Channel Research

Juniper: The Network Meets the Cloud

• April 13, 2011

Juniper Networks is best known in the IT channel for its networking and security solutions. But here at this week’s Juniper Networks Americas Partner Conference, the theme is “It’s Time For a New Network,” and the cloud and mobile Internet are the two major topics of conversation. Specifically, Juniper is talking up the opportunity for partners […]

IBM Cloud Partners Gain Billing, Financial Options

• April 11, 2011

IBM is building on last week’s SmartCloud enterprise service platform with dual  announcements for Big Blue cloud partners: ISVs can leverage cheaper IBM cloud middleware rental pricing, and service providers can use IBM technology to build out their platform with as low as 0% financing. IBM touts the moves as a sign of absolute confidence […]

IBM Reaches Out To Partners With Cloud Deployment Tool

• April 8, 2011

This week’s IBM SmartCloud launch grabbed headlines. But take a closer look and you’ll also spot an IBM software tool revealed this week. The mystery offering — I don’t know if it has a name yet — is designed to help cloud service providers quickly, easily, and automatically deploy applications and migrate workloads to the […]

SMBs Continue to Accelerate Cloud, Virtualization Spending

• April 7, 2011

OS33 Helps Florida MSP Launch Its Cloud Business

• March 30, 2011

Rewind to December, 2010: IT delivery automation specialist OS33 announced the Quick Start Program, designed to give MSPs an on-ramp to developing a cloud business. Fast forward to today, and OS33 is ready to announce its first success story, with Florida-based service provider Nerds Support going from demo to on-boarding cloud customers in just under […]

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, […]