The VAR Guy

Regardless of when oil hits the $200 per barrel figure, it is time to start preparing for the realities of the energy crunch. As such, solutions providers and information technology departments must start preparing to support remote workers.

High-end TelePresence systems allow executives scattered across the world to feel as if they’re sitting across from each other in a single, virtual boardroom. But what if this next-generation video conferencing technology could be scaled down for use in your living room? Apparently, Apple is quite interested in making that dream a reality. If true, they should give Cisco Systems call.

As The VAR Guy somewhat expected, Cisco CEO John Chambers today made cautious statements about the economy and IT spending in selected markets across the U.S. and Europe. The current economic turbulence should not be confused with the dot-com bubble bursting in 2001, but many signs indicate that we are now witnessing an IT spending slowdown.

Investors and partners are holding their breath as Cisco Systems prepares to announce quarterly results on February 6. Cisco CEO John Chambers (pictured) spooked investors during the company’s previous quarterly earnings call, when he said enterprise sales felt a bit “lumpy.” The VAR Guy spoke with several Cisco partners ahead of the latest earnings release to gather their expectations.

Is it possible to compete below Cisco’s radar in the unified communications market? Before you answer, check out the buzz over at LifeSize Communications — which specializes in HD video conferencing technology. LifeSize appears to be carving out a healthy niche for itself as a true TelePresence alternative to Cisco Systems. Here’s how.

The VAR Guy hates the “R” word. Everybody seems to be talking about an imminent “recession.” A Harvard economist insists there’s more than 50 percent chance of the US heading into a recession. Hmmm. Will IT sales hold up in the small business space? Here are two quick perspectives from thought leaders at Cisco Systems and Autotask (a leading managed service platform provider).

The VAR Guy has been TPed twice. Employees working across roughly 100 Cisco offices have also been TPed. What the heck does TP stand for? Glad you asked.

During an ongoing press meeting in Dublin, Ireland, Edison Peres, VP for advanced and core technologies at Cisco Systems, said the company is tracking 50 key trends that may empower solutions providers.

It’s still a niche technology, but The VAR Guy expects TelePresence to generate healthy margins for years to come. A few dozen U.S. VARs already specialize in TelePresence — the next-generation video conferencing technology — but more VARs will likely take the plunge as more vendors focus on the market. A case in point: A TelePresence showdown between Hewlett-Packard and Cisco appears to be looming.