The VAR Guy

After several false starts, TelePresence — that next-generation video conferencing solution — is finally gaining traction in selected high-end vertical niches. Still, TelePresence will need to overcome at least two more major challenges before it goes mainstream, The VAR Guy believes.

Reports are circulating that Microsoft may make a run at acquiring Facebook. If true, this would be more than a consumer social networking move for Microsoft. In recent months, several Fortune 500 companies — including a major bank — have begun using Facebook to enhance employee communications and collaboration. Here’s the scoop.

The VAR Guy has been a road warrior this week, making stops in Minneapolis, New York and now Boston. Tired from all the travel, our resident blogger refueled at a local watering hole in Boston this evening. He felt right at home.

The VAR Guy and many tech industry watchers breathed a collective sigh of relief on May 6, when Cisco Systems announced relatively strong earnings. Our resident blogger warned readers earlier this week that Cisco would make-or-break Wall Street, based on the company’s results. Overall, things look good at the company. But there was an area of weakness, notes our sister site, MSPmentor.

Generally speaking, The VAR Guy is a procrastinator — except when it comes to timely blogs. In fact, he’s already confirmed plans to blog live from Ubuntu Live 2008, scheduled for July 21 and 22 in Portland, Oregon. Here are five reasons you should care about the Ubuntu distribution of Linux, and the Ubuntu Live conference.

The VAR Guy always worries when two big, market-trailing companies try to merge. Alcatel-Lucent, for instance, has failed to compete with Cisco Systems. Microsoft-Yahoo would have faced an uphill battle against Google. Ironically, Microsoft’s failure to acquire Yahoo — at least for now — could be a blessing in disguise, especially for customers.

Everybody hold your breath. Cisco Systems is set to announce financial results on May 6. Most observers are cautiously optimistic. If everything goes as planned, Wall Street will breathe a collective sigh of relief. But if CEO John Chambers is in another “lumpy” mood, things could get really ugly real fast.

If you are thinking of leaving your corporate job to start a business, nothing is more important than having Reserves. I am talking about a great big virtual warehouse filled with tangible and intangible items. If you don’t have them when you start your business, your engine will soon fail.

Think of your business — or your customers’ business — as a potted plant. As the plant grows, you’ll need to move it into a bigger pot if you want to sustain healthy growth. Now, let’s apply that example to a typical office accounting system.

Now that Microsoft has ended its pursuit of Yahoo!, a lot of folks are analyzing the big picture at both companies. Yada, yada, yada. But instead of focusing on the forest, The VAR Guy would prefer to focus on one tiny tree: Zimbra, the open source email platform that Yahoo owns, can now breathe a little easier.