branch offices.
CloudBlades, which is independent of the AppFabric SD-WAN platform, can "spin up" integrations from Palo Alto, Equinix, Microsoft and other vendors without needing new hardware or software. The goal is to replace traditional hardware blades that are historically used as part of multifunction routers.
“We’ve seen that while the hardware-blades approach has dominated the industry, it definitely feels like it needs to give way,” the company's CEO told us.
We wrote about CloudGenix as part of our SD-WAN Roundup.
Riverbed
Our earlier SD-WAN Roundup featured an intriguing partnership between Riverbed Technology and Versa Networks.
Riverbed offers an SD-WAN platform called SteelConnect, but Versa's Secure Cloud IP platform may help it serve more enterprise customers. Those customers might be completely new to Riverbed or previously using non-SD-WAN offerings from the vendor.
One analyst said it makes sense that Riverbed is choosing a "dance partner" as the crowded SD-WAN market begins to tighten.
Take the column a looksee.
Our earlier SD-WAN Roundup featured an intriguing partnership between Riverbed Technology and Versa Networks.
Riverbed offers an SD-WAN platform called SteelConnect, but Versa's Secure Cloud IP platform may help it serve more enterprise customers. Those customers might be completely new to Riverbed or previously using non-SD-WAN offerings from the vendor.
One analyst said it makes sense that Riverbed is choosing a "dance partner" as the crowded SD-WAN market begins to tighten.
Take the column a looksee.
Cato
The Israeli vendor known for its cybersecurity roots expanded in Canada.
Cato increased its cloud backbone to 45 points of presence (PoPs) worldwide and 17 in North America. Cato's vice president of worldwide sales said the expansion gives Canadian businesses "affordable, optimal and secure connectivity for both in-country and global locations and users."
Cato fills out another portion of the SD-WAN column.
The Israeli vendor known for its cybersecurity roots expanded in Canada.
Cato increased its cloud backbone to 45 points of presence (PoPs) worldwide and 17 in North America. Cato's vice president of worldwide sales said the expansion gives Canadian businesses "affordable, optimal and secure connectivity for both in-country and global locations and users."
Cato fills out another portion of the SD-WAN column.
SolarWinds
SolarWinds has a new service desk solution.
SolarWinds Service Desk is SaaS-based IT service management (ITSM) that capitalizes on a recent acquisition. The IT management company bought the ITSM solution provider Samanage earlier this year.
Allison Francis penned the article about the ITSM market for Channel Futures.
SolarWinds has a new service desk solution.
SolarWinds Service Desk is SaaS-based IT service management (ITSM) that capitalizes on a recent acquisition. The IT management company bought the ITSM solution provider Samanage earlier this year.
Allison Francis penned the article about the ITSM market for Channel Futures.
And yet Windstream only gives me 2 mps.