The VAR Guy

Yes, Google has launched its own phone; the Google Nexus One. It’s sexy, stylish and sleek, and everything you’d come to expect in a post-iPhone world. It’s also sporting Android 2.1, a step up from what the Droid had when it launched. Read on for some price points and pontificating if your interest is piqued.

Distribution behemoth Ingram Micro is transforming their DBL Distributing acquisition into a formal Consumer Electronics Division. Here’s a few quick things you should know.

Jaspersoft CEO Brian Gentile (pictured), like many of his open source peers, has some lofty goals for 2010. With the help of SaaS and on-premise channel partners, Gentile says Jaspersoft — which specializes in business intelligence software — can grow 50 percent and generate positive cash flow in 2010. Here’s the scoop, including a FastChat video with Gentile.

Voice over IP technology has quietly matured from its status as cutting-edge to mainstream. But that doesn’t mean the technology isn’t moving forward. Quite the contrary: recent advances point to VoIP as a technology to watch (yet again) in 2010 = thanks to moves by Google and others. Here’s why.

You read that right: the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is looking into cloud computing, trying to figure out what the very real security and privacy concerns could mean for consumers and what they have to do about it. The real trouble is that if the FTC hasn’t made itself entirely clear on what “cloud computing” even is, and resellers could be in trouble if the government decides to legislate and regulate SaaS (software as a service) applications like Salesforce.com or Zoho under that umbrella. Here’s the scoop.

It’s been 3 years since the last iteration of Microsoft Office, so that means it’s only natural for Microsoft release a new version. The 2010 version is promising a few different flavors and price points. Here’s the skinny on the Redmond cash-cow that is Office 2010.

Google had a heck of a 2009, kicking off with the launch of their authorized reseller program and wrapping up with the announcement that the City of Los Angeles was going to Google Apps. Last year also marked the launch of several new technologies under the Google banner, including Voice, Chrome — the browser and the OS — and Wave. Later today, I’m speaking with Jeff Ragusa, the Google Apps channel manager to get some perspective on what these technologies meant for resellers in 2009, and what VARs can expect in the year ahead. Here’s some of what I want to know more about.

The Netbook. Once considered a toy, it now seems like the preferred device for many productivity-driven workhorse travelers. And even if you’re not a mobile workaholic, there’s something simplistically perfect about sofa-browsing while watching TV and catching up on some e-mail. With a small form factor, there comes caveats at the expense of size and portability. But recent moves by Lenovo and others show some promising trends — several of which involve Linux.

Iomega, of ZipDisk fame, is trying to write a new chapter in mobile computing. If you get really attached to your working environment, you might wish you could drag your PC with you, but that’s not always practical. VPN is nice, but not always available. And sometimes… even a laptop doesn’t meet your needs. You’re just looking for something easier. Iomega’s new vClone technology apparently lets you do a brain-transplant on whatever PC you wish. Bring your comfy computing environment anywhere by using a simple USB hard drive. Sound too good to be true? It almost is. Here’s the scoop:

A Chinese group has created an Ubuntu Linux clone that looks, um, just like Windows XP. Two big questions: First, do customers want a Linux release — called Ylmf OS — that looks like Windows? Second, is Microsoft willing to allow a group of Ubuntu renegades to mimic Windows XP’s look and feel? Hmmm…

Visit Kaspersky Lab’s web site and you’ll notice the top header reads “Home Computer Security.” The VAR Guy expects that to change under Nancy Reynolds, Kaspersky’s new senior VP of corporate sales. Reynolds, a well-known channel veteran, left Dell and joined Kaspersky (the fast-growing anti-virus specialist) earlier this week. In this FastChat video, Reynolds offers some thoughts on where she plans to take Kaspersky’s channel program…

Likewise Software — an open source specialist that helps VARs integrate Linux, Unix and Mac systems with Active Directory — expects to double its revenue in 2010, according to CEO Barry Crist (pictured). Here’s the scoop and some analysis.

The predominant benefit in 2009 from cloud computing was access to less expensive computing power and availability of more SaaS based solutions. But how will solutions providers make money from cloud and SaaS offerings in 2010? Here are some clues.

Salesforce.com continues to polish Chatter, a private Facebook-alike “social platform” meant to stir employee communication and productivity. This comes hot on the heels of Google Groups, the search giant’s communication solution, becoming available to resellers. Will Chatter generate buzz in the channel? Here are some observations.

Lenovo is looking to shake things up with their consumer products. From a newly redesigned All-In-One IdeaCentre to some notebooks and a Linux netbook, Lenovo is looking to steal the spotlight at CES 2010. But similar to their business brand counterparts, one can’t help but wonder if Lenovo is taking cues from Apple. Here’s the latest on the snazzy new introductions from Lenovo…

There’s plenty of buzz about tablet computing in 2010, and we’re only 4 days in. Admittedly, the buzz about tablets has been going on for quite some time, but with the 2010 Consumer Electronic Show just around the corner, there’s reason to get excited. And there’s reason to believe that 2010 is going to be the year of the tablet. Seriously. Here’s why:

As the new owner of a Dell Latitude 2100 netbook, I’m eager to get as much performance out of my little machine as possible.  One of the most pressing issues in my life over the last week, therefore, has been to decide whether to use the i386 or lpia build of Ubuntu on my new computer.  Here’s the decision I came to, and why.

When portions of Salesforce.com went dark earlier today, The VAR Guy started to wonder: Will there ever be a Volvo-type company in the SaaS (software as a service) market? Will a SaaS company ever aggressively promote its safety and reliability? Or will occasional outages and painful crashes remain the norm for some SaaS companies and their customers? Before you answer consider several recent events…

Zimbra, one of the best-known providers of open source email, may soon have a new owner. Rumors are swirling that Yahoo plans to sell Zimbra to VMware. If true, here are the implications for VARs and managed service providers — particularly in the SaaS (software as a service) market.

How many managed service providers can push beyond $10 million in annual recurring revenue? Is there a well-defined path to such success? The VAR Guy’s sister site, MSPmentor, will offer some answers during a January 20 webcast. Our guest speakers — representing three top managed service providers and Nimsoft — will cover key questions for growth-oriented small, midsize and large MSPs. Here’s a closer look at the webcast.

I’m hearing rumors that Apple is gearing up to announce SaaS (software as a service) versions of its iWork and iLife productivity suites in the cloud at Macworld 2010 2009, which opens its doors tomorrow. If the buzz turns out to be true, not only will the secretive Cupertino giant offer the usual document creation software, but also a cloud version of their renowned iMovie editing software. Here’s what it could mean for resellers.

As Cisco Systems gears up for its April 2010 partner summit, The VAR Guy has noticed a rather interesting development: Rival Juniper Networks appears to have scheduled its J-Partner Summit for the exact same week. Was that a glaring error — or a subtle sign that Juniper isn’t afraid to face Cisco’s Partner Summit head-on? Here’s some speculation from The VAR Guy.

Lenovo at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is introducing a new line of ThinkPads. The ThinkPad Edge effort includes a hardware redesign that leaves boxy appearances behind. In some ways, Lenovo might be channeling their inner Apple a little bit with a few of the design efforts. Here are the details.