5 Stories We Didn’t Get to Write, Week of Oct. 23

This was a pretty crazy week for The VAR Guy, as usual: Between all the company acquisitions in the news and trying to get our real-life hoverboard to work in time for "Back to the Future" Day, we had to bench some great stories. Here’s all the news we wish we had time to write about this week, but didn’t.

Google to Promote SoftWatch Analytics Software: Google (GOOG) signed a global agreement with application usage analytics provider SoftWatch this week to market the company’s application analytics SaaS solutions. Through the agreement, Google said it will encourage its sales force and app resellers to work with SoftWatch to boost the company’s worldwide sales.

“We are very excited to work with Google and provide insightful usage information to decision-makers who are planning and executing an adoption of cloud based productivity suites" said Uri Arad and Moshe Kozlovski, co-CEOs of SoftWatch. "This agreement will allow us to bring the message of using Application Usage Analytics as a key enabler for making informed decisions, optimizing resources, planning and executing a transition to cloud based productivity suites."

ZixCorp Teams with Cisco on On-Premise Email Security: Zix Corp. (ZIXI) launched ZixGateway with Cisco Technology this week, which combines Zix Email Encryption with Cisco Post X Envelope.

The solution is being billed as a way to help enterprises protect their corporate email via an on-premise solution. ZixGateway is available now directly through Cisco Systems (CSCO) and from Cisco’s reseller network.

“Our OEM relationship showcases a new trend in security where industry leaders combine their valuable and proven solutions for the advancement of technology and data protection,” said Rick Spurr, chief executive officer of ZixCorp. “Together, we can best serve our customers, meet their evolving needs and tackle today’s greatest security challenges.”

Time Warner to Simplify Managed Cloud Services for Customers: Time Warner Cable Business Class unveiled an initiative aimed at helping customers to unify their business communications and IT solutions through a single source.

The program allows all customers who utilize TWCBC’s communications and data network to connect to NaviSite’s managed cloud services, according to the announcement. NaviSite is owned by TWCBC and offers a host of managed services including application services, desktop as a service, infrastructure as a service and hosting services.

“Our customers view us as a trusted provider of network-based business communications solutions and they can now leverage their existing relationship with us to easily connect to managed cloud services,” said Stephanie Anderson, senior vice president and chief marketing officer at Time Warner Cable Business Services. “We’re getting the word out that businesses should leverage the value, security and agility of a fully managed, single-provider solution.” 

NetSuite and Tableau Partner to Bring Instant Visual Analytics to NetSuite Cloud: Cloud-based financial solution provider NetSuite (N) has partnered with Tableau Software (DATA) on a new data export feature that allows customers to link Tableau’s instant visual analytics to the NetSuite Cloud.

This feature can be used to allow businesses to instantly apply analytics to NetSuite data so they can make more-informed business decisions, according to the announcement. Customers also can blend NetSuite with non-NetSuite data sources for the first time using Tableau’s advanced data discovery and visual analytic tools. The new export feature is available now at no extra cost.

“This integration opens new doors for joint customers to understand and act on NetSuite data in real time using best-in-class analytics,” said Dan Jewett, vice president of Product Management at Tableau Software. “Robust analytics is a hallmark of leading-edge companies, and this makes it faster and simpler for NetSuite customers to take full advantage of Tableau to drive the business.”

Pexip Names Asmund O. Fodstad CEO: Distributed collaboration software developer Pexip has promoted Åsmund O. Fodstad to the role of CEO. Fodstad formerly served as executive vice president of Global Sales and Marketing and will replace current CEO and co-founder Simen Teigre in his new role.

Teigre cited a desire to take on a less strenuous position within the company in his decision to step down as CEO. He will serve as a special advisor to Fodstad during the transition period and will join the company’s board of directors.

"It has been an incredible journey with the Pexip team over the past three-and-a-half years, building Pexip from the ground up to become a global disruptor in collaboration software," said Teigre. "But being CEO of a high-tech startup is like running a sprint where the distance is a marathon—the race is thus best run as a relay. As CEO, I believe the time is now right to pass on the leadership baton."