Channel Research

HP CloudSystem Partner Program: Hits and Misses

• March 29, 2011

Hewlett-Packard, as expected, launched the HP CloudSystem Partner Program today at the HP Americas Partner Conference in Las Vegas. HP Channel Chief Stephen DiFranco (pictured) also shared some key channel milestones with roughly 1,000 VARs at the conference. But I have to concede: Other than reselling HP hardware, I’m still a little confused about how […]

New Workday Integration Cloud Platform Helps ISVs Keep It Together

• March 29, 2011

How can MSPs and cloud integrators plug customers’ existing IT infrastructure into cloud services? Perhaps HR and financial SaaS provider Workday, launched by PeopleSoft’s founder, has the answer. It’s called Workday Integration Cloud Platform, designed to give developers and channel partners a way to plug existing business applications into the Workday cloud ecosystem. The benefits […]

Cloud Technology Partners Buys Sustainability Consultant

• March 22, 2011

Cloud Technology Partners Inc., a cloud consulting firm that formally launched earlier this year, sometime this week will announce the acquisition of Global Green Consulting Group. Indeed, Global Green Consulting Group’s Web site already indicates that the company has been acquired by Cloud Technology Partners, which goes by cloudTP. Global Green Consulting Group focuses on […]

Ingram Micro: Systems Integrators Meet Cloud Computing

• March 22, 2011

Ingram Micro is reaching out to more than 100 systems integrators at this week’s 2011 Spring Systems ArchiTECHS Invitational event in Huntington Beach, Calif. The theme? “Let Us Take You There: Your Business. Your Future.” Essentially, it looks like Ingram Micro is out to show system integrators how to expand their business by moving to both […]

Cloud Computing in Japan: Still Online?

• March 14, 2011

TalkinCloud remains sensitive to the ongoing human tragedy in Japan. But we’re also watching closely to see how the recent earthquake, tsunami and nuclear power plant issues may impact cloud computing initiatives within Japan and across the Asia Pacific region. Contributing Associate Blogger Matt Weinberger is reaching out to a range of cloud providers and […]

Appirio CloudSpokes: Connecting ISVs and Cloud Integrators?

• February 15, 2011

Cloud solution provider Appirio is trying out a new method of connecting enterprises with top-tier cloud talent: competition. CloudSpokes, Appirio’s new “Open Cross-Cloud Community and Marketplace,” is designed to connect cloud ISVs and integrators and let them compete to solve cloud challenges for financial reward. It’s a novel approach to spurring SaaS innovation, but will […]

CA Updates ERwin: Visualize Your Way To The Cloud

• February 10, 2011

Excel Micro: Partnering with Google on SaaS Distribution

• February 8, 2011

Cloud computing and SaaS were supposed to put the squeeze on technology distributors. But Excel Micro, a modern-day distributor, seems to be thriving. The reason? Excel Micro distributes Google Apps and Google’s SaaS-centric security software to VARs and resellers. And the results sound quite impressive, if you listen to Michael Amadio, director of marketing at […]

Google Offers Education Customers A Channel-Guided Cloud Path

• February 3, 2011

Google Apps for Education has the potential to save schools of all stripes money and time. But not every school district has the resources or expertise to figure out the best way to move to the cloud suite. That’s why Google has just released the Guide to Going Google, an instruction manual that takes IT […]

The Six Pillars of a Web Solution Provider Practice

• February 2, 2011

I’m often approached by MSPs, VARs and other solution providers who are looking to do the right thing for their customers but aren’t thrilled about the prospect of getting cloud application license revenue that is a fraction of their pre-cloud product revenue. True cloud applications are fundamentally much lower cost to produce, deliver, and support, […]

Microsoft Channel Chief Responds to Cloud Billing Again

• February 1, 2011

The chatter between Microsoft Channel Chief Jon Roskill, cloud integrators and solutions providers continues. In recent weeks, Roskill has hinted multiple times that he’s listening closely to channel feedback regarding Microsoft’s cloud billing strategy for Office 365 and Business Productivity Online Suite. Some partners have expressed concern that Microsoft directly bills end-customers for cloud applications […]

Cambridge Technology Partners Veterans launch cloudTP

• January 30, 2011

IT industry transitions typically spell good times for consultants and integrators. Cambridge Technology Partners took off during the client/server shift of the 1990s, helping customers migrate applications off of mainframes. Now, former Cambridge Technology Partners staffers plan to have another go at consulting, this time in the cloud.

Microsoft and Google: Is 99.9% Cloud Uptime Good Enough for Partners

• January 20, 2011

Microsoft and Google are busy touting their cloud reliability to customers and partners — offering a 99.9 percent uptime guarantee. But I’ve got to say: Three-nines reliability doesn’t really impress me, especially since channel partners are essentially helpless when cloud services go dark on end-customers. The story starts with a war of words. Google last […]

Circle 2 Dates: Managed Services Webcasts & MSPmentor 100 List

• January 12, 2011

MSPmentor will host two timely webcasts for established and aspiring managed services providers over the next few weeks. On January 26, MSPmentor Live will explore the key questions MSPs must ask before upgrading their RMM (remote monitoring and management) software platforms and before purchasing new platforms. And on February 16, MSPmentor Live will unveil the […]

Memo from VMware: Virtualization is First Step to Cloud

• December 9, 2010

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0a6oX2pFRQQ[/youtube]When it comes to VARs and MSPs developing cloud computing strategies, VMware has a simple message for partners. “Virtualization is the cornerstone of the cloud; you can’t get to the cloud without virtualization,” asserts Doug Smith, senior director of global channels at VMware. But is it really that simple? And will VMware be the go-to virtualization partner in the cloud, especially as rivals like Microsoft and Red Hat push deeper into virtualization? Here’s the update for partners.