The VAR Guy

Hewlett-Packard (HP) (NYSE: HPQ) announced an expansion of its ServiceONE Partner Support model to its networking partners in an effort to help them boost profitability with new services revenue streams.

The VAR Guy was beginning to think Oracle (NASDAQ: ORCL) has bet the big red on Exadata, Exalogic and Exalytics engineered systems for channel partners to master and promote. But here’s a healthy reminder that Oracle’s software focus remains intact: The company is set to announce specialization for database partners that want to focus on location-based applications.

Ahhhh… The sand, the sun — plus security software, mobility and cloud computing rolled into one. The VAR Guy is packing his bags and heading to Kaspersky Lab Partner Conference (May 10-14, the Bahamas). Yes, the destination is a welcome one. But The VAR Guy will also be tracking Kaspersky Lab’s newly expanded channel leadership team very closely. Here are six themes to track at the event.

HP (NYSE: HPQ) partners looking for a way to boost their existing services capabilities or those wondering if services are right for them now need look no further than Avnet Technology Solutions (NYSE: AVT), which has joined the HPServiceONE partner program.

A jury decision has arrived in the Oracle Java vs. Google Android legal case. But the Oracle vs. Google legal feud isn’t over. This is only the first part of what could be a three-chapter legal battle between the two technology giants. Here’s the update for Google Android and Java partners, particularly smart phone makers and ISVs (independent software vendors) that develop Android apps.

At the Citrix Synergy 2012 conference this week in San Francisco, The VAR Guy expects updates on Citrix (NASDAQ: CTXS) CloudStack, Citrix XenDesktop and XenServer — and plenty more. But Citrix Synergy is more than a customer and partner conference. It’s a stage where Citrix CEO Mark Templeton (pictured) can attempt to position Citrix as a preferred partner for the two biggest trends in IT: Mobility and cloud computing. Here are five trends and themes from Citrix Synergy that are worth watching.

Juniper Networks (NASDAQ: JNPR) is making good on one of the pillars of its new Partner Advantage Program by rolling out a Partner Promotions Catalog designed to reward its channel partners for selling solutions rather than point products.

Where is Ingram Micro (NYSE: IM) heading next in cloud computing, managed services and the IT channel? The answers will emerge within minutes at the Ingram Micro VTN conference at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colo. The VAR Guy is seated in the front row for keynotes, which start shortly. Keep checking back. This live blog will contain minute-by-minute updates throughout the morning.

Welcome to another edition of Distribution Watch, our weekly assemblage of all things distribution related. This week we’ve got stuff from Westcon, Avnet Technology Solutions and Ingram Micro (NASDAQ: IM), so settle in and we’ll get to it.

Data storage specialist Nexsan (NASDAQ: NXSN) announced a slew of service and support enhancements for its partners and customer base, including Concierge proactive managed services with 24×7 hardware monitoring and automatic dispatch, international support enhancements, onsite and online training, and on-demand response from support engineers.

Technology giant Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ) is betting heavily on virtualization with its new Get Virtual Guarantee Program, designed to help customers boost server virtualization return on investment by doubling virtual machine density in existing VMware (NYSE: VMW) vSphere environments when deploying the company’s 3PAR Storage platform.

Looking for ChannelEyes Managing Partner Bob Godgart, Chief Social Officer Jay McBain or VP of Business Development Shari Godgart? Chances are they’re brainstorming in two-room office, filled with white boards, near Albany. Or perhaps they’re out on a local lake, clearing their minds a bit, kayaking and then brainstorming some more. Either way, the ChannelEyes team continues to evolve its social media platform, based on early feedback from VARs, MSPs and IT vendors.

Axcient, a cloud storage company that works closely with VARs and MSPs, has hired John Finegan, a CFO with extensive IPO (Initial Public Offering) experience. But how exactly did Axcient find Finegan (pictured) — a 35-year finance veteran who previously was CFO of Cornerstone and ShoreTel during their successful IPOs? The answer comes from Axcient’s board of directors, which includes former ShoreTel CEO Thomas T. van Overbeek.

Unified communications specialist ShoreTel (NASDAQ: SHOR) is shaking things up, management-wise, with Joe Vitalone returning to head up ShoreTel’s channel team as vice president of Channel Management. Tim Gaines will be taking the helm for North America Sales, while Mark Arman will lead International Sales and Worldwide Distribution.

Application performance software specialist Condusiv Technologies, formerly known as Diskeeper, has revised its channel partner program, expanding Condusiv’s Registered partner level and adding a new Premier tier with added incentives.

Call it a case of Back to the Future in the IT channel. Oracle claims to be rallying partners around the classic (but upgraded and overhauled) hardware-software combination of SPARC/Solaris. Indeed, Oracle says nearly 500 partners have sold SPARC T4 servers running Oracle Solaris 11. That’s an impressive figure, but Oracle’s hardware business continues to face an uphill battle against rivals. Here’s the update.

Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ) has updated its channel leadership. Mike Parrottino (pictured) is channel chief for the new HP Printing & Personal Systems (PPS) organization. Scott Dunsire now leads HP’s U.S. SMB/Channel sales. And former HP Channel Chief Stephen DiFranco’s new position at HP will be announced “in the near future,” according to a memo from HP to partners. Here’s the update…

When NetSuite (NYSE: N) announced financial results today, the cloud-based ERP provider said customers were abandoning Microsoft Dynamics in favor of NetSuite. If you listen to NetSuite regularly, you’d begin to believe the Microsoft (NYSE: MSFT) Dynamics business is in shambles. But what’s the reality? Here are some timely clues from The VAR Guy.

In the cloud computing market, channel partners most frequently embrace Citrix Systems (NASDAQ: CTXS), Google Apps (NASDAQ: GOOG), Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) Office 365 and VMware (NYSE: VMW), according to the second-annual Talkin’ Cloud 50 survey, which ends April 27. The survey, which identifies the world’s leading channel partners focused on cloud computing, contains several other surprises.

Howdy, and welcome once again to the Channel Partner Program Roundup, our weekly collection of goings on in the partner community. This week, we’ve got news from SmartDeploy, M5 Networks and Power Assure, so saddle up and let’s get riding.

Networking giant Cisco Systems (NASDAQ: CSCO) has launched the Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) Service Provider certification, aimed at developing the skills and knowledge of IT professionals to deploy and optimize next-generation networks. The certification, coupled with the recent release of the CCNA Service Provider and current CCIE Service Provider certification, provides networking engineers with a training and certification portfolio in IP next-generation networks (IP NGN).

When Cisco Partner Summit 2012 wrapped up last week, The VAR Guy figured he’d take a short siesta from Cisco coverage. The VAR Guy was wrong. Within the next two weeks, it sounds like Cisco is set to make more noise about Jabber, an emerging Skype alternative that looks pretty darn promising to The VAR Guy.

Data center administrators face myriad challenges when it comes to managing the explosive growth of data coming into and moving across organizations today. Data capacity, applications and virtual servers are all growing at exponential rates and IT departments are struggling to store and manage all of that digital content, while keeping operational expenses in check.