The VAR Guy

Would you recognize if you were at the beginning of a technological tipping point? Welcome to 2010! The convergence of ubiquitous connectivity and cloud computing has one simple and very exciting output: the explosion of hardware gadgets we will use to access it anywhere and anytime. Don’t believe me? Check out the following trends plus a list of 20 computers I think you (and your customers) will own in the next 5 years.

Recently listening to a group of Channel Partners with Unified Communication (UC) expertise was fascinating. Questions ranged from when it will become ubiquitous in small and medium business to the industry players that are going to make it a reality. Here’s a closer look at the conversation.

There is considerable talk about virtualization in the PC market right now, especially around servers. Because virtualization is an abstract concept, end customers may be reluctant to realize its benefits. But with a 60 percent return on investment achievable over four years, virtualization should be a new opportunity on the radar of customers and partners. Here’s why.

For years I have been speaking about pervasive computing, the concept that technology will be ubiquitous in our everyday life. The debate has centered on whether we will focus on one powerful and flexible computing device to service all of our needs — from email, web surfing, gaming, managing personal finances to running our small business. Or will we leverage a myriad of devices that are optimized for our current location? Before you answer, consider the Netbook boom.

Sure, customers across most market segments are cutting back their IT spending. With increased competition for this smaller opportunity, it is a critical time for technology resellers to focus on their core competencies. Many resellers traditionally specializing in hardware sales, including PCs, have diversified their offerings to include services like remote monitoring and software as a service (SaaS).  Other resellers are trying to define a niche in Managed Services and Consulting practices. Here’s how you can keep your profits flowing.