The cat is out of the bag. After several weeks of rumors, Autotask has confirmed plans to build a special edition of its software for Cisco Systems’ channel partners. Here’s the scoop.

According to Len DiCostanzo’s Twitter feed, Autotask is:

Autotask had been planning the move for several months, and formalized the effort during Cisco Live (June 27-July 2), a major conference in San Francisco that attracted IT, networking and communications professionals.

I traded voicemail with DiCostanzo and will let you know what else I hear once we connect.

The Bigger Picture

In recent months, MSP software providers have been working hard to ensure their products have (A) broad appeal across the IT channel as well as (B) specialized appeal to specific channel segments.

In addition to the Autotask-Cisco partner example, Autotask has offered some specialized capabilities to Computer Troubleshooters Global, which has more than 475 IT services franchises worldwide.

Meanwhile, some ConnectWise partners have been integrating ConnectWise with Cisco’s Monitor Director. ConnectWise also is working closely with HTG Peer Groups to help the peer group members standardize on a single business operating system and ConnectWise-developed education content.

I plan to get an update from ConnectWise CEO Arnie Bellini and HTG founder Arlin Sorensen during the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference (WPC09), which starts July 13 in New Orleans.

Not by coincidence, Microsoft channel partners have also been a common target for many MSP software providers.

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