The VAR Guy

There’s some new buzz surrounding Microsoft Outlook — but it’s coming from a little-known software company called Xobni. The startup provides VARs a way to offer significantly enhanced features to Outlook users by way of a simple plug-in. Here’s what it is and what it can do.

Even a month ago, I’d have bet money against it, but it looks like Microsoft is going to have Windows Azure ready for paying customers by a target release date of February 1, 2010. Here’s a quick rundown of what you should know as the date draws near.

Amid the pomp and circumstance of tablets and hybrid netbooks from CES 2010, there’s a few notable introductions that slipped under the radar. The HP Mini 5102 — backed by a SUSE Linux option — is one of those devices. Coming soon from HP, the Mini 5102 is shipping with some interesting features. Here’s the deal.

If you think storage and server virtualization is the end of the line for the VM world, you’d best rethink that. Virtensys asserts virtualization goes another layer deep. In theory, Input/Output virtualization means you’ll never have to plug in more than a few cables to get your network up and running. Plus, they’re launching a channel program with Promark. Got your attention? Read on.

Microsoft is striving to ensure Gold Partners see value in the new Customer Satisfaction (CSAT) Index requirements. But what exactly is the CSAT Index– and is it really a fit for all Gold Partners? The following FastChat video, featuring Julie Bennani, general manager of the Microsoft Partner Network, provides some perspectives.

Yahoo will announce the sale of Zimbra to VMware on January 12, according to All Things D. Why should solutions providers and VARs care? Here are five key points to consider.

Touch-based user interfaces continue to generate buzz. The latest example: According to some ex-Apple employees, Apple has been working on some interesting multi-touch applications that extend beyond the realm you’d come to expect. In fact, there may be multi-touch going into Apple’s iWork productivity applications — perhaps for Apple’s alleged iSlate tablet. Interested? Read on.

Some industry reports are beginning to show a measured return of growth to IT budgets. But in many cases, IT leaders and solutions providers still need to squeeze the most out of their resources for quite some time. The challenge for readers like you: Making sure funded IT projects are successfully implemented and realize their potential quickly. And just how do you do that? Here are some answers.

Here’s another sign that Apple iPhones and iPod touch devices could become point of sale (POS) solutions for VARs and their end-customers. Mophie, an iPhone accessory creator, is releasing a new product called the Mophie Marketplace. It features a magnetic strip reader and some software that could transform the iPhone into a point of sale device. But Apple has already made a similar point of sale move. How do the two efforts differ? Here’s some quick analysis.

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: rather than stay entirely on-premise or move entirely to the cloud, 2010 is going to be the year software developers, managed service providers, and resellers really begin to look to implement hybrid solutions. The question then becomes: how? One potential answer comes from i365 — Seagate‘s cloud storage subsidiary. Here’s the scoop.

Pop quiz, hotshot: You’re a VAR, and you have a client with a network running nothing but Windows XP — and they decide they want to move over Windows 7. Microsoft doesn’t offer an upgrade path from one to the other: you’d need to do a clean install. What do you do? A potential answer: Laplink, whose signature PCmover software apparently offers channel partners the ability to migrate entire networks to new operating systems or new hardware entirely.

Digium continues to build stronger partnerships in the unified communications market. The latest evidence: From Polycom to Skype, a long list of companies will evangelize Digium’s open source IP PBX during the Asterisk World conference (January 20-22, Miami Beach, Fla.). And yes, Digium will dial up channel partners during the event. Here’s the scoop.

Software as a service (SaaS) stocks extended their 2009 winning streak during the first week of 2010. In fact, The VAR Guy’s SaaS 20 Stock Index rose 2.6% for the week ending Jan. 8, 2010, compared to closing prices on Dec. 31, 2009. Winners beat losers by a margin of 3 to 1. Here’s a quick look at the biggest one-week movers.

The VAR Guy has a boatload of blog entries that are worth writing. But time is short and The VAR Guy is looking to exit, stage left for a few hours. So here are six channel entries our resident blogger didn’t have a chance to write for the week ending January 8, 2010.

We are all familiar with 3rd party maintenance — and the premise that VARs can make additional residual revenue; however if we pay close attention to the ‘fine print’ in the programs and contracts, what really happens to the residual revenue and who really owns the customer? Are there options? What can VARs do to protect their revenue and customer investment? If a customer elects a service alternative why is it called 3rd party? I just raised plenty of questions. Now, some answers.

If you thought the market wasn’t crowed enough with Linux netbooks, here comes another contender: MSI is launching the first netbook to be shipped with Novell’s SUSE’s Moblin operating system. Moblin is designed to deliver a mobile computing experience that’s easier to use, and suitable for smaller screens. Here’s the deal.

If it’s not official yet, it should be. Netbooks and Tablets are the CES 2010 show stoppers, and ever since the buzz about an alleged Apple tablet started, every consumer electronic maker has been rushing to beat Apple at its own game. HP was one of the first out of the gate this year at CES, and Steve Ballmer was happy to display the new tablet.

Media center startup Boxee and networking veteran D-link have teamed up to launch the Boxee Box, a home media center. But they’re not alone; interestingly enough, there’s been a lot of interest in big corporate networking companies trying to break in the the home, so to speak. Here’s the latest on some interesting offerings.

As regular readers of WorksWithU are aware, I recently purchased a Latitude 2100 netbook from Dell and am pretty happy about it.  Now that I’ve used it for a couple weeks, it’s time for a review of its performance under Ubuntu.

The VAR Guy’s sources were correct: In a bold act that escalates a technology war (how’s that for pumping up the drama…), Hewlett-Packard plans to host its Americas Partner Conference the same week as Cisco Partner Summit 2010. Here are the details.

Sorry if I sound like a fan, but Lenovo is really firing on all cylinders this year. Introducing the IdeaPad U1 hybrid notebook, Lenovo is touting it as the first PC in the industry that is essentially two devices in one. It’s not just one device with separate functions, it’s actually two computers. Here’s the deal.

Hewlett-Packard’s pending takeover of 3Com will be put to a vote on January 26. Assuming the deal gets approved, the takeover could be completed in time for Interop, the networking event scheduled for April 2010. And rumors are starting to fly that HP will potentially counter Cisco Partner Summit with some sort of event. Here’s the scoop.

So long Microsoft Works. Say hello to Office 2010 Starter Edition. Heading in a new direction, selected PC makers will likely bundle the new Office starter offering with new PCs later this year. Office 2010 Starter Edition is a stripped down and ad-supported — but totally free — version of Office 2010, the forthcoming upgrade to Microsoft’s ubiquitous productivity suite.