The VAR Guy

Instead of competing with last week’s VMworld noise, Cisco and Citrix waited a few days to discuss their growing virtualization relationship. Specifically, Cisco and Citrix, who are no strangers to virtualization, are working on a new solution to provide high-definition virtual desktops and applications to all users in an enterprise, without breaking the bank. Can it be done? Read on for the details…

During the HP Americas Partner Conference earlier this year, Hewlett-Packard promised to intensify its small business focus. This week, HP made good on that promise by launching their new “Just Right IT” line of products. Calling it the “easy” solution for “micro and small businesses” to get what they need at the right price, HP is looking to upend Dell in the small business market. Does HP have a winning strategy? And where do partners fit in? Here are some perspectives.

The idea seems simple enough: Vendors create an online database of their channel partners. End customers, in turn, can search the online database for a local, certified IT service provider. In theory that’s a win-win for solutions providers and customers. Still, partner locators face three key challenges. Here’s The VAR Guy’s analysis.

It took Nixon to go to China. And it will take Hewlett-Packard Executive VP Ann Livermore to visit Oracle. Indeed, Livermore is still confirmed as a keynote speaker for Oracle OpenWorld (Sept. 19-23, San Francisco). By showing up at OpenWorld, Livermore could help to cool off mounting tensions between Oracle and HP, The VAR Guy believes. Here’s why.

Here’s a little rumor with big implications: A few well-known blogs are wondering if Symantec is a takeover target. And if so, the pundits wonder if Microsoft will be the buyer. Such a deal sounds highly unlikely to The VAR Guy… But our resident blogger never would have predicted Intel’s recent buyout of McAfee, either. Here’s more on the Microsoft-Symantec rumor.

The VAR Guy’ sister site, MSPmentor, will host a webcast today (Wednesday, September 8th) at 2:00 p.m. eastern. We’ll cover six ways for VARs and managed services providers to reduce operating costs even as you boost service levels. Here’s a closer look at the webcast content…

Ubuntu developers have been busy in recent days discussing improvements to the package sponsorship process.  Though this might seem at first glance like an esoteric technical topic that matters only to geeks, it fits into the larger picture of Ubuntu in important ways.  Here’s why you should care.

Google’s issued cryptic invitations to the press — The VAR Guy’s must have gotten lost in the mail — to an event in San Francisco today titled where they’ll be sharing their “latest technological innovation,” as well as a preview of the future of Google search. Here are some possibilities on what Google will be showing off.

Talk about irony: Hewlett-Packard is now the world’s largest technology company. But that designation means HP is under attack on at least four fronts — from traditional rivals like Dell and IBM, to emerging rivals like Cisco Systems and Oracle. Can Interim CEO Cathie Lesjak keep HP in growth mode? Hmmm… Here are some insights.

Symantec, as expected, has launched Symantec Enterprise Vault 9.0 and Enterprise Vault Discovery Controller technology. The effort includes support for Microsoft’s BPOS (Business Productivity Online Suite) SaaS platform. The new Enterprise Vault could be a welcome release for partners and customers who are concerned about recent BPOS outages and system access problems. Here’s a closer look at Symantec’s efforts.

When people think of computer telephony, they increasingly think of Skype, which has provided voice services to consumers since 2003. Now, Skype is aiming to extend their near-ubiquity to the enterprise space with the launch of a channel partner program. The move comes amid rumors that Cisco Systems may look to acquire Skype. Here’s the 411.

The escalating feud between Hewlett-Packard and Oracle reached new heights the evening of September 7. Specifically, Oracle CEO Larry Ellison threatened to cancel Oracle’s business relationships with Hewlett-Packard, stating that HP’s board is making it “virtually impossible” for Oracle and HP to work together. If Oracle walks away from HP, it would be the second time since February 2010 that a major IT company halted HP relations. Here’s the update.

It’s been another bumpy day for Microsoft BPOS (Business Productivity Online Suite), which includes Exchange Online, SharePoint Online and other Microsoft SaaS applications. The upshot: BPOS suffered another outage of some sort today; it’s the second time in less than a week that Microsoft’s cloud has given some SaaS partners and customers fits.

As Hewlett-Packard attempts to block former CEO Mark Hurd from joining Oracle, The VAR Guy is weighing another question: Will Hurd potentially help or hurt Oracle’s channel partner strategy? Some pundits think Hurd is a major channel partner advocate. But Hurd’s leadership style also raises two key questions for Oracle PartnerNetwork (OPN) Specialized VARs. Here they are.

Sure, Hewlett-Packard has filed suit to stop former CEO Mark Hurd from joining Oracle as co-president. But it’s safe to say Oracle CEO Larry Ellison and Oracle’s legal team closely examined HP’s severance agreement with Hurd. Somehow, someway, Ellison believes Hurd can work with Oracle without Hurd violating his severance agreement with HP. Is Ellison right — yet again?

The VAR Guy’ sister site, MSPmentor, will host its next webcast is this Wednesday (September 8th) at 2:00 p.m. eastern. We’ll cover six ways for VARs and managed services providers to reduce operating costs even as you boost service levels. Here’s a closer look at the webcast content and our guest speakers.

When The VAR Guy attempted to boot up his MacBook Pro this morning, nothing happened. No Mac OS X desktop. No applications. Just blank blue screen. This is the third time in three years that our resident blogger has had a serious Mac issue. Twice before The Apple Store saved The VAR Guy’s day. But can The Apple Store come through again? Here are some thoughts.

Imagine the following scenario: Former Hewlett-Packard CEO Mark Hurd, now co-president of Oracle, stepping onto the same stage as current HP Executive VP Ann Livermore. That scenario could unfold during Oracle OpenWorld (Sept. 19-23, San Francisco). Here’s how.

Dell and Symantec continue to build a closer working relationship. The latest example involves Dell and Symantec connecting the dots between the Dell DX Object Storage Solution and Symantec Enterprise Vault 9.0. Here are some quick details.

During Steve Jobs’ latest keynote address, he asserted that recent figures in the Google Android vs. Apple iOS debate may have been untrue. Jobs thought his “friends” (i.e. Google) were adding ‘upgrades’ as part of their new activation figures. With that, Google threw down the gauntlet and denied Jobs’ assertion. So which market share figures and solutions providers really trust? Read on and find out…

Canonical’s most famous project is Ubuntu.  But Launchpad, another of the company’s major endeavors, has been around just as long–even though many casual Ubuntu users may not be aware of its existence.  Here’s a look at the value Launchpad offers, and where it fits into Canonical’s present and future.

The VAR Guy plans to enjoy the entire three-day Labor Day Weekend here in the U.S. But before our resident blogger unplugs for the extended weekend, here are six channel partner blog entries The VAR Guy’s team didn’t have a chance to write for the week ending Sept. 3, 2010.

Portions of Microsoft BPOS (Business Productivity Online Suite), the software giant’s SaaS platform, have gone dark for the second time in less than a month. Here’s the update along with perspectives from The VAR Guy.