Alfresco Continues Open Source Partner Momentum

Alfresco Software, which specializes in open source enterprise content management, says it more than doubled its partner network in 2009. But here’s the really interesting part: Alfresco partners are earning $10 to $15 worth of services for every dollar of Alfresco Enterprise subscriptions sold. Here are the details.

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Magnolia International Names U.S. Channel Chief

magnolia internationalFor the second time in recent weeks, an Alfresco veteran is making an open source career move. The latest news involves Andrew P. King jumping from Alfresco to rival Magnolia International as its new U.S. director of business development — essentially becoming Magnolia’s U.S. channel chief. Never heard of Magnolia? Year-over-year U.S. sales reportedly are surging 60 percent. Here’s a bit more about Magnolia, King and the company’s partner program.

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Ubuntu for Business: Canonical Makes Major Hire

matt_asay canonical ubuntuIs Canonical serious about pushing Ubuntu into businesses? The company’s latest corporate move provides a clear answer. Indeed, Canonical has hired Matt Asay (pictured) — one of the open source industry’s best-known names — as its new chief operating officer. The move comes amid a CEO shift and several major product initiatives at Canonical. Here are some perspectives.

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DotNetNuke Gains Channel Partner Momentum

DotNetNuke-LogoDotNetNuke, which makes an open source content management system, seems to be gaining traction with channel partners. The company, which supports Microsoft .NET environments, has gone from zero to about 50 VARs and hosting providers in the past year, according to The VAR Guy’s ongoing Open Source 50 survey. Here are the details.

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HP Launches Open Source Server Appliance for Channel Partners

Open Source Channel AllianceIt’s another small step for open source in the IT channel. Specifically, Hewlett-Packard and the Open Source Channel Alliance (led by Synnex and Red Hat) have launched the Open Source Jump-Start Appliance. Here’s what HP’s move means to VARs and their customers.

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CompTIA Breakaway: 3 Questions for the Open Source Channel Alliance

When The VAR Guy arrives at CompTIA Breakaway (Aug. 3-6, Las Vegas), a major gathering of VARs and solutions providers, our resident blogger plans to meet with key representatives from Red Hat and Synnex — co-founders of the Open Source Channel Alliance. Here’s what The VAR Guy has in mind for the discussion.

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HP Joins Open Source Channel Alliance Party

hp-open-source-channel-allianceWhen the Open Source Channel Alliance — launched by Red Hat and Synnex — hosts its first conference for VARs and channel partners in late July, a surprise guest will be on hand: Hewlett-Packard. Here’s the scoop and the implications for channel partners.

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Technology Giant Plans Open Source Channel Partner Initiative

techdata-open-source-ecosystemTech Data, a $24 billion technology giant with deep Microsoft relationships, has developed a 24-month plan to emerge as “the voice for open source in distribution,” The VAR Guy has learned. The proposed strategy includes potential open source hardware solutions from Dell, Hewlett-Packard, IBM and Fujitsu. And it has broad implications for the software industry and the global IT channel. Here’s the scoop.

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Synnex, Red Hat and Partners Launch Open Source Channel Alliance

Open Source Channel AllianceCall it D-day for open source channel distribution. Synnex, Red Hat and nearly a dozen open source application providers — from Alfresco to Zmanda — have launched the Open Source Channel Alliance. The effort represents a tipping point for open source in the channel, reaching a potential 15,000 Synnex resellers. Here’s who’s in the Open Source Channel Alliance, who’s missing and what it all means to VARs and solutions providers.

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Amazon’s Cloud Plus Open Source: One VAR’s Recurring Revenue Model

Can solutions providers profit from Amazon Web Services? The VAR Guy found the answer by spending some more time with Levementum, a solutions provider that integrates multiple open source applications (such as SugarCRM and Compiere ERP) into Amazon’s cloud for customers. Here’s a bit about Levementum’s strategy and future direction.

