The VAR Guy

Dozens of traditional IT companies — from Cisco Systems to Xerox — are generating PR coverage at this week’s huge HIMSS (Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society) conference in Orlando. But so far, only a few savvy firms — such as IGEL Technology — are weaving open source messaging into this prominent vertical market event. Translation: The open source industry may miss yet another opportunity to prove its vertical market expertise.

It’s time for The VAR Guy to eat a little more crow. Last week, he suggested nobody really cared about Lotusphere anymore. Boy was he wrong. Turns out IBM and the Lotus team unveiled some major partnerships at the event. Here are the top six highlights from Lotusphere, and the potential benefits for VARs.

Every few months, a tech company announces yet another software suite aimed at toppling Microsoft’s Small Business Server. The latest entry comes from IBM. And this isn’t just another application hodge-podge bundled on servers. Here’s the scoop.

The VAR Guy has heard the rumors: IBM Lotus plans to announce Notes support for Apple’s iPhone next week during Lotusphere in Orlando. The VAR Guy has two quick observations.

Rising energy prices. Sub-prime lending woes. Slowing consumer spending. Amid all these economic fears, IBM disclosed stronger-than-expected quarterly (though preliminary) financial results today. The VAR Guy is a little bit relieved. But let’s not celebrate too much. It’s great to hear good news from Big Blue–but plenty of question marks continue to surround the IT market in 2008.

Ingram Micro’s Infrastructure Technology Solutions (ITS) Division is now selling and supporting the complete line of IBM System Storage N series hardware, software and solutions for small-to-midsize enterprises (SMEs).

The VAR Guy is usually skeptical of software acquisitions. But IBM’s $5 billion buyout of Cognos, the business intelligence specialist, makes perfect sense. Here are four reasons why the pending deal, announced today, is a good fit for IBM.