Intel, Microsoft Plan MSP Push?

Sometime before 2009 ends, old pals Intel and Microsoft will likely market the benefits of Intel vPro PCs and laptops running Windows 7, The VAR Guy hears. The target market: Established and aspiring managed service providers seeking to remotely maintain customer systems — for a profit. Here’s the scoop.

Actually, The VAR Guy has shared just about all he knows about the forthcoming Intel-Microsoft marketing push. Our resident blogger expects more details to dribble out over the next few weeks. And once Windows 7 launches on October 22, watch for the Intel vPro team and Microsoft to turn up the volume on the MSP-oriented marketing messages.

You can find some clues about where Intel is heading with its vPro managed services messaging in this FAQ (particularly in answers A9 and A10).

In the meantime, several PC vendors are working to formalize managed services strategies that incorporate vPro messaging. In particular, The VAR Guy has been hearing new MSP-oriented rumblings from Lenovo and Toshiba. Stay tuned.

Follow The VAR Guy via RSS; Facebook; Identi.ca; Twitter; and via his Newsletter; Webcasts and Resource Center.