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Openbravo: Small Conference, Big Partner Event

OpenbravoAt first glance, the forthcoming Openbravo World Conference is a small open source event with modest goals. But take a closer look, and you’ll see the open source IT channel’s continued emergence. In fact, even IBM and Oracle are joining Openbravo’s party. Here’s the scoop.

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GroundWork Open Source: Does New CEO Signal Eventual IPO?

Even as some Wall Street indexes hit 15-year lows, GroundWork Open Source has apparently lined up more funding and seems to be plotting a long-term IPO (initial public offering) strategy with a CEO change.

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CompTIA: Where Are the IPOs, Mergers And Acquisitions?

CompTIA and SoftwareCEO mergers and acquisitionsCompTIA (the Computing Technology Industry Association) and its SoftwareCEO portal have issued a research report showing a substantial drop in high-tech mergers, acquisitions and IPOs. The stats didn’t surprise The VAR Guy. But the findings are a timely, interesting read nonetheless. When will the high-tech IPO market improve? The VAR Guy offers a guess — along with a look at three companies poised to test the IPO waters.

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Three Areas Microsoft Crushes Rivals

Microsoft Steamrolls Rivals
At first glance, software as a service (SaaS) and open source are chipping away at Microsoft’s empire. But take a closer look, and there are at least three areas where Microsoft’s dominance remains unquestioned. Skeptical? Take a look.

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Cisco: Serving Up Open Source?

Cisco Launching Blade Servers?Most folks are focusing on Cisco Systems’ consumer electronics push this week. But The VAR Guy is keeping one eye on the data center — where Cisco apparently is preparing to launch blade servers. If true, our resident blogger wonders: How soon will Cisco speed dial Red Hat, MySQL, Novell, SugarCRM and other open source application providers?

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Sun Open Storage Appliances Meet the Open Source Channel

When Sun Microsystems announced its so-called Open Storage Appliances (code-named Amber Road) today, The VAR Guy noticed an interesting trend: Open source companies from A to Z (Alfresco to Zmanda) lined up to endorse the product family. Hmmm. Sun hasn’t exactly set the world on fire lately. But Amber Road shows partner promise. Here’s why.

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Will the Financial Crisis Boost Open Source?

Linux and open source for businessDuring a phone chat today, a Web developer asked The VAR Guy if the US financial crisis would send more corporate customers running out to buy low-cost open source solutions. The VAR Guy’s surprising answer: No. Here’s why.

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Alfresco Drives 60% of Sales Through Channel Partners

Alfresco open source content managementA year ago, 15 percent of Alfresco’s sales involved channel partners. This year, the open source content management company will drive 60 percent of its sales through channel partners, The VAR Guy has learned. So, what can other open source companies learn from Alfresco’s channel strategy? Take a look.

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Canonical: Ubuntu Server Software Blitz At LinuxWorld

Canonical is preparing an Ubuntu Server blitz at LinuxWorld Expo in August. Alfresco, IBM, Openbravo, Zimbra and others are expected to rally around Ubuntu Server at the conference, The VAR Guy learned during meetings at OSCON. Here’s the scoop, and the implications for Ubuntu partners.

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Tomorrow’s Bloggers: All Running Macs?

Matt Asay, author of The Open  Road blog, is telling the world how Macs are replacing PCs at corporate meetings. But that’s not all, Asay notes. Check out this photo from the Missouri School of Journalism. Look at all those Macs. The Kids Are All Right! So, what does all this mean for Microsoft?

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Apple’s Market Share Hits Record, With Assist From Open Source

As the Apple Macintosh nears a record 8 percent market share, The VAR Guy strongly believes open source is accelerating the Macintosh’s momentum. Here’s why.

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Three Potential Open Source IPOs

Wall Street SignThe VAR Guy isn’t suggesting that open source companies will launch initial public offerings (IPOs) anytime soon. But a lengthy chat with an open source guru — call him Pele — got our resident blogger brainstorming a bit. Here are three open source companies that could test the IPO waters over the next couple of years.

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