The VAR Guy

Dell KACE is launching an SMB-focused management appliance it has dubbed the M300 Asset Management Appliance. The goal? Relieve the headaches associated with inventory demands. If your SMB’s IT department needs a little productivity pick-me-up, read on to learnhow Dell KACE is planning on providing that much-needed IT relief …

The VAR Guy wants to know: Would you buy an AppleTV-style offering from Research In Motion? Apparently, the company behind the BlackBerry and BlackBerry PlayBook is pushing its luck by introducing another consumer product into an already burgeoning marketplace. Does The VAR Guy have some perspective for the channel? Wouldn’t be the blogger at large if he didn’t …

The VAR Guy FastChat Video interviews Greg Mills, VP of eCommerce at Xerox Corp. Mills describes how the Xerox eConcierge service can help VARs, MSPs and other channel partners to develop recurring revenues from print services.

The VAR Guy spent much of this week at Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference 2011 (WPC11), where the software giant proved it still knows how to build new, multi-billion-dollar businesses. But what else happened in the channel this week? Here are six channel partner blog entries The VAR Guy didn’t have time to write for the week ending July 15, 2011.

When Google announced big Q2 revenues yesterday, it reminded The VAR Guy of an old blog he wrote. Back in May 2008, The VAR Guy openly wondered if Google’s annual revenues would ever surpass Microsoft’s revenues. Fast forward to the present and it’s time to raise that question again: Are Google revenues catching up to Microsoft revenues? The VAR Guy has an answer and some analysis that will surprise most readers.

Canonical continues to not only expand its vendor partnerships, but also integrate its product solutions with the addition of Nuxeo DMS to the Ubuntu Partner Repository. Here are the details, and what they say about Canonical’s long-term strategy.

Cloud security vendor Panda Security is updating its Panda Cloud Office Protection 5.5, adding support for the SMB companies with remote users or branch offices. Couple that with new integration with remote management tools and other small tweaks, and The VAR Guy sees real potential with Panda’s latest offering. Read on …

Consumierzation of IT, if you haven’t noticed yet, is one of my favorite topics of conversation. Often, detractors of the trend cite security issues with consumer-level devices or closed-down operating systems such as Apple’s iOS. But SafeNet has found a way to make mobile devices on networks secure, based on hardware authentication and network security. Here are the details …

In its never-ending quest to provide a super-interconnected unified communications network, Polycom has launched the Polycom CX7000, its first full-room telepresence solution that integrates with Microsoft Lync. Read on for the  high-definition details …

Back in 2009 when I was first cutting my blogging teeth under the watchful eye of The VAR Guy, I wrote about the opening of the first Microsoft Store, in Scottsdale, Ariz. I was skeptical about its success and cited a bevy of problems with running a store that is supposed to emulate Apple’s model. But Microsoft has announced it plans to build more of them. What is Microsoft’s goal, and can the company succeed? Here are my thoughts on the idea …

Tech Data, as part of its TDCloud initiative, is launching an app store of sorts to help channel partners source cloud services. It’s called the StreamOne Solutions Store. Tech Data has high hopes that this shape the way software is distributed down the channel. Read on for some more details…

Amid its march toward $1 billion in annual revenues, Red Hat continues to invest more money in Jaspersoft — an open source business intelligence company. The VAR Guy has openly wondered — multiple times — if Red Hat will ever fully acquire Jaspersoft. Hmmm…

Open source software has had a hit-and-miss relationship with channel partners. Major initiatives from Tech Data and Synnex, for instance, have done little to ignite reseller enthusiasm for open source email, ERP, CRM and other applications. So, how will open source march forward with resellers? The VAR Guy has some new insights to share.

At first glance, the Microsoft empire is under attack on all fronts. And some folks — including pundits on Wall Street and in Silicon Valley — have lost faith in CEO Steve Ballmer. But take a closer look at this week’s Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference 2011 (WPC11) in Los Angeles, and you’ll discover Microsoft still builds new, innovative multi-billion-dollar businesses. Here’s the proof.

Cloud computing and green computing are two of the IT channel’s most popular catch phrases these days. It’s rare, however, to hear talk of how the one affects the other. But perhaps it’s time for that to change. Here’s why.

We noted Panorama Software works closely with Microsoft in the business intelligence (BI) market when we detailed the release of the Panorama Necto in June 2011. Fast forward less than a month later, Panorama announced it is one of the first Microsoft partners to integrate with Microsoft’s new SQL Server, codenamed “Denali.” The announcement was made during the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference (WPC) in Los Angeles, July 12, 2011. I was able to pull Panorama CEO Eynav Azarya away from the conference to find out more about the Panorama-Microsoft integration announcement.

Value-added distributor Westcon Group is getting friendlier with network storage company Brocade Networks. After recently adding Avaya VSP to its portfolio, Westcon now is carrying the entire networking portfolio of Brocade globally. With storage networking needs on the rise, it’s a smart move. The VAR Guy spoke to Patty Gray, VP of global vendor relationships at Westcon Group, for a deep dive on the news …

In my most recent guest blog post, I talked about the key trends that we see impacting customers today: mobility, virtualization and cloud computing. Information is literally exploding, and customers of all sizes are challenged with the task of storing, managing and protecting it – which presents the partner community with a great opportunity to help customers overcome those challenges and capitalize on opportunities. This time around, I’d like to look more closely at the opportunities around mobility. With more business being conducted on smartphones and employees using those same devices to access their personal information, your customers are faced with security and management challenges that they’ve never before seen.

Symantec has updated its Web Gateway to version 5, featuring technology that can protect against web-based malware and prevent data loss. Anyone from the SMB to enterprise can take advantage of what SWG 5 is offering, so read on and see if it’s a fit for you …

If Verizon hadn’t nabbed it first, Siemens would probably like to ask you, “Can you hear me now?” The answer, if you’re using Siemens AudioPresence HD, should be an unequivocal “yes.” AudioPresence HD is available now for all OpenStage IP phones, bringing a higher level of fidelity to IP communications. But does that matter to you? Here’s why Siemens thinks it should …

The VAR Guy has completed his time at Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference 2011 (WPC11) in Los Angeles. So what did our resident blogger learn? Plenty. Here are 28 things The VAR Guy heard, saw and learned during Microsoft WPC11.

If you’re an SME looking for file virtualization, or a VAR working the virtualization space in need of some midmarket hardware, F5 Networks may have just the ticket for you. The company has launched two new ARX appliances to help budget-strapped IT departments manage their data better. I spoke to F5′s Product Marketing Manager Renny Shen about the announcement for a little color …

The VAR Guy originally predicted Sage Summit 2011 would be buzz about opportunities in booming vertical markets and the future of tablet-based CRM and ERP. But as it turns out, Sage is in the middle of a large branding transition. Its focus is more inward, which also includes changes to Sage’s partner program. The VAR Guy spoke to Sage’s Channel Chief Tom Miller for the details.