Cloud services is a huge opportunity for the channel and right up Intelisys‘ alley. The telecom master agent is offering a series of free cloud education workshops for telecom agents and IT VARs, with classes held bi-monthly at Polycom Learning Centers in 11 cities in the U.S.

The program, which Intelisys is calling Cloud Services University, will cover topics such as cloud sales and hosted VoIP, as well as practical training on identifying, designing and selling cloud solutions. Ultimately, Intelisys plans to expand the University beyond classrooms to webinars, online access to previously held seminars, and certifications.

“Cloud services represent an enormous opportunity for the channel, but there remains a lot of confusion and chaos,” said Andrew Pryfogle, Intelisys senior vice president and general manager, Cloud Services & Complex Bids. “We’re committed to clearing up that confusion and helping the channel take full advantage of the Cloud explosion,” he said.

Other than the obvious—it’s free—why should VARs sign up? The chance to sell cloud services immediately, according to Intelisys.

“Our approach integrates practical Cloud sales training seamlessly with both telco and cable services, and thanks to the University, anyone not currently selling Cloud services could attend a course today and begin selling tomorrow,” Pryfogle said.

What’s more, said Jay Bradley, Intelisys president, any telecom agent, solution provider and IT agent planning to be around in the next five years, needs to be educated on cloud services now.

“This is the future of the telecom agent, solution provider and IT agent who intends to still be in business in five years,” said Bradley. “Our entire business strategy encompasses Cloud and the solution it provides for the end user customer.”

Currently scheduled classes:

Classes are offered at Polycom Learning Centers in Atlanta, GA, Austin, TX, Andover, MA, Rosemont, IL, Irving, TX, Westminster, CO, New York City, NY, Irvine, CA, Santa Clara, CA, Bellevue, WA and Herndon, VA.

In late March, Intelisys bought Cloud Services Coalition, a group of integrators with cloud solutions expertise, and formed the Cloud Services and Complex Bids business unit headed by Pryfogle to support sales partners with technical, business and application discovery, solution design, project management and turn-key onsite installation and training.

That same month, the company also initiated a new program to help sales partners boost their conferencing and collaboration business and expand their sales and commissions by uncovering opportunities within their existing customer bases.