The VAR Guy

It’s new and it’s from Intel: It’s the latest brand on their Core line of CPUs. Intel is taking things a step further than cramming more cores onto one die; they’re actually cramming built-in graphic processing power into the chip. It’s all about the ‘system on a chip,’ Is this the future?

CommVault is branching out with their latest partnership with Mezeo, which provides a service-enabled cloud storage platform. Here’s where the two companies are heading, and the potential implications for partners.

Right on the heels of HP’s acquisition of ArcSight, IBM is launching their new business protection software to help companies safeguard SharePoint, SAP and other major applications. Guardium 8 is designed for security automation, application usage monitoring and other complex data threats. Read on for the details and implications…

Microsoft’s next unified communications server offering is now ready as a free release candidate download. But in a twist, it’s not called Microsoft Office Communications Server. Instead, Microsoft has rebranded OCS as Microsoft Lync and Lync Server 2010. Here’s the scoop.

For the second time in recent weeks, a former Microsoft executive has joined Parallels, the fast-growing software provider that works closely with hosting firms, cloud providers and SaaS partners. The latest name on the move is former Microsoft hosting specialist John Zanni, who will now serve as Parallels’ VP of alliances. Here are the details.

Apparently, Cisco North America Channel Chief Jim Sherriff is hiding out on an exclusive North South Carolina island this week. Time for a little rest and relaxation — and maybe even a Corona with The VAR Guy? Hardly. The gathering, which includes some of Cisco’s top partners, could set the stage for Cisco’s updated commercial and SMB strategy later this month, The VAR Guy hears. Here are some details and plenty of speculation.

The VAR Guy mentioned it in passing, but last Thursday brought the six month anniversary of the launch of the Google Apps Marketplace. The marketplace let ISVs of all shapes and sizes develop tools for the Google Apps SaaS productivity platform. Here’s a look back at the App Marketplace and some perspective on where it is now.

As you may recall, I questioned Dell for releasing their Streak Phone/Tablet with Google Android 1.6. Now, there are some clear signs that most of the Android market has moved onto Google’s more mature Android releases. A case in point: Android 2.x (the arguably most ‘up to date’ version of Android) now commands 70% of the Android OS handhelds in the market. Read on for the quick details…

CommVault is leveraging relationships with RackSpace and Dell to push deeper into the SMB cloud storage market. Specifically, CommVault is launching a Cloud DR service offering (hosted at Rackspace) for the SMB market, and also partnering up with Dell on a storage move. Both efforts are geared towards data and backup recovery. Here are the details.

As Hewlett-Packard and Oracle feud over Mark Hurd’s employment status, rival IBM is hoping to steal some customer mind share and market share. Specifically, IBM has introduced special financing options for Sun and HP customers to switch to IBM’s Power7 systems. Here are some quick details.

Hewlett-Packard continues to open its wallet wide, this time acquiring ArcSight for $1.5 billion. The deal potentially strengthens Hewlett-Packard’s enterprise security and compliance management software portfolio. Moreover, ArcSight has a channel partner program for traditional VARs as well as managed security service providers (MSSPs). Here’s a closer look at the deal.

It’s just about time for The VAR Guy to stop blogging and start reconnecting with his family for the weekend. But before our resident blogger pretends to stop checking his Twitter alerts, here six channel partner blog entries The VAR Guy didn’t write for the week ending September 10, 2010.

Ubuntu’s Software Center unveiled its first paid application a few days ago in the form of Fluendo’s DVD Player. Read on for details, along with comments from the player’s developers on where their relationship with Canonical might be headed in the future.

The feud between Oracle and Hewlett-Packard over Mark Hurd’s employment status already has plenty of drama. Now, let’s toss Michael Dell into the mix. As the Oracle-HP relationship shows signs of strain, Michael Dell is confirmed to speak at Oracle OpenWorld, the major gathering of Oracle partners and customers. Will Dell emerge as Oracle’s most favorite third-party server partner? Here are some clues.

The hype remains overwhelming. Most media coverage suggests Oracle scored a huge win by hiring former Hewlett-Packard CEO Mark Hurd (pictured). No doubt, Hurd brings a lot of expertise — and his famed flip-chart diagrams — into the Oracle executive suites. But instead of blindly praising the move, The VAR Guy wants to open your eyes a little wider. Here are five key questions facing Oracle as Larry Ellison, Mark Hurd and Safra Catz (how about some equal time for Oracle’s other co-president?) together strive to conquer the IT world.

The Hewlett-Packard vs. Oracle feud continues to earn some headlines. But business continues to get done within the Oracle PartnerNetwork (OPN) partner program. A prime example: Mitel, which specializes in unified communications, is now promoting a UC and desktop virtualization solution that works with Oracle’s Sun Ray Clients. Here’s a look at the effort.

When it comes to developer conferences, most channel partners are familiar with Microsoft PDC, Apple WWDC and Google I/O. But mobile communications companies want your attention, too.  A case in point: The Verizon Developer Community Conference (Sept. 21-22, Las Vegas) is fast-approaching. And the event should serve as a big stage for Google Android developers, plus Verizon’s VCAST application library. Here’s why.

In what seems like the biggest change of heart in the tech industry, Apple says it has eased up on previous restrictions for developing on iOS platforms for the iPhone and iPad. Is Apple bowing to industry pressure or growing competition from Google Android? Or is there some other Apple agenda here? Read on for the details and commentary…

Cisco Systems and Tech Data together are preparing to more aggressively promote unified computing system (UCS) solutions to channel partners. But Cisco’s relationship with Tech Data isn’t exclusive. The networking giant is working with a range of distributors to further accelerate sales of Cisco servers, storage and networking technologies. Here’s the official news plus some additional chatter.

As The VAR Guy expected, former Hewlett-Packard CEO Mark Hurd (pictured), now co-president of Oracle, is confirmed to keynote Oracle OpenWorld (Sept. 19-23, San Francisco). The conference, which attracts thousands of Oracle partners and customers, should deliver plenty of drama. Amid the public feud between HP and Oracle, HP Executive VP Ann Livermore also remains confirmed to speak at the conference. Here are the details.

Eucalyptus Systems has hired Red Hat veteran Said Ziouani to serve as senior VP of worldwide sales, bringing his open source experience to the private cloud platform company. This is the second noteworthy Red Hat veteran to join another open source company in recent weeks. Ironically, Ziouani’s move comes as Eucalyptus strives to fend off open source cloud moves by Red Hat and RackSpace. Here’s how Ziouani could help Eucalyptus reach new markets.

Give Microsoft credit: In a blog post, the software giant has publicly apologized for recent cloud and SaaS outages involving BPOS (Business Productivity Online Suite). The outages impacted North American customers leveraging Exchange Online, SharePoint Online and other Microsoft hosted applications. Feeling bruised, some channel partners are seeking alternative hosted Exchange and hosted SharePoint options. Here’s the update.

A mystery has been solved. Google’s anticipated news for the week involved the launch of Google Instant. The effort retrieves search results on the Google homepage as fast as the user can type (or even faster…). It’s not an enterprise technology, but the IT channel should still take notice. Here’s why.