The VAR Guy

Ah, even when he’s 35,000 feet in the air, The VAR Guy can’t escape from Dell channel news. While using inflight WiFi service, our resident blogger spotted these two small but important pieces of Dell PartnerDirect channel news.

Ricoh Americas Corporation has addded a Ricoh Independent Solutions Vendor Program (RiSVP) to its existing Alliance Program. You can find details here.

Is there room in the world for another mystery blogger? The VAR guy would say no, but Cisco disagrees. The company has launched a phantom blog site — called Tech Edge Weekly — written by “Ira Pumfkin” (pictured). Cute. But is there a point to the effort? Apparently so. The blog represents Cisco’s countdown to a major product launch. Here’s the scoop.

Whether you partner or compete with Microsoft, the company’s new cloud strategy — known as the Azure Services Platform — demands your attention. For solutions providers seeking to better understand Azure, check out the spin from MSPmentor.

When Lenovo de-emphasized Novell SUSE Linux on ThinkPads, some skeptics thought it was a serious setback for desktop Linux and Novell’s own open source efforts. The VAR Guy knew better. Fact is, Lenovo was bolstering its Novell relationship in two other areas. Here’s the scoop.

Google is working with three major IT consulting firms to launch an open source software blitz in Australia, The VAR Guy has learned. An event is planned for November 7 at Google’s Australia headquarters in Sydney. Details about the effort are still emerging but here’s the early scoop from The VAR Guy.

Digital signage remains a hot opportunity for VARs and integrators. But most digital signage systems are passive networks that push content out to plasma and LCD screens. So, what’s next for digital signage? The VAR Guy found the answer in Australia.

As The VAR Guy continues his tour of Australia, he’s hearing solutions providers express more and more concern about the global economy. However, our resident blogger was pleased to hear some upbeat channel news from the States. Specifically, one of the world’s top managed service providers — DirectPointe — disclosed record third quarter sales results. In this economy, every victory counts.

Roughly 30 percent of Netbook sales in Melbourne — Australia’s second-largest city — involve customers requesting Linux rather than Windows, according to Geek Central, a fast-growing solution provider that serves the region. Here’s the scoop and its global implications, from The VAR Guy.

Roughly seven weeks after Dell launched its PartnerDirect channel program in Australia, The VAR Guy has landed in the land down under. During his trip, our resident blogger interviewed Rob Makin,  director of channel strategy and acquisition for Dell Australia. Here’s the scoop